The thrust of the Music Department’s activity is designed to enhance the musical awareness and appreciation of all pupils, predominantly as a result of their participation in a wide variety of choirs, orchestras and ensembles. This experience should contribute to the development of a strong cultural life which should be seen to have as strong a value and importance as other interests and activities. More important, perhaps, is the need to unlock and develop the musical potential of every single pupil, who has much to gain from this activity regardless of his social background or intellectual ability.

Music plays a major part in the life of the School. Over two-thirds of the children in the Junior part of the School receive individual instrumental tuition from a team of eleven visiting specialist teachers. The School has two orchestras, plus Brass, String, Saxophone and Percussion ensembles, Clarinet and Flute Choirs, Junior and Senior Choirs, and recorder groups. Pupils frequently perform in concerts both in school and at public venues as well as taking part in competitions, festivals and orchestral workshops held in the Midlands area.

Pupils have been awarded Scholarships and exhibitions at a variety of schools including Loughborough Grammar School, Loughborough High School, Oakham School and Oundle School. Children are regularly entered in local music festivals such as Nottingham and Leicester. Pupils have also gained places in youth orchestras at National level (National Children’s Orchestra) and local level (Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire Arts Orchestras).

 All pupils receive a weekly forty minute class music lesson in which they are given opportunities for instrumental performance and singing, as well as receiving tuition in musical appreciation and history. Recorder instruction is given to all pupils upon entering the Prep School and any pupils receiving instrumental tuition are encouraged to bring their instruments along to play in the ‘class band’.

It is hoped that musicians from Fairfield will continue to explore the repertoire they have encouraged at school. In particular all children will have been exposed to singing at regular stages of their time at Fairfield in hymns, carols and performances.

One of the Music Department’s primary objectives is to develop the musician to his fullest potential. As a result it is quite common that gifted musicians emerge from within the department as well as those that arrive from different establishments. For the more committed and gifted musicians the department offers the range and level of experience that will equip them to secure Scholarship and Exhibition places at their senior school.

Great care is given to this matter for in such a personal one-to-one relationship the personal and musical chemistry has to work extremely well. In case of gifted pupils, the teaching is tailor-made to that pupil’s level and strengths which enable pupils to accelerate at their own pace with all the possible opportunities being given for concerts to stretch those pupils to achieve high objectives. It is clearly understood in the department that pupils need regular concert opportunities to show their mettle. Such opportunities abound especially in the concerts, musical productions, assemblies, Open Mornings etc., which give the children the experience of performing.

We should foster and encourage enthusiasm for music in all its forms, and a sense of joy and fulfilment in those that participate. It is recognised that the future holds great opportunities for leisure activities, as a result of changes in the employment market, and music should have a considerable part to play in the lives of those who take part and in audiences of tomorrow. An understanding of the aesthetic expressive and technical elements of music will enhance the intellectual awareness of all children who take part in music.

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Loughborough Music School