Music
Music is a unique
way of communicating that can
inspire and motivate children. It is a vehicle for personal expression
and can
also play an important part in helping children to feel part of a
community.
Music is also valued as a vehicle for supporting the building of children’s self-esteem, confidence and self-discipline and for the enhancement of learning across all areas of the school curriculum.
The aims of the Music Department at West Hill Park are threefold:
Firstly,
through class lessons, we introduce the pupils to as many areas of the
subject
as is possible. This includes developing the singing voice, an
understanding of
music theory and the traditional elements of musical history; but, in
addition,
all pupils gain experience on the violin, cello and recorder through
yearlong
courses as part of their class tuition gaining an ABRSM Music Medal in
the
Summer Term. Alongside this, all pupils compose and improvise from an
early
stage and they are able to use the suite of dedicated computers in the
ICT
suite. Class lessons also allow the opportunity to listen to, perform
and
appraise music from many cultures and countries. We have a large variety
of percussion
instruments including African drums, congas, xylophones, glockenspiels
and
metalophones.
Secondly, we help every pupil to fulfill their individual musical potential. Each week about 170 lessons are taught by a team of visiting specialist musicians with over 70% of the school learning an instrument. As such, the ability to play an instrument is seen as the norm rather than the exception at West Hill Park. In addition, fourteen groups take place ranging from a guitar club to the four choirs and from Fiddlesticks to the School Orchestra and the Rock’n’Pop bands to the Little Big Time Band. As a result, West Hill Park regularly enters musicians for Associated Board and Trinity and Guildhall examinations, gaining more distinctions and merits than passes, as well as participating in the Southampton, Portsmouth and Fareham Music Festivals.
The Department’s third aim is possibly the most important of all; that is: to help each pupil to realise that music is a gift for life. Confidence when playing in public is gained through a range of performance opportunities including class concerts, informal lunchtime concerts, assemblies, Church services, major concerts as well as the annual House Music Competition. This means that all those learning have a chance to showcase their talent regardless of their level of attainment in the hope that it will encourage them to continue to enjoy music throughout their lives.