St Michael's Woolmer GreenVA C of E School
'Shine as Lights in the World'
Music at St Michael's
The Arts in schools offer opportunities for children from all backgrounds to find new ways to express themselves, to try something new and explore their own creativity. Music is the perfect vehicle for building confidence as the children play in groups and ensembles, developing life skills such as teamwork , leadership skills and how to relate to others. It encourages children to improve their skills through repetition and practise, giving and receiving feedback, and experiencing the joy of performing.
For these reasons, music plays a big part of life at St Michael's. Although we are a small school, we are able to offer individual or small group tuition in many different musical disciplines. We hold music assemblies at the end of each term and a Summer Concert at the end of each year, but the children get many more opportunities to perform throughout the year at school functions and, local community occasions.
Choir
We have a very active choir for Years 3 - 6, which meets on Monday lunchtimes. It is directed by Mrs Hewitt and Mrs Wadey. They have sung at many local community events and Christmas concerts, and have performed twice at the Tower of London. This year they have also been practising to sing at The Royal Albert Hall at the Hertfordshire Schools Gala in which they took part in February.
Orchestra
Our orchestra is led by Mrs Hannah Hewitt and meets before school on Monday mornings. It has string, woodwind and percussion sections as well as keyboard. The orchestra is very inclusive and welcomes players of all standards to join in. The children perform annually at the school Summer Music Concert, and also termly in the various music assemblies that take place within school, allowing them a chance to play to a friendly and familiar audience.
Music Lessons
At St Michael's we are proud to be able to provide the children with class Ukelele lessons, courtesy of Miss Draper, as part of our curriculum. We also offer private music tuition, both individual and group, for a number of different instruments. The lessons take place during the school day and can be arranged through the school office.
Mrs Hewitt
Flute & Recorder years 2-6
Mrs Jellett
Violin years 1-6
Piano years 1-6
Miss Draper
Guitar years 4-6
Ukelele years 4-6
Piano years 1-6
A large number of our children learn musical instruments at St Michael's, with last Summer showing our greatest number of pupils taking ABRSM exams at school, ranging from Grade 1 Flute to Grade 4 Violin.