There can be few lives in which music plays no part. The percussionist Evelyn Glennie says:
“Music is our daily medicine which aids far better communication with others and ourselves”. Music contributes to our creative, spiritual and cultural development, and if we have one main aim it should be that children should enjoy their involvement in it.
Music is a practical subject; it is academic, creative, technical, intellectual and challenging. Musical learning is about thinking and acting musically.
Music lessons sare about learning in and through music, not solely about music.
Music lessons in school are focussed on developing children’s imagination and creativity, building up pupils’ knowledge, skills and understanding.
Children come to school with a lifetime of musical experiences, which is practical and experiential, and which have contributed to their aural memory and these skills are utilised in lessons.
Musical learning at Sherborne House is built around six main strands, which are interrelated and overlapping. These are:
- Singing
- Composing
- Improvising
- Playing
- Critical engagement
- Social, moral, spiritual, and cultural exploration of different types of music
During lessons children develop practical skills by learning the recorder, ukulele and keyboard. They develop ensemble skills by singing in choirs, playing in music ensembles and working in groups to develop their own compositions.