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Music

Pupil playing the trumpet

EXPRESSION AND PERFORMANCE

St Nicholas’ School has a reputation for its excellent music provision where every pupil is encouraged to explore and fulfil their musical potential through an array of co-curricular activities, performance opportunities and ensemble experiences.  

Pupils across the school, from Nursery to Seniors, participate in an extensive range of ensembles, enhancing their musical development. Making music with others, such as belonging to a choir, an orchestra or a band, is vital to hone their skills and is an excellent way of making friends and working as a team.  

Alongside our ensembles, over 160 music lessons are taught each week by a team of visiting peripatetic teachers. Currently, over 60% of all students receive lessons on at least one instrument. The combination of specialist teaching across a wide range of instruments and excellent resources, provides our pupils with a supportive and inspiring environment in which to flourish to a very high standard. 

St Nicholas’ School pupils benefit from all musical performances taking place in the Pritchard Hall, our purpose-built Performing Arts Theatre with raked seating on the lower and upper floors and an orchestra pit, as well as further co-curricular experiences such as music trips, opportunities to watch a variety of concerts and the chance to perform in the wider community. 

MUSIC IN NURSERY AND INFANTS
 

Infant pupils playing the violin


Our Nursery and Infant School pupils are taught music weekly by specialist staff.  Alongside this, pupils take part in weekly singing assemblies and can join the Infant Choir.  There are regular opportunities for pupils to perform together during the year within assemblies, plays and a special summer concert in the Pritchard Hall. 

All our pupils in Years 1 and 2 receive group violin lessons with Year 2 pupils having the option of individual violin and piano lessons.  
 

MUSIC IN JUNIORS AND SENIORS

Junior Orchestra
Senior guitar ensemble
Junior Choir
Senior Orchestra
Junior Guitar Ensemble
Senior Swing Band

Music plays a large part in the life of a junior pupil and is made accessible to all, irrespective of their abilities; whether being inspired for the first time or developing existing skills.  All junior pupils sing in the Junior Choir and pupils in Years 5 and 6 are invited to audition for the Junior Chamber Choir.  All instrumentalists are included in the Junior Orchestra and the Junior Guitar Ensemble. 

Senior School pupils continue to enjoy a range of co-curricular music activities and ensembles.  There is a Senior Choir, open to all pupils, and the Senior Chamber Choir, which is auditioned. All string players are members of the Senior Orchestra, with those working from Grade 4 and upwards also playing in the Senior Chamber Orchestra. All pupils who learn a Wind or Brass instrument play in the Swing Band, and all Guitar players are members of the Senior Guitar Ensemble or one of the Rock Bands.  

There are many opportunities for junior and senior pupils to perform throughout the year, both at school through concerts, music evenings, open events, and in the wider community. 

In addition, a co-curricular highlight of the school year is our annual Inter-House Music Competition, involving all pupils from the Junior and Senior School working together across year groups to rehearse and perform a musical programme in their respective houses, led by our Year 10 pupils.  

"A quick note to say congratulations and thank you to yourself and the music teachers for a lovely Informal Concert last night!  You really enabled the girls to shine with some stunning accompaniment arrangements and I felt that the broad variety of pieces performed indicated that each girl had a connection with their chosen piece. 

Bravo and thank you to all you and your team do."

St Nicholas' School Parent

Junior pupil playing the violin

MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS

Year 7 applicants have the opportunity to apply for a Music scholarship.

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