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With an emphasis on discovering the joy of
performance through experimentation and then the mastering of
the technical disciplines, we aim to provide an appreciation
of music and drama that will permanently enrich the lives of
all our children.
A curriculum subject in
its own right, music is also taught as an option where full-time
staff and visiting teachers provide instruction on a wide range
of instruments, whether purely for fun or for grade exams.
Every
year sees the performance of a year group production or musical
in our theatre. Whilst drama is taught formally, it is extended,
for those who wish, as part of the Activities Programme. Children
also have that opportunity to perform both music and drama in
local, national and international festivals and competitions.
The Performing Arts has the potential to
be hugely significant in the lives
of our children and our next major development project (recently
approved) is to include a major extension and technical upgrade
to our theatre and drama teaching area.
Throughout the school, music is taught by
specialist teachers who are trained and experienced musicians.
The Director of Music teaches all children from Year 4 upwards
and our Junior Music specialist inspires our younger children.
At the present time, there are a further five members of staff
who are qualified musicians and their input is invaluable.
The music curriculum broadly follows the National
Curriculum but covers many areas in greater detail. Teaching
is very much geared towards particular year groups, taking into
account the particular strengths that each group develops. We
have strong contacts with the music departments of the senior
schools that our children go on to and we take every opportunity
to visit these schools, to attend concerts and also to perform
there. Every effort is made to ensure that each child is ready
to make the most of the opportunities that will present themselves
once they move to the senior school.
In addition to music in the
classroom, All Hallows offers a wide range of additional
opportunities. There are 13 visiting music teachers, covering
all the major instruments, strings, woodwind, brass, percussion,
piano, organ and voice. Various ensembles rehearse on a regular
basis. There is currently a string group, a brass group, a junior
choir, a recorder ensemble and numerous rock bands! Other groups
are set up, as and when required. The 'variety club' successfully
combines Music and Drama as an opportunity for our children.
The integration of technology for composition
and performance is a genuine strength of the department - involving
children of all levels of ability and experience.
The school orchestra rehearses each week,
preparing for concerts, and they also perform in school assembly
from time to time. The Chapel Choir is particularly strong with
about 50 choristers. Their repertoire is wide, ranging from Purcell
through to newly commissioned work, and they sing regularly out
of school as well as at the main school Mass each week on Saturday
morning. They have sung at Westminster Cathedral, Brentwood Cathedral
and Clifton Cathedral and they sing annually at Downside Abbey
and Prior Park College. The choir sang at the Vatican in 2006
and elsewhere in Rome in 2008.
Each term, there is one formal concert and
also a series of informal concerts, arranged when pupils have
pieces ready to perform.
In recent years, an opera has been
produced - Britten’s ‘The Little Sweep’ and Gilbert & Sullivan’s
‘The Mikado’, both accompanied by a professional orchestra.
Click to view our 13+
Scholarships and Awards.
Children are encouraged to express themselves
with confidence and ease. A wide range of dramatic opportunities
are available to all the pupils across the year groups.
The facilities
at All Hallows allow for “full-scale” productions involving up
to 100 children with appropriate scenery/lighting/make-up/costumes
etc., to the smaller, more intimate 'work-shop' drama in the
smaller drama studio.
Formal
timetabled lessons for drama, with specialist teaching, exists
alongside drama activities, subject-based productions and one-to-one
or small group extra coaching preparation for National exams
(LAMDA) and festival competitions.
Productions in School Year
2009
Michaelmas: Nativity play and Christmas productions.
Lent: Year 4 took part in 'The
Gospel Show' and Year 7 took part in 'The Lion, The Witch and
The Wardrobe'.
Summer: Year 5 took part in 'The Tempest' and
Year 8 all got involved in 'A Variety Performance'.
Parents were welcome at all the above
productions.
Please click to download our Teaching
& Learning Policy.
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