Music is an integral part of life at The Blue Coat School. We recognise that being an active listener or a participant in musical activities raises and refines cognitive skills, as well as teaching children to interact with one another at a higher social level.
The following statements help the children to think about what music can mean to them. They form our Music Department Mission Statement:
- Music is the heart beat of our school
- Music gives us confidence
- Music encourages team work
- Music is a language we all understand
- Music helps us persevere
- Music helps us to be creative which is good for mind, body and soul
- Music makes us part of the Blue Coat family
- Music helps us to speak without words
In Prep, class music lessons are taught in the Saville Music Centre. Equipped with a suite of iMacs, we are able to include music technology as a key feature of our academic music syllabus.
CHOIRS
Singing is at the heart of our curriculum, be it in Chapel, in class or in one of our many choirs. Learning to sing or to play any instrument requires effort, self-discipline and commitment; we believe these are important life skills that can have a positive impact on other areas of Blue Coat life. The Chapel Choir is the flagship of the Music Department. Many children aspire to join it and the audition process is rigorous. The choir leads the Chapel Worship every Friday.
INSTRUMENTAL TUITION
Identifying musicality at an early age is a key objective. We have a proven track record in helping children find the right instrument and in enabling parents to support their child’s musical development at home. Over 300 individual instrumental music lessons are given at school each week, delivered by our expert team of Visiting Music Teachers. It is not uncommon for pupils to achieve Grade 5 standard (or higher) before they leave Blue Coat. For further information please contact our Music Department Administrator or complete an Instrumental Lesson Application Form.
| YEAR GROUP | INSTRUMENTAL TUITION ON OFFER |
| Nursery | Piano and Violin |
| Reception | Piano and Violin |
| Year One | Piano, Violin, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, Singing, Drumkit |
| Year 2 | Piano, Violin, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, Singing, Drumkit, Trumpet, Guitar |
| Years 3 to 6 | Piano, Violin, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, Singing, Drumit, Trumpet, Guitar, Saxophone, Bassoon, Oboe, Horn, Trombone |
Each term our young instrumentalists are given the opportunity to play in concerts and recitals in front of a supportive and encouraging audience. Our annual BCS Young Musician of the Year event is hotly contested and the standard is truly remarkable.
We have a large number of Music Groups and Ensembles ranging from our junior music ensemble Fiddlesticks, which provides group music-making experiences for our fledgling musicians to our Jazz Band and School Orchestra. Pupils are entered for instrumental music examinations at regular intervals, ensuring the development of secure technique and musicianship.
BCS YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
A highlight of our busy musical calendar is our Young Musician of the Year Festival which takes place each Lent Term. With over 150 applicants for our various categories, it is a very busy week of music-making for the children! Here is our 2019 Young Musician Gala Concert.
