Surrey Homes | SH101 | June 2023 | Education Supplement inside

Education Supplement
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TUNING IN
Music and singing are integral to the cultural
and spiritual life of Sacred Heart School in
Wadhurst. As a Catholic school, masses and
school liturgies include beautiful hymns. This
community singing is a wonderful bonding
experience for the children and teachers alike.
Sacred Heart School has a thriving and busy
music department, offering much musical
tuition. The school’s class music specialist
and head of department leads a dedicated
team of peripatetic specialist music teachers
offering violin, guitar, ukelele, piano, singing,
recorder, flute, clarinet and saxophone tuition.
Musical skill development takes time
and is best and most easily learnt when we
are young. The great challenge for music
teachers, therefore, is to impart a love and
a willingness in the child to commit to a
practicing routine so as to enable a core
musical skill set to bed down and grow.
To this end, Sacred Heart has developed
their very own “10-a-day” campaign. The little
and often approach. Every child who learns
an instrument is encouraged to commit to 10
minutes a day of music practice. The habit
and discipline of playing one’s instrument – of
tinkering and messing around, using our bodies
to create music and melody – lies at the heart
of developing an enjoyment and appreciation
for the skill and habit of daily music practice.
Playing instruments is as important as
Sacred Heart’s daily reading commitment.
The children learn that practising happens
when they simply spend time PLAYING
their instruments. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle:
when they mess around and experiment on
their instruments, they are LEARNING,
solving problems, teaching themselves
mindfulness, boosting fine and gross motor
skills, improving cognition and memory
skills and expressing themselves in a
creative, individual manner. The benefits
spill out far beyond the music room...
In terms of performance and showcasing,
Sacred Heart has regular concerts and
music evenings throughout the year, and the
children also perform on their instruments
in assemblies. The school also puts on two
musicals, with a live band, every year – in the
Spring Term for Y3 and Y4, and a bigger Y5
and Y6 production in the Summer Term.
Externally, the school also participates in
the annual Tunbridge Wells Arts Festival
in March, with a significant number of
children singing and performing on their
instruments and in the choir classes.
sacredheartwadhurst.org.uk
DON’T STOP THE MUSIC
At Reed’s School music education is an integral part of life, with
a focus on creating an inclusive and supportive environment that
encourages pupils to explore their musical talents and passions. Music
is a key aspect of the curriculum, starting with timetabled music lessons
in Years 7 and 8, providing a strong foundation in the subject.
Year 7 pupils learn violin, viola, cello or double bass as part of the
string scheme that takes place during their academic lessons, and a
similar flute scheme runs in Year 8. This increase in string and flute
players ultimately fills Reed’s ensembles and orchestras, meaning much
of the talent is home grown. Additionally, the school’s unique scheme
to teach every boy the trombone in Year 8 has proven a great success,
with over 30% of the school roll taking instrument lessons.
Singing is the lifeblood of the school’s music department, with
membership in the choir standing at an impressive 160 pupils. In
addition, singing plays a significant role in the school’s Chapel, with all
pupils singing at least once a week in this setting fostering a sense of
community while also providing the opportunity to develop vocal skills.
Reed’s is dedicated to creating bespoke musical opportunities for
pupils, fostering a love of music to last a lifetime, and helping pupils
maximise their musical and creative potential.
reeds.surrey.sch.uk
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