14th March 2025Heather Morgan

Welcome from the Director of Music

We are in the middle of our performance season. So much music, so much celebration and enjoyment. It is an amazing, if busy, time of year. Times like this remind everyone why we do what we do. Your part in that, supporting our musicians is essential. Do take time to read here and celebrate what everyone is doing, not just those that you know.

We are a Team, everyone. One third of the school. You might be surprised with what goes on, some of which you had no idea!

Mark Taylor, Director of Music

Fortnightly Focus

Simon Balle is a musical school. We are proud that we are a musical school. Sometimes, we have to remind everyone in Team Music what this actually means!

  • Pride and celebration. When we work hard, amazing musical things happen. Just look at our website!
  • Practice. Music takes practice, at least 3 times a week. In the Larch, families must supervise practice. Secondary musicians should be practising at least 4 times per week. We are all busy, but when practice is completed, the lessons are amazing!
  • Commitment. Ensembles take commitment. Music is commitment. Missing a rehearsal lets the team down. We are all busy, but we choose to be musicians and we have to commit!Ā 
  • Working together. The team work. We are all part of the team.Ā 

It is good to remind everyone of our values and ethos. Sometimes, we forget - life takes over. By building routines for practice and commitment at home, every week, you are helping create amazing Simon Balle Musicians.

Our Musical Curriculum

In Year 2, students have been working hard at playing the song ā€˜Naughty Pussycatā€™ on the glockenspiel. They have also been working on recognising the note middle C when written in music notation. I hope you enjoy these recordings!

Deer Class:

Foxes Class:

Celebrating Our Students

Musical Exam Success

Congratulations to David who recently passed his Grade 1 Piano with Merit.

After he worked really hard towards his exam, we are delighted for David with this well-deserved result.

Music Medal Success

Larch Students have been busy working towards and taking their ABRSM Music Medals.

A massive congratulations to the following students!

Copper Medals:

  • Å imon
  • George
  • Roux
  • Ethan
  • Amelia

Silver Medals:

  • Iris
  • Lucas
  • Zak

What fantastic achievements! If you haven't already received your Certificate and Badge, please be assured it is on its way, but if you have concerns, please get in touch.

 

 

 

KS1 Singing Assemblies

Each week KS1 comes together on Tuesday morning for a Singing Assembly.

Singing is a great way to be creative and have fun! It is also an important tool in many ways helping with language development and memory.

Songs are learnt over a number of weeks with a lot of repetition allowing the children to have a sense of achievement when they manage to sing more the following week.Ā 

Please enjoy this snippet!

Instrumental Lessons

Year 6 Flautists working together to develop so many musical skills.Ā 

Well done Gemma, Valentina & Florrie!

It is great to hear a snippet from music lessons. Here is a recording from Sofia's guitar lesson with Mr Niesyto.

All is Found from Frozen 2, Sofia has been working on in her lesson. Well done on a fantastic recording!

Celebrating our Performances

An Evening with the Simon Balle Big Band

A fantastic evening with so much support from families and students! Read what musicians had to say about it and enjoy the videos!

"Big Band evening this year was extraordinary. The feeling of playing with a band that is like a family is unmatched. Getting to see all of the parents let loose in the audience and dance to music we are performing feels like such an amazing achievement. This year was extra special to me as I got to play my first solos at a Big Band evening, and I got to sing a song! When we are performing we do really feel a part of the community and the happiness it brings is something I hope everyone watching can feel."

Merry, Big Band

"I played tenor saxophone in Big Band 2 which was such an incredible experience! We played multiple pieces which I think went really well and it was so fun to play in front of an audience with the lights. My highlight of the night was either doing a solo, which was nerve-racking but also such an amazing memory, or dancing and singing with my friends. The whole evening had such a wonderful atmosphere and it was so nice to see the audience of all ages singing along!"

Holly, Big Band 2

An Evening with the Simon Balle Big Band

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An All-through Celebration of Brass

An evening filled with a fantastic programme of music performed by a talented group of musicians from Year 4 to Year 13.Ā 

"My favourite piece to play was ā€œThe Final Countdownā€ because it is dramatic, I know the piece very well and the Tenor Horn (the instrument I play) got to play the main tune. I also enjoyed the opportunity to play a short solo in ā€œThe Second Lineā€. It was fun but nerve-wracking as I had to improvise which I have never done before in front of an audience. My favourite piece played by the secondary brass Ensemble was called ā€œResolutionā€. The main lead in this piece was done by the percussion which I am also a big fan of, so it was really nice to see them be the stars of this piece! I really enjoyed playing with the secondary brass and I would love to do it again."

Charlie, Tenor Horn

"On Thursday I played in the All-through Brass Celebration along with a group of other brass players from year 4-13.Ā  Although a lot of the pieces were quite hard to begin with, we practiced hard at our Monday lunchtime rehearsals and by the time the evening came they all sounded brilliant. We played a range pieces such as Resolution, O Magnum Mysterium and a Selection from the Secret Garden. It was a fun evening which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. My highlight was being able to perform the pieces weā€™ve practiced in front of our parents and my favourite piece was Selections from the Secret Garden."

Lilia, Trumpet

An All-through Celebration of Brass

 

Piano Recital

There was much to be enjoyed at our most recent Piano Recital where our March Exam Candidates took the opportunity to prepare by performing some of their pieces to an appreciativeĀ audience of family and friends.
It was great to see such a rangeĀ of years (7-11) and Grades (1-6), so that parentsĀ could see the range of musical progression and I'm sure our less experienced players were inspired by the performances of others.
Well done to everyone and good luck with your Exam later this month!

"I recently attended and performed at the piano evening in the music departmentā€”my first recital here. The atmosphere was warm and supportive, with encouraging family members and teachers, making it enjoyable for both performers and the audience. I loved the variety of pieces, from Ed Sheeran to grade pieces and even an old Hindi songā€”a nice surprise as it was one I knew. My own performance went well, and I was happy with how it turned out, despite feeling a little nervous at first. Having attended quite a few school music events, this was one of the most comfortable and pleasant, with performers of all ages giving their best and an appreciative audience."

Nitika, Year 10

Coming up!

Click here to see all of our upcoming events - there is so much music to celebrate!

What’s On

Click the poster for event details!