Much activity in the Performing Arts department is currently directed towards setting up for 2023. Auditions are happening all around the place. Year 9 students can audition for the senior School Musical (The Addams Family) or the Senior Chamber Choir, and there are opportunities to audition for many of the instrumental ensembles coming up. I am working my way through the instrumental selections for our 2023 Year 7 students. Our current Year 7 ensemble directors will be beginning to recruit students for next year, encouraging students to enrol for lessons and continue their involvement into the new year with music.
We are just finishing what has been a very busy term with so many concerts, recitals, music festival appearances, workshops and other events. Most Carey students are very busy people! Yes, we do have many students at rehearsals and events before school, at lunchtimes, after school and at times in the evenings. Add in sport, debating and House activities, and things really do hot up. Just as well we get a good three-week break to recuperate.
Students playing in a band, singing in a choir, or rehearsing a play are actively involved in a real-world activity with fellow students. They are not on Tiktok, or Snapchat or Instagram. They are not increasing their screen time. They are not losing themselves an unreal virtual world, but rather taking part in a real developmental activity with others, which will ultimately develop both performance skills and social skills. In my experience, it is often the adults who struggle to cope with the busyness of school life, rather than the students! Please do encourage your child to join or continue their involvement in our many ensemble activities – be they bands, choir, orchestras, plays or musicals. They will become more confident, more skilled and they will be involved in a creative activity that is not only fun but could well develop into a life-long interest. And if you are concerned about academic success we even have research on our side – involvement in music and the performing arts is generally found to strengthen academic achievement.
Martin Arnold
Head of Middle School Music
