How wonderful it has been to return back onsite in 2022 and to recommence singing, playing and performing once again! Whether it be beneath the shade of trees in the playground or in our other teaching spaces, children in Junior School have returned to music making with gusto. Eric Stevens House and Metcalfe Hall have been alive with the buzz and activity of instrumental lessons of all different stripes and stages, from trumpet to guitar and anything in between.
Our Music Captains kickstarted our year of performing by playing an arrangement of ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’ for the Whole School poetry evening that had chocolate as its theme. This was the very first live public performance for Junior School since the conclusion of 2019 – and what a sweet way to begin the year, having a full house in the IWA to perform before!
Our Year 4s revelled in the Indonesian music incursion in March, and enjoyed playing as part of a gamelan orchestra, learning traditional dance, dressing in costumes (feature image) as well as mask making and becak driving (pictured below). This day was a rich cultural experience for our Year 4s that overlayed and embroidered the existing Indonesian music unit.
All of our curriculum choirs are busily preparing and eagerly anticipating singing for our friends, family and schoolmates very soon. There is great joy in the rehearsals for Piccolo Canto and our Bumble Bee choirs as they learn such colourful and engaging songs together.
The co-curricular program in Junior School has resumed with great energy and positivity. Our instrumental ensembles in particular are flourishing and have great student involvement and commitment. No Strings Attached and Fully Strung string orchestras boast strong numbers and are growing in confidence and skill week on week, and it is a joy to see so many of our students thriving together in community. Plecstrum fretted strings group as well as Los Bandidos concert band are progressing equally well, and all of our ensembles are keenly looking forward to performing publicly soon as well as participating in eisteddfods and festivals.
In Term 2, we eagerly anticipate sharing our music in live performances at our Winter Concert, assemblies and more. We look forward to seeing friends and family soon at our presentations and performances where we will share our love of music with one and all.
Timothy Barker
Head of Junior School Kew Music
