Music at Pinewood
Music plays an important part in the school life at Pinewood. We believe it is paramount to a holistic education. Concerts are held regularly throughout the term, they cater for inclusivity, for specialist ensembles and soloists. Thanks to the dedication of the music staff and pupils a number Pinewood children have been awarded music scholarships to their senior schools.
Choirs
All children from Years 3 & 4 sing with the Junior Choir; performances are held termly in a series of Lower School Teatime Concerts. Children from the Middle School are invited to join the Vox Choir; they perform regularly at school functions and enjoy songs taken from a varied repertoire. Every child from years 6, 7 and 8 is auditioned at the beginning of the Autumn term for places within the Chapel and Chamber Choirs. Members of both the Girls’ and Boys’ Chamber Choirs enjoy singing a variety of secular music; they perform regularly within school and at public functions. In December 2009 they sang at the 02 arena in London and have been invited back to sing again this year. The Chapel Choir sings at St James church in Bourton and membership is reviewed each term; recently it spent the day at a professional recording studio recording anthems for a CD. Children in the Chapel Choir follow the Royal Schools of Church Music Chorister Awards.
Orchestra, Bands & Ensembles
The school orchestra and jazz band rehearse weekly and instrumental staff coach sectional rehearsals in the lead up to concerts. There are also various ensembles to meet the diverse instrumental playing throughout the school: a wind sextet, saxophone trio, junior and senior string quartets, brass trio, percussion group and a flute choir are all led by the visiting music staff. Opportunities for these ensembles to perform in and out of school are arranged throughout the term.
Individual music lessons
Choosing an instrument is an extremely important decision and one which is discussed with pupils, parents and the Director of Music. Children are given demonstrations by visiting music staff and ‘taster sessions’ on a variety of instruments within their class music lessons to help in the decision making. Pinewood offers tuition on piano (jazz & classical), singing, violin, viola, cello, double bass, percussion, guitar (electric & classical), flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, french horn, trumpet, trombone and theory. As part of Pinewood’s commitment to music, September 2009 saw the launch of ‘The Pinewood String Experience’: all children in Year 3 learn to play an orchestral string instrument as part of their weekly, timetabled class music lessons. ‘The Pinewood String Experience’ recognises its responsibility to encourage young string players, and regular performances in Teatime Concerts are thoroughly enjoyed by performers and audience alike.
Performing at a national level is encouraged, supported and admired by the Pinewood community. Children from Years 5, 6, 7 & 8 are currently members (following stringent auditions) of the prestigious National Youth Choir of Great Britain, the National Children’s Orchestra and the Wind Sonfonia of Great Britain.
Children participate in local music festivals and competitions; in recent years Pinewood pupils have been winners of the Celia Walker Music Competition (local to Oxfordshire). All pupils also compete in the annual House Music Competition, adjudicated by Directors of Music from prestigious senior schools.
Pupils are prepared for music examinations by the following examination boards: Associated Board of Music; Trinity/Guildhall school of Music; Rock School; Royal School of Church Music. Success in the variety of examination boards on offer at Pinewood displays the diverse styles of music experienced at Pinewood.
The Music Department can be contacted on musicschool@pinewoodschool.co.uk
For photos of music events, please go to the Events Gallery.
