Music Art & Drama
Music

Music plays a significant part in the life of the school.  We regularly win music exhibitions and scholarships to a wide range of Public Schools.

All children at Winchester House have two lessons of curriculum music each week. One of these is a class based lesson where the focus is on listening/appraising, composing and performing skills; and the other is a year group based lesson, focussing on vocal work in a choral context. 

Learning an instrument

Extra curricular music plays a large part in all that we do and we offer tuition in many different instruments. Over 75% of children learn at least one instrument and approximately 175 lessons are given each week, as well as theory and aural coaching to help prepare children for the Associated Board Exams. The music staff are always happy to offer advice and help when choosing which instrument to take up.

Tuition is available in the following instruments:

Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Double Bass, Flute, French Horn, Guitar, Oboe, Organ, Percussion/Drum Kit, Piano, Recorder, Saxophone, Singing, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola, Violin.

Lessons last for 35 minutes and are taught by visiting specialist instrumental / vocal teachers. Children are taught these lessons during the course of a normal school day on a rotational basis.

We are fortunate to have a large number of well-equipped practice rooms with modern pianos available at school, and children are encouraged to practise both at school and at home. 

Ensemble music making is a very important part of what we strive for at Winchester House. Most children who learn an instrument will take part in an ensemble at some time during their time at school. It is through shared experiences that music making can be really enjoyed and appreciated.

We have an orchestra, junior and senior brass groups, a junior and senior wind group, junior clarinets, junior strings, junior and senior flutes, a sax group, a piano ensemble, a guitar group and a junior and senior choir - 'Cantoris'.

This very popular and highly acclaimed choir recently toured Holland and plans are in progress for another tour in the not-too-distant future.  There is also the opportunity for children to form their own ensembles and music groups, and this is positively encouraged, particularly during the music competition (see below)

In October 2005 we started a joint venture with Bloxham School, performing the cantata 'Ocean World', which was a very successful undertaking involving large numbers of children dancing, singing, playing and creating films for projection during the performance.  The success of this venture was repeated in October 2007 with 'African Jigsaw', even bigger and better than 'Ocean World'.  The aim is that this will become a bi-annual event.

We also hold Lunchtime Concerts every half-term - a performance platform for instrumentalists and singers and more formal Music Concerts are held termly. There is an extensive and very successful Music Competition in the Lent Term, involving most children from Years 3 - 8.  The competition also includes the House Shout, a very popular pupil-led singing competition involving all the children from Years 4 - 8.