Highclare Preparatory School currently offers a wide range of excellent musical instrument tuition. There are many opportunities for musicians at Highclare School, such as performing in the orchestra, ensembles and choirs, taking Associated Board/Trinity/Rock School Instrumental and Theory Exams and performing in regular concerts in school and further afield. There are also opportunities to gain music scholarships to study at Highclare Senior School. Although this term will be different due to the current circumstances, we will still continue to provide musical performances and opportunities for our pupils.
Individual lessons for Yr3-Yr6 last for thirty minutes and cost £200 per term. For Yr1-Yr2, lessons last for twenty minutes and cost £145 per term. You will receive an interim bill for the Autumn term in due course. Please note these fees could be subject to change for the Spring and Summer terms 2021 in accordance with Mrs Flowith’s letter of 17 April 2020. Instrumental lessons take place weekly during the school day.
If you are interested in your son/daughter learning a musical instrument, we are currently offering a free trial lesson. If the trial lesson is successful, your son/daughter will be able to start lessons immediately.
We offer a wide range of instruments at the Preparatory school;
- Rec-Yr1: Suzuki violin group lessons.
- Yr1-Yr2: Violin, ukulele/guitar, piano and singing.
- Yr3-Yr6: Singing, recorder, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, violin, guitar, piano, and drums.
Ensembles
At Highclare Preparatory School we are proud of our extensive range of ensemble groups that we offer to our pupils. If a pupil learns an instrument, we strongly advise that they take part in at least one ensemble, where they learn a different set of skills and it can improve sight reading. Here is the list of the ensembles that will be able to continue in September 2020.
Ukulele ensemble
Guitar ensemble
String ensemble
Djembe
Unfortunately, due to the government guidelines we are currently unable to rehearse the following in school:
Infant choir
Junior choir
Wind ensemble
Jazz band
Orchestra
Our Yr3-Yr6 choir is the heart of our music department so Mrs de Visser and I are running a non-singing choir weekly. Our pupils can listen to the songs that they will need to go and learn/practise at home as well as some other musical skills such as body percussion, signing and other listening skills. The choir will be working towards some more virtual performances.
Rec – Yr2 choir will be replaced with a ‘boomwhacker’ ensemble group.
Orchestra: Music will be provided for our Orchestral members to take home to practise and there will be an opportunity to be part of the virtual orchestra later in the term. There will be an extra-curricular club for Orchestra which is called the Hand Bell Orchestra where they will be able to improve theory and listening skills as well as learn to play the hand bells.
Suzuki Violin Lessons
An exciting approach to develop our violin tuition at Highclare Preparatory School is continuing in Sept 2020. Miss Minchin is currently undergoing her Suzuki training and is offering Suzuki lessons to our Rec-Yr1 pupils. The Suzuki method is a creative way for your child to learn the violin. It works entirely on the principle that if the pupil listens to daily recordings of their set pieces and practices them with parental support, from memory, their playing will flourish. Along with this success they will develop confidence, enjoyment, team building skills, and a very well-balanced frame of mind. The Suzuki method was established in Japan in the 1930s and is now hugely successful worldwide.
These lessons will be taught in small groups of 5. Lessons will be offered on first come first serve basis and will cost £90 per term, which you will need to pay via ParentPay, when you have been advised that your child has a place. They will take place at 8.20am, Tuesday at Highclare Preparatory School: St Paul’s and Thursday at Highclare Preparatory School: Woodfield.
Miss Minchin will measure pupils and advise which violin to purchase as it is also important that you have the correct instrument. Please contact s.broder@highclareschool.co.uk if you are interested in your son/daughter taking up these lessons.
If you would like further information or would like to request a trial lesson for your son/daughter, please fill in the attached form and return to the school office. If your son/daughter already learns an instrument at Highclare School and does not wish to trial another instrument, then you do not need to fill out the form. Their lessons will continue until the receiving of written confirmation regarding termination of lessons.
Please do not hesitate to contact me directly at s.broder@highclareschool.co.uk should you have any questions or enquiries, or for more information regarding our ensembles and individual instrumental tuition.
With best wishes
S Broder
Head of Preparatory Music
