Music

At Longacre we provide a broad and inclusive Music programme, offering our pupils further opportunities to discover both their strengths and, more importantly, their passions. Music has no barriers to learning due to the numerous ways in which music can be interpreted, internalised, expressed and recorded; it allows access to all learners, both as individuals and in groups. All pupils are empowered and enabled to enjoy, achieve and progress in all areas of music.  

All children from Nursery to Form VI have exposure to musical teaching by a team of professional specialists, all practising musicians themselves, as well as a dedicated Music teacher.

In the Early Years, music is based on learning through play and exploration. Children in these year groups experience energetic music lessons, tuning them into rhythm, movement and developing their gross motor skills as they explore the movement of their body, and fine motor skills by handling instruments. Group rhythmic and vocal activities help the children to hear the rhythm of language and their ability to hear the patterns of sounds, to create strong phonological awareness. Building listening skills, curiosity, imagination, self-expression, group-expression, communication and confidence through their creativity are key outcomes in music for these young learners.  

From Form I upwards, children learn to play various percussion instruments in addition to undertaking formal tuition in recorder, ukulele, and voice within their curriculum time. Children learn the principles of the elements of music, improvisation and composition. All pupils learn to respond and engage with music and discover the beauty of both traditional and contemporary music. With singing as the foundation of all music learning, our music curriculum sparks creativity, develops aural and practical musicianship skills for all pupils; inspiring pupils’ love and enjoyment of music at its centre.

Over 75% of pupils at Longacre enjoy individual music tuition with one of our specialist peripatetic music teachers, from piano to clarinet, trumpet to drums, violin to electric guitar, to name a few. There are also numerous musical ensembles pupils can join from Senior, Junior and Chamber Choir, to Orchestra, Wind Band, Rock Bands and Ukulele group. Our gifted and talented musicians are identified and enrolled in our Music Masters programme, which focuses on extending their music theory knowledge and developing their performance skills on their chosen instruments. There is something for everyone and we encourage the children to experiment and explore the various musical opportunities available.

There are many opportunities for pupils to perform, from informal tea-time and breakfast concerts and whole-school assemblies, where all children are encouraged to participate, to formal concerts, whereby our older pupils audition and perform at our highly enjoyable black-tie evening.

All children have their moment to shine in music and they perform in various key school events, including carol services and Nativity shows and Speech Days. In music at Longacre every achievement is celebrated, from a pupil performing “Mary had a Little Lamb” on the piano for the first time, to pupils’ music scholarship success to their chosen senior schools. 

APRIL OPEN MORNING

Experience life at Longacre as we open our doors on Saturday 20th April for a family Adventure Day.

Tackle the Climbing Wall, get creative with our LEGO STEM kits, discover Forest School, or head to Nursery and discover how we lay the foundations for learning at our Stay and Play session.

To RSVP, please visit our Open Day page here.

 

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