Prep Music and the Arts

Art, Music and Drama play an important part in the life of the school.

Art

In the Pre-Prep art and craft are taught by the form teacher during specific art lessons and children illustrate written work, make models and use other forms of visual communication.  Basic skills (control of drawing and painting tools, cutting, sticking) are developed, enabling the children to plan then realise their ideas successfully.  Exploration of a wide variety of attractive and exciting materials lays the foundation for future progress and enjoyment.

The children in the Preparatory School learn the basic “grammar” of art (colour theory, line drawing from direct observation, shading techniques) so that talent and self-discipline may develop.  They extend their experience and knowledge using an increasing variety of materials and techniques and working in two and three dimensions.  Experiment and innovation are encouraged.  Genuine delight in creative achievement is our goal for every child.

Music

Music plays an important part in the life of the school.  All pupils from the Nursery onwards are given opportunities to make and respond to music through enjoyable first-hand experiences.  Listening is one of the most important skills for children to learn; music provides experiences which develop the ability to listen critically and carefully.  Concentration, understanding and remembering are all fostered in musical activity.

Percussion, experimental music and composition take place within all age-groups.  The children explore and learn to discriminate between the sounds and textures produced and to write these down using graphic score or notation. Instrumental work is well-developed within the school and individual tuition is available from age seven.

There is an increasing number of extra-curricular activities to enjoy including recorder group, wind band, choir and Orchestra.  Pupils perform regularly in concerts and school productions.

Drama

One of the key ways children can gain an understanding of themselves and confidence as decision-makers and problem-solvers can be through drama lessons.  They learn to work collaboratively, explore a range of human feelings and work through moral dilemmas.  We do this by creating improvised situations, role-play, dance, drama, puppetry, entering competitive arts festivals, theatre visits, debating and listening to others.

There is an opportunity in drama for all our pupils to find an area of success.  Our main aim is to achieve vitality, fluency, confidence and enjoyment within a framework of trust and learning.  Every pupil has the chance to perform and this includes using our newly-developed 100-seat Hobhouse Studio Theatre, which provides a professional standard performance space and in which the children can further develop their talents.  The regular drama lessons culminate in a musical performance involving all pupils from years 2 - 6.  "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Captain Pugwash" are examples of recent productions.