Music at St Faith’s

It’s been a busy start to the year for the Music Department. We have two new Music Prefects – Meena and Bertie – who will be promoting Music throughout the school this year. Amongst other duties, they have a weekly meeting with Mr Ainsworth and deliver the Music Report during Friday morning’s assemblies.

There has been lots of interest in private music lessons and there are currently 169 lessons taught each week but we still have space for children to start learning string and brass instruments. Children who learn an instrument, or who have singing lessons, take part in Friday assemblies, concerts and can also take Music examinations. However, some children just enjoy having fun in their lessons and learning a new skill, without the added pressure of concerts and exams!

Every week, there are 4 separate Study Skills classes for Music Theory. There are also 3 Recorder Clubs and Singing Clubs. Pictured are the Singing Club, which has around twenty children in Years R to 2. All children who come to Singing Club or Recorder Club are able to play in concerts, meaning that this opportunity is available to all children from Year R and above.

Mrs Woodhead and I have carried out auditions for Chamber Choir and we have a strong group of children drawn from Years 5 and 6 who will perform this year. Their debut performance was during the Harvest Festival last week. Our Choir currently boasts around 70 children and they are preparing for the Christmas Service. Alongside the Choir, Mrs Woodhead runs singing just for Year 3 and they also will be performing in the Christmas service.

From an instrumental point of view, we have three orchestras which meet each week. The String Orchestra rehearse on Monday afternoons while the Wind Orchestra meet on Thursday mornings. Both groups are ably led by Mrs Woodhead. The Orchestra rehearse in Kerruish Hall each Thursday morning and the children are currently working towards their Twilight Concert performance next week.

Whole-school singing takes place on Monday afternoon, with the songs rehearsed often featuring in that week’s Friday assembly. The children sang wonderfully during our Harvest Festival and their next ‘big event’ will be a Remembrance Service on Friday 9 November to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1.

Next week, many children will be taking part in one of two Twilight Concerts. Class Performance lessons also take place, when the children perform in front of their friends during lesson time. It’s okay to make a mistake or start again, and bowing is still encouraged! We will also be hosting an ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) examiner next week, and have 19 children taking an examination that day. Good luck everyone!