Kew Review Kew Review 2017 | Page 71

Music Music is at the heart of the school. The Music Department is vibrant and passionate, and every child's musical interest is greeted with enthusiasm. Opportunities are created for all young musicians to perform – this includes solo and ensemble performances in assembly, Christmas events, the annual Spring Concert and summer events including the plays and Summer Fair. We are proud to host over 80 children undertaking instrumental lessons this year, and the number continues to increase. We presently offer lessons for violin, viola, cello, recorder, saxophone, flute, oboe, trumpet, trombone, French horn, drums, acoustic and electric guitar, keyboard and piano. Outside of the exciting and challenging music curriculum we also offer a vast array of activities to cater for the needs Infant House Music In the lower part of the school music is equally important. The enjoyable music curriculum for our infants includes learning to play a variety of percussion instruments and recorder, participating in the annual Christmas Nativity, singing as part of the year group choir in the year group Spring Concerts and performing in the Summer Plays. There are many performance opportunities for our younger musicians including a solo in assembly or year group concert, and involvement with the infant choir. Children can learn to play a musical instrument outside of the creative curriculum from Year 1. At EYFS level our younger children have a “Music and Movement” session in addition to their formal Music lessons, where they 70 of all budding musicians. On a weekly basis we run Infant, Middle School, and Upper School choirs, Rock Band, Recorder Club, String Group, Keyboard Club, Wind Band, a South American inspired drumming group (Beatz), and a graded course in music technology (M:Tech). We believe that musical education of the younger generation is important, so from EYFS through to Year 6 the core and fundamental skills of performing, composing and listening are embedded into all lessons. Our children learn to play different instruments, and read a variety of music notation. Every performance is important to us at Kew College, and we constantly strive for musical excellence in the classroom and beyond. enjoy a mix of singing, dancing, listening and musical appreciation. In all of our high quality performances the infant musicians sing entirely from memory, and are always encouraged to perform to an audience where possible. Every year there is an outing in Year 1 to watch a live orchestra performance– this is usually at the Royal Festival Hall or Barbican centre. Our children find this an unforgettable experience and many are inspired to take up an instrument of their own afterwards. In Years 1 and 2, children have their own year group concert involving singing and solo playing of instruments. At this level recorder and piano solos usually dominate the stage, but the concert is open to all and in the past trumpet, guitar, and even ukulele performances have made an appearance.