Music

What a glorious Summer term it has proved to be – I don’t recall so many instrumental lessons being held outside or in the gazebo in the walled garden!

The Summer term marks what has become a rite of passage for Year 2 children – their instrumental trials. This is an opportunity to trial a variety of orchestral instruments ahead of starting an instrument in Year 3. We can boast that over 95% of children learn and this process helps to guide them to the right choice with the foundations laid in their class lessons, inspired by the Kodály approach, paving the way. My favourite quote from one of the boys was: ‘the trumpet is for me! If I practise over the holidays, may I join the Swing Band next term?!’. Good luck to them all as they start their instrumental journeys!

The Summer Concert was, I think it’s safe to say, a wonderful occasion. Year 1&2 kicking things off and having the audience sing along with them in ‘She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain’ was a great start. The Swing Band impressed with ‘Moaning’ and ‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy’ (during their rehearsals Clive and Kirby were drawn into the barn to come and listen because they thought we had band in to play to the children – this is level that they are achieving). The Orchestra, with nearly 30 instrumentalists, were in fine form too with renditions of ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ and the ‘Top Gun Theme’, as were The Choir with ‘It Don’t Mean A Thing’ with close 3-part harmonies. Our soloists this year were Eliza Fearon and Beatrice de Courcy-White singing contrasting pieces: ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked and Mozart’s ‘Voi Che Sapete’ respectively. Bella Boyce and Francesca Morris-Warburton were in fine form on their saxophones with Wold-Ferrari's ‘Strimpellata’ and the Cowles’ ‘Myopic Mice’. Finally, Dylan Baldwin captivated us with the ‘Chatanooga’ Choo Choo on the trumpet. Our whole school song was Gary Bardeaulou’s ‘Sing’, originally composed for the Diamond Jubilee and it proved very popular with the children. We managed to perform it with four-part harmonies, learnt in classes and only put together at the rehearsal prior to the concert. It felt magical being part of the performance with nearly 1or the Diamond Jubilee and it proved very popular with the chilren. We managed to perform it with four-part harmonies, learnt in classes and only put together at the rehearsal prior to the concert. It felt magical being part of the performance with nearly 120 of singing together AND with big, BIG smiles on our faces!

Many children were entered for Music exams this term with 100% success. Of particular note is Alice Andrews (Grade 5 clarinet and Grade 4 saxophone),

Jason Marconi