Diana Springford – Head of Music

Music in schools has been covered by the latest government “roadmap” for schools and the new rules for music have been set for the whole of Term 4. This gives us a measure of certainty and allows some of our rehearsals to begin again next week, but we also now have a measure of certainty that other ensembles and choirs will NOT go ahead for the remainder of this year. Nevertheless, there is much fun to be had!

Private Tuition

All vaccinated private tutors are allowed on site as of Monday 8 November.

Choirs – Singing is not allowed in choirs or ensembles for the rest of this year.

• No choirs for the rest of 2021 😢  This includes Infants, Junior and Senior Choirs and the Junior and Senior Chamber Choirs. 

Instrumental Ensembles and bands – Cohort discrete ensembles of instruments that can be played with masks on ARE allowed to rehearse from 8 November so:

• No woodwind ensemble, brass ensemble, Junior Stage Band or Senior Stage Band for the rest of 2021. 😢
• To give our wind instrumentalists something fun to do Gershwin, Bernstein and Copland Concert Bands have been converted to large percussion ensembles as follows:
  • Years 3 & 4 Percussion Ensemble with Ms Grieve in M16 (for members of Gershwin and Bernstein Concert Bands) 7.30 am Tuesday Weeks 6-8.
  • Years 5 & 6 Percussion Ensemble with Mr Owen in M16 (for members of Gershwin and Bernstein Concert Bands) 7.30 am Tuesday Weeks 6-8.
  • Years 7 & 8 Percussion Ensemble with Mr Farrugia in M16 (for members of Gershwin and Bernstein Concert Bands) 7.30 am Tuesday Weeks 6-8.
  • Years 7 & 8 Percussion Ensemble with Mr Owen in M11 (for members of Bernstein and Copland Concert Bands) 3.40 pm – 4.30 pm Thursday Weeks 6-8.
  • Years 9 & 10 Percussion Ensemble with Mr Penner-Dilworth in M16 (for members of Copland Concert Band) 3.40 pm – 4.30 pm Thursday Weeks 6-8.

• String Ensembles can go ahead in cohort groups!
  • Perlman Strings (K-2) with Ms Monique Mezzatesta in M11 7.30 am Thursday Weeks 6-8.
  • Years 3 & 4 String Ensemble with Ms Ezmi Pepper (for members of Rubinstein or Korngold Strings) in M11 8.00 am – 8.45 am Wednesday Weeks 6-8.
  • Years 5 & 6 String Ensemble with Ms Ezmi Pepper (for members of Rubinstein or Korngold Strings) in M11 7.15 am – 8.00 am Wednesday Weeks 6-8.
  • Years 7 & 8 String Ensemble with Mr Shaun Warden (for members of Korngold or Mendelssohn Strings) in M12 lunchtime Monday Weeks 6-8.
  • Years 9 & 10 String Ensemble with Ms Ezmi Pepper (for members of Korngold or Mendelssohn Strings) in M11 7.30 am – 8:15 am Thursday Weeks 6-8.

Small Bands – Cohort discrete ensembles of instruments that can be played with masks on ARE allowed to rehearse from Monday 8 November as long as there is no singing so:

• Stage 4 Rock Band (no singing!) with Mr George Nikolopoulos in M11 Tuesday lunchtimes.
• Year 7 & 8 Guitar Ensemble and/or Rock Band Workshop (no singing!) with Mr Oscar Gross in M13 lunchtime Fridays.
• Year 9 & 10 Guitar Ensemble and/or Rock Band Workshop (no singing!) with Mr George Nikolopoulos in M16 lunchtime Fridays.
• Year 9 & 10 Jazz Combo with Mr Marty Farrugia in M16 Tuesday lunchtimes.
• Year 10 Rock Band (no singing!) with Mr Ben Marshall in M11 Monday lunchtimes.
• Year 11 Rock Band (no singing!) with Mr George Nikolopoulos in M11 Thursday lunchtime.