Music
Ms Wellings
Music Teacher
Music plays a very important part in the curriculum at Forest. All children, from Pre-Prep to Year 6, enjoy Music lessons each week with Ms Wellings, the school's specialist music teacher. During these lessons, pupils explore the various elements of music and develop their skills in playing, composing and listening to different musical styles:
In Key Stage 1, the focus is on establishing a strong understanding of the basic musical elements through singing and playing instruments, games and other fun activities. By the end of KS1, pupils will know the basic note values from semibreve to semiquaver, the treble clef notes from middle C to the next C, and simple definitions/Italian words describing tempo, timbre, texture and dynamics.
In Key Stage 2, the focus is on broadening the pupils’ awareness of music in different genres, continuing singing and playing instruments but also involving more group work, including compositions, performances and project work. By the end of KS2, pupils will understand the orchestral instruments, the various musical periods from Baroque to Modern, world music genres and different cultural contexts, both traditional and modern. Singing is one aspect of Music that all Forest students especially enjoy. From “Big, Red Combine Harvester” in Pre-Prep to “Refuge” in Year 6, songs are used to entertain, educate and encourage the children.
Pupils sing regularly in class, at assemblies and during weekly singing practice in the Hall.
In addition, the school has three choirs:
Greenhouse Choir – for budding choristers in Years 2 and 3 (rehearsals for 10 minutes at break time each Monday and Thursday)
Main Forest Choir – for all interested pupils from Years 4 to 6 (rehearsals for 25 minutes at lunch time each Monday and Thursday, with additional rehearsals leading up to Christmas)
Forest Chamber Choir – an auditioned choir of just 12 members from Years 4 to 6 (rehearsals for 40 minutes each Thursday morning before school) Forest pupils have sung at Manchester Cathedral, MEN Arena, Alderley Edge Festival, Altrincham Schools Festival and many other local venues; we are very proud of their efforts and successes!
Instrumental Lessons Children are also offered the opportunity to learn instruments with specialist teachers during the school term. These instruments include:
Singing
Recorder
Guitar
Flute
Clarinet
Saxophone
Trumpet
piano
Pupils are expected to practise each day and to be diligent and enthusiastic about their progress. They have the chance to perform at assemblies and informal concerts throughout the school year, as well as at more formal school events. There is also the prospect of doing Associated Board examinations for those who are practising andprogressing extremely well.
Here is a picture of the Forest School Chamber Choir ready for action!