Music

Music plays a huge part in the children’s lives at Brambletye, which is both an incredibly exciting and privileged opportunity for the three music staff and 16 Visiting Music Teachers who teach here. All of the children receive at least one class Music lesson each week where topics range from Graphic Scores, Calypso, Samba, Music theory, Film Music and Programme Music to name but a few. It’s an entertaining and educative curriculum, which allows for flexibility, fun and creative music making as well as the ability to introduce the children to many different genres and composers.

A huge number of children (approximately 85%) receive at least one instrumental or vocal music lesson per week, which is a phenomenal number. With such an extraordinary take up of individual music lessons, it is unsurprising perhaps that Brambletye hosts a huge number of extra-curricular ensembles, which the children are actively encouraged to participate in. The ensembles currently include three choirs, two orchestras, a very large concert band and a brass ensemble, which boasts 25 players ranging from Year 3 to Year 8!

Concerts are huge affairs and regularly feature the whole school in their finales: recent performances have included ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Angels’ and ‘Rule the World’. It’s so crucial that all children have the ability to perform in our wonderful theatre and our concerts are testimony to that.

The Department is a huge part of the school, where fun and creativity are the name of the game but please don’t just take my word for it! Come and visit us!

For more information on any aspect of the Music Department at Brambletye, please contact the Director of Music Peta Andrews on: 01342 321004 ext 245 or email her: pandrews@brambletye.com

TESTIMONIALS FOR GUYS & DOLLS, March 2017:

What a fabulous evening. Our congratulations for pulling it off. Another triumph. Current parent

I just wanted to say huge congratulations for the brilliant production of ‘Guys and Dolls’, which was quite clearly an enormous success. For children to tackle a very ambitious musical is one thing, but to be able to pull it off with such aplomb is another. To say we were blown away is an understatement – all the actors and actresses were a credit to themselves and to the school. The songs are still ringing in our heads. Current Parent March 2017

2016 House Shout Winners

TESTIMONIALS FOR OLIVER! 2015

Oliver! was simply brilliant last night. It was outstandingly good and the music was superb! I could see you so energetically conducting the musicians below and had heard that you had succumbed to a very bad cold so well done, against all odds you were making a marvellous job of it and no one would have known. A Parent on Oliver! in 2015

The whole production was outstanding, we know Brambletye put on the best plays and musicals every year but each time I have to remind myself how busy the staff are and how inexperienced the children are. It could be the most disastrous combination but it works each time and inspires all that see it! Really well done, you did a fantastic job and there was a massive team effort going on, we all had a splendid time! Ex parent and Governor

X and I were totally blown away with the show (Oliver) on Saturday evening. Congratulations to everyone involved in putting on such an amazing production and, of course, to all the performers. Current parent

TESTIMONIALS FOR CONCERTS & THE CAROL SERVICE:

Many congratulations for an absolutely wonderful concert yesterday. I loved all the items and there was a fantastic atmosphere during both performances. It went down a storm with all of the parents and Year 3 had a great boogie. Ex parent

Congratulations for yet another amazing carol service, where the standard of music was so high, and simply so enjoyable. We loved your choice of carols and anthems, and it really was wonderful. Ex parent

I have sat through quite a few carol services in my 85 years. I can say that Brambletye’s carol service this year was quite the best one I have ever been to. Current Grandparent

Congratulations, the concert was fab – I really enjoyed it. Current member of staff

We were “blown away” by last Friday’s concert. Many of the parents expressed how emotional they became, and the pride and joy on the children’s faces (and the bobbing heads and tapping feet) said it all. Mrs Andrews encourages each child to give their all and do the best they can. You do not need to be musical to be part of her team and it is the equivalent of sports day in the musical calendar. Brilliant. Well done to all. Current parent