Music
BackWe believe in providing rich performing arts experiences for all our students. Each year, all children participate in a school production, which generates excitement and enthusiasm throughout the school. There are also opportunties to take part in musical concerts and showcases throughout the year.
In our class music lessons children are exposed to a wide variety of musical experiences from the moment they start in nursery to leaving us at the end of year 6.
Students begin their musical studies with singing and hand held percussion, including Nativity, concert and assembly performances throughout Lower School. They move on to reading music and playing melodies on xylophones in Year 1 and learn the violin for a term in Year 2.
In Year 4 children begin the year learning the trumpet and go on to develop their understanding of melody and rhythm through more complex melodic instrumental pieces and African drumming as well as preparing for the Year 3 and 4 musical.
In Year 5 the children study the music of South America with a particular focus on Samba drumming, in year 6 all children learn to play the Ukulele and we put together our different skills (piano, guitar, percussion etc.) to create class bands before moving on to the year 5 and 6 musical which is held at the Harlequin Theatre.
There are many performance opportunities that take place throughout the year and which all children are involved. These include Open Mornings, formal and informal concerts, drama productions, assemblies and services. Performing on a regular basis is vital to developing confidence and above all a love of performance.
There are opportunities to play in the orchestra, Lower School Choir, Junior Choir, Senior Choir, brass ensemble, woodwind ensemble and guitar groups.
We have a team of dedicated music teachers encompassing the whole range of instruments and the children are encouraged to study for music exams as they progress through the school.
"The youngest pupils displayed outstanding understanding of musical notation, including rests, notes and rhythm, and the skills to put these into practice on the xylophone." ISI March 2023
Achievements
Achievements
Our school was a finalist in the 2023 Independent School of the Year awards for the Performing Arts Category. Also, our Year 6 pupils won the small group drama category at the 2023 Reigate & Redhill Music and Drama Festival, and many of our students received awards in both music and drama.
Theme Week
In February 2023, we dedicated a week to "Music Around the World." In addition to our regular instrumental lessons and extracurricular musical ensembles, all our children experienced workshops in various cultural musical traditions. They participated in Scottish Country Dancing, Samba, Chinese music, Indian drumming, steel pans, traditional songs and instruments of Zimbabwe, and performed a Lugandan song called "Kimu nkimaanyi" with accompaniment from our percussion ensemble. The week concluded with interclass dance and singing competitions, as well as a lively Samba procession from the nursery. Our teachers fully embraced the performing arts, incorporating them into lessons on vibration and sound manipulation (Science), the creation of Shekere (Design and Technology), and the research, design, and creation of carnival masks (Art). This immersive experience garnered positive feedback from both the children and their families, with many describing it as "the best week ever at Micklefield!"
