We believe making music should be FUN!
At Kent College Infant & Junior School we like to enjoy all we do in the music department, while at the same time striving to produce a high standard of performance at every level.
Every child in the school sings, with Infants and Juniors having singing practices each week. We are especially proud of our choir, which numbers over 65 children from years 2-6.
Our older pupils in Years 5 and 6 have the chance to join together with the younger students at our Senior School to form the Kent College Choristers. This group of young singers has had much success recently, being 'Choir of the Day' at the Area Finals of the Choir of the Year Competition in Basingstoke and twice winning the 'outstanding' award at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Symphony Hall, Birmingham. They won the 2013 Barnados Junior Choir of the Year Finals at the Barbican and were invited to perform in a sell out concert at the Royal Albert Hall. They perform regularly at concerts and services both in and out of school and tackle a wide variety of compositions. Venues over the last year have included Canterbury Cathedral, the Marlowe Theatre Canterbury. They have enjoyed regular European tours, singing in some of the major cathedrals of Europe, including Mass in St Mark's, Venice.
Music is an integral part of the day in the Nursery class and once a week the Nursery children have a lesson with one of our two music specialists. This continues through the early years and infants. In the Juniors, children have two music lessons a week. Most music lessons take place in our well-stocked music studio where there are enough classroom instruments for everyone, a sound system, recording facilities and plenty of space to move around. We have 13 visiting specialist instrumental teachers and tuition is available in a wide range of instruments from the fife to the euphonium, the double bass and the harp. Children may have a free trial on any instrument of their choice and instruments may be loaned free of charge for the first term of lessons. These teachers also run instrumental groups and aural classes for those taking examinations. Over 60% of children learn a musical instrument and many learn two or more.
Music form an important part of our Gifted, Really Enthusiastic, Able and Talented sessions which sees children further developing their musical skills and enjoying opportunities to perform.
Children as young as 4 years old begin violin lessons based on the Suzuki method. Twice a term all violin players from the newest to the most experienced perform in a Suzuki-style Play Together for parents and friends. They are often joined by 'cellists, brass and percussion players. Several of our string players have won places in the National Children's Orchestra. Our pianists and guitarists get the opportunity to perform once a term in our early morning concerts.
We have our own orchestra, as well as a clarinet club, magic flute group, string group and string quartets, and these, along with soloists at every level, perform regularly in concerts and services. At Christmas the Junior instrumentalists join together with the older students at Kent College in our 'Joy to the World' celebration. Many of our young musicians are awarded music scholarships to our senior school. At Christmas the Early Years perform a traditional Nativity story. The Year 1 and 2 children produce a musical play of an impressive standard for their years. Year 6 finish the end of their year with a full-scale musical production.
Do visit our KC media page at the bottom of the website to see photos of our concerts.
