Music

We are passionate about Music.

Our aim is for all children to have the opportunity to develop talents and gain a deeper understanding and love of music.

The school funds a variety of projects, led by the Richmond Music Trust, with the aim of enhancing children’s music learning. These include weekly Music Makers sessions in Year 1, where in groups of 15 children are provided with a firm foundation to learn an instrument and start a life long love of music. This is followed up in Year 2 with recorder sessions, while in Year 3 they move on to strings, receiving lessons in the violin, cello or viola. In Year 4 the children have an opportunity to write and perform their own song during sessions on singing and have a 10 week Jazz course where they learn either the saxophone or the trumpet . In Year 5 and Year 6 the children do a term’s course of Mtech, using Music technology to compose and learn musical skills. Our school music teacher, Mrs Young, supports these sessions as well as teaching whole class music sessions to ensure all aspects of the curriculum are covered.

We believe it is important that children of all abilities are given the opportunity to develop and demonstrate their musical talents in a variety of situations. In class lessons, children use a selection of instruments such as keyboards, glockenspiels, recorders, xylophones, computers, percussion and their own instruments. They are encouraged to perform pieces to their peers. Class assemblies feature children’s performances and the whole school performs songs for occasions, such as the Harvest Festival, Easter and Carol Services. The Summer Concert is a wonderful opportunity for each year group to showcase their learning.

Many children take advantage of the RMTs one-to-one music tuition inMusic our Music Room. A number of extra-curricular musical clubs are on offer, including orchestra, which practises weekly with music teacher Tim Wilford. We also have a thriving singing club led by Mrs Young.  Both clubs perform at our school services at St Stephen’s Church, while the children in singing club get to showcase their talents at the Young Voices Concert at the O2 Arena and the Richmond Singing Festival at Kingston’s Rose Theatre. Our orchestra accompanies our Year 6  Tea Dance and performs at the RMT Prom.