The Junior School has two large and wonderfully resourced music rooms. Every class from Reception through to Year 6 receive two lessons of music each week and all lessons are taught by professional and experienced musicians. The main teaching room has been refurbished and now offers all the benefits of the latest music technology as well as more traditional teaching resources.  Recently the Parents’ Society purchased 18 new electric keyboards; this generous donation has helped enormously in day-to-day class music lessons.

The curriculum is varied and exciting. All classes sing regularly and make recordings of both their singing and practical performances - these recordings are updated each half term on the Junior School Music Department website www.juniorschoolmusic.com  Hand written music theory plays an integral part in class music right the way from Year 2 to Year 6. The Junior School boasts a first class IT infrastructure and, as a result, music technology plays an active part in lessons. We use the following software: Music Ace, Groovy Shapes, Groovy Jungle, Groovy City and Sibelius.

Other notable aspects of the curriculum are as follows:
• Year 2: All pupils learn both the recorder and violin as part of their music curriculum.
• Year 3: As well as being taught class music this is the time children are actively encouraged to take up a musical instrument. We are lucky at the Junior School as the academic timetable has been tailored to help budding musicians in Year 3. All four classes have their music lessons consecutively. This means that children are able to have their instrumental lesson during a timetabled music lesson. The lessons are at the same time each week and no academic lesson is missed. It is an excellent introduction to the disciplines of learning a musical instrument. The Head of Strings from St George's College also makes weekly visits to teach violin to selected children in Year 3.
• Year 4, 5 and 6 study a set work each year. This year we are learning about Prokofiev’s 'Peter and the Wolf', Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ and the musical 'Godspell' respectively.

Each year members of the Chapel Choir join musicians from St George's College for a music tour. In the Spring of 2010 we went to Belgium and the next tour will be to Paris in the Summer of 2011.
Numerous weekly ensembles take place at the Junior School. There is an Orchestra, Jazz Band, Chapel Choir, Junior Choir, Guitar Ensemble, String Group, Violin Ensemble, Rock School and Recorder Group. Also a weekly music theory club takes place to help pupils prepare for Associated Board theory examinations.

Individual instrumental lessons take place on a carousel system and many children take Associated Board Examinations each term. There are 18 visiting peripatetic teachers and about half the children from Year 3 to Year 6 learn an instrument. Instruments available include violin, cello, harp, piano, drums, classical guitar, electric guitar, clarinet, flute, oboe and saxophone. The Music Department has recently bought a wide selection of new musical instruments including a double-bass, oboes and a bassoon. All these instruments are available for hire at very attractive rates - some are free! 

There are many opportunities to perform at the Junior School; Informal Concerts, the Summer Concert, Inter-House Music Competition, Carol Services, Nativities, Weekly Assemblies and Year Group Productions. It is expected that every pupil learning an instrument will perform at least once during each academic year.
 

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If you wish to contact the Music Director  01932 839430 | contact@st-georges-college.co.uk