Fairseat Music Department

Aims

The Junior School Music Department aims to provide a stimulating, challenging, exciting environment in which to nurture, foster and encourage musical potential. We aim to provide musical opportunities that will help your daughter develop sufficient skills to enable her to enjoy music making.

We do this in a variety of ways. We provide a comprehensive and systematic curriculum which all girls follow. We also provide extensive extra-curricular activities.

Key stage 1

The STRING GROUP, a two year programme, provides a wonderful social setting to begin learning a string instrument. This takes place in small groups and a large ensemble, and includes:

• Violin
• Cello
• Mini-Bass.

Additionally, from Year 3, individual lessons in the following instruments are available:

• Piano                                             
• Flute                  
• Clarinet            
• Oboe                   
• Bassoon               
• Saxophone
• Cornet/Trumpet
• French Horn
• Trombone
• Harp

Organisation

Weekly rotational lessons are organised. Timetables are produced at the beginning of each term. As many peripatetic staff teach in both the Junior and Senior school there is continuity.

Performance opportunities

There are many performance opportunities-   half-termly music assemblies and termly informal class concerts. Formal productions and concerts also take place each term in school alongside concerts in other venues, in and around London. There are also opportunities to join with Senior school musicians in joint ventures. We regularly enter students for Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examinations.

Music Ensembles

Open to all, regardless of where they learn and include:

• Orchestra
• Wind Band
• Piano group
• Choir

Instrument hire

In the first instance we would strongly advise you to hire whichever instrument your daughter chooses to learn.

We provide all information and advice, including prices,where to go, size of instrument, and music required etc to help you with this.

In exceptional circumstances, such as the bassoon, the school may have an instrument to loan.

Practice

It is regular and consistent practice that will ensure progress is made. The night before a lesson is really not sufficient and your daughter’s weekly timetable needs to reflect some time set aside for daily practice. In the early stages it is the frequency rather than the amount that counts.

Second Instruments

We would like to caution against over-loading the girls at this young age.Two instruments in school inevitably means two school lessons missed and two lots of practice on top of homework and a busy school day, not to mention any other activity your daughter participates in out of school. Each request, however, will be considered on an individual basis with the Head involved in the ultimate decision.

Communication

The Instrumental Music Application Form is available from the School Office/Website. Parents are welcome to attend their daughters’ individual lesson by appointment. Notebooks are used for weekly advice on practice. A formal written report is provided at the end of the Academic Year. 

Fees

Academic Year 2011/12 £225 per term. 30 lessons each year.