MAKING MUSIC SHOULD BE FUN
Making music should be fun. At Kent College Junior School we enjoy all we do in the Music department, whilst at the same time striving to produce a high standard of performance at every level.
SINGING AND CHORISTERS
All children in our Prep School have the opportunity to sing, with Years 1-6 coming together for singing practices every week. Class singing is highly valued and every member of the class takes part in their Class Carol at Christmas and in whole school singing events, such as Grandparents’ Day.
We are especially proud of our Choirs, which number over 80 children from Years 1-6. They rehearse once a week and perform termly.
KENT COLLEGE CHORISTERS
Advanced singers in Years 5 & 6 join together with Year 7s at our Senior School to form the Kent College Choristers. This group has had much success in national and international competitions. The KC Choristers were semi-finalists in the BBC Songs of Praise Young Choir of the Year 2015, 2018 & 2019. They reached the Category Finals of National Choir of the Year 2016, broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and sang in Symphony Hall Birmingham in the National Finals of Music for Youth 2018. They have been regular finalists in Barnardo’s Choir of the Year, runners up twice and winning the whole competition in 2012. Finalists in Llangollen International Eisteddfod 2016, they were selected again for 2020. They enjoy regular tours abroad, singing concerts and church services in the major churches and cathedrals of Europe.
INSTRUMENTALISTS AND ORCHESTRA
As an independent school one of our key strengths is the diversity and breadth of music opportunities that we provide at KC. Over 75% of our pupils will learn a musical instrument and many of them will learn two or more. We also offer private lessons in singing, theory and aural skills.
With 13 visiting specialist instrumental teachers, tuition is available in a wide range of instruments from the fife to the euphonium, the double bass and the harp, so there really is something for everyone. Our Drum Room has an electric kit which means our drummers can give full vent to their playing without disturbing others! Children may have a free trial on any instrument of their choice and instruments may be loaned free of charge for the first term of lessons.
Visiting teachers run various instrumental groups which meet once a week and perform termly in concerts. At present we have:
- Stringhetti (strings)
- The Noise Makers (brass)
- Magic Flutes (flutes)
- Cellitastic (‘cellos)
- Clar/sax Club (Clarinets & Saxophones)
- Guitar Group
ORCHESTRA
Our Junior School Orchestra meets every week and performs termly. Most instruments are represented and it has been commented that they often tackle music more akin to a senior school repertoire.
PRACTICE CLUB
Children may sign up to practise their instrument/singing between 4-6pm each day, when we have a music specialist on hand to help them if needed.
Many of our young musicians are awarded music scholarships to our senior school.
PERFORMING
Music is a Performing Art and with this in mind, we give the children from Pre Reception to Year 6 as many opportunities as possible to practise this skill and gain pleasure from performing to an audience.
Regular large scale events include; Harvest Celebrations; Christmas Carol Services & Nativities; a combined Christmas Concert with the Senior School in the Great Hall; Spring Concerts; Grandparents’ Day Concert; Parents’ Day performances; and Year 6 Musical Play.
Smaller events include; Recital Evenings; Class Concerts; Piano Concerts; Early Morning Concerts; and Tea Time Concerts.
CURRICULUM
All classes from Pre-Reception to Year 6 have two music lessons a week with one or more of our four music specialists.
In addition there is a GREAT Music Class for those who wish to extend their music further - particularly useful for those aiming for Music Scholarships at Kent College Senior School.
The younger years follow the wonderful Musical Prodigies Programme where children learn to sing and play music using Kodaly signing and a notated score. We have full sets of bells for this programme, xylophones, glockenspiels and a few keyboards, as well as a large range of untuned percussion instruments.
Music lessons take place in our well-stocked music studios where there are enough classroom instruments for everyone, a sound system, recording facilities and plenty of space to move around.
