Music is woven into the daily rhythm of life at The Old School Henstead. Every child from Nursery to Year 6 takes part in weekly music lessons that include singing, instrumental work, and creative exploration. Pupils study a variety of topics such as rhythm and pulse, pitch, melody, dynamics, and music from different cultures and historical periods. These lessons build foundational skills in listening, composition, and performance.
All pupils are members of our school choir, which rehearses regularly and performs at a variety of events, including church services, the Summer Show, and community celebrations. The choir has performed at local and regional festivals, and even featured on national television for Children in Need — a source of great pride for our school.
Beyond class music, children are encouraged to develop their individual talents. Pupils enjoy curriculum-based recorder and ukulele lessons, and many choose to receive specialist tuition from our visiting peripatetic teachers in piano, voice, guitar, strings and percussion. Whether singing as a group or learning an instrument one-to-one, music at Henstead inspires confidence, creativity and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
Many pupils also take part in LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) speech and drama lessons and exams, which help to develop their confidence, communication and performance skills.