Music

Music plays an important part in the life of High March School. Its vibrant music department seeks to stimulate interest and enjoyment in all pupils.

From their earliest days in the Nursery, all pupils undergo a systematic training in, and knowledge of the major elements of music, through the disciplines of listening, performing and composing, in line with the requirements of the National Curriculum. Singing plays an important role throughout the school and pupils are encouraged to take advantage of performing opportunities as a means of self-expression and personal development.

In Junior House, the teaching is largely topic based, and the girls are introduced to notational procedures as part of their musical development. This is built upon in Year 3, when all girls learn the recorder, and in Year 5, when basic teaching in keyboard skills is undertaken. The Upper School curriculum also provides a broad understanding of Western Art Music styles from the Medieval period to the present, as well as incorporating teaching about World Music.

The majority of girls in the Upper School at High March take individual music lessons from one of the twelve experienced peripatetic teachers. Currently, tuition is offered in flute, recorder, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, French horn, tenor horn, violin, viola, ‘cello, drums, euphonium, singing and piano. As soon as they have gained a little experience, girls are encouraged to take part in one of the four choirs and orchestra as well as the chamber groups on offer, such as the Clarinet Choir, Recorder Consort, Brass Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, String Ensemble and Flute Group.

Performances take place in a regular series of Tea Time Concerts, assemblies, as well as at major school events such as the Harvest Festival, Remembrance, the Carol Service and Prize Giving. Girls also perform regularly in local music festivals and concerts outside school as well as local and national competitions. In addition, there is also a close collaboration between the Music and Drama departments at the school, and a number of productions take place during the course of the year.