In my second year as music teacher, I’ve had the opportunity to reintroduce cello lessons to a small group of Year 3 and 4 pupils. I’m excited to share that this initiative is set to expand in September with a larger cello group.
The school band continues to thrive, maintaining a consistent group of six dedicated members. While two of these children are moving on to secondary school, several other pupils have expressed interest in joining, and we’re planning an open trial session early in the new academic year to welcome new members.
This year, we welcomed 12 new violinists – all but two completed the full year, and nine have chosen to continue next year, which is fantastic. We now have three pupils entering their third year of violin lessons, along with a number of new guitarists ready to begin learning in September.
In our class music lessons, every year group has been involved in composition, listening, instrument playing, and singing. Some classes also explored the history of music by learning about different musical eras and creating presentations and posters on well-known composers. One particular highlight has been the introduction of whole-class recorder playing, which has proven extremely popular, especially among the younger children. From now on, each class I teach from Years 1 to 6 will spend half a term learning to play the recorder and read music notation.
While not every instrumentalist continued through to the end of the year, I’ve been impressed by the commitment shown by the vast majority of our young musicians—many of whom give up part of their lunchtime or arrive early to take part in lessons and clubs. Our violinists have been especially dedicated, and we now have the lovely challenge of accommodating a large cohort of continuing players next year.
Guitar group has been slightly more challenging in terms of long-term uptake. Many pupils are eager to start, but fewer choose to continue beyond the first year. I suspect this is due, in part, to expectations around the guitar as an ‘easy’ or instantly rewarding instrument as it is a fairly commonly played instrument in our culture. In reality, like any instrument, learning the guitar takes time, practice, and perseverance. Some pupils may come into lessons hoping to sound like Ed Sheeran after a few months, and when that doesn’t happen, enthusiasm can fade. We will continue to support and encourage persistence across all instruments.
A highlight of the Autumn Term was planning and leading the KS2 Christmas Performance—a joyful celebration of music in our school. The school band opened the event with a stirring performance of Carol of the Bells and Viva la Vida. Our choir sang the beautiful Noel by Lauren Daigle, and each KS2 class contributed with lovely singing—including some cheeky bouncing elves from Year 3!
The school choir continues to meet weekly after school and includes children from Year 1 to Year 6. Our school year culminated in a truly special experience: performing at the Celebration event organised by Britten Pears Arts at Snape Maltings Concert Hall on 7th July. The choir and band travelled by coach, took part in workshops and rehearsals, and then performed in the evening concert. Dressed in red, orange, and yellow with matching scarves to symbolise flames, they opened their performance with We Bring the Energy—a piece I composed using snippets of well-known songs and original material. This was followed by a vibrant performance of Electricity from Billy Elliot the Musical, featuring a lively instrumental section by the band. Every child performed with enthusiasm and skill, and I’m incredibly proud of those who overcame nerves to deliver such a confident performance on a big stage—an unforgettable experience for us all.
I’ve been particularly impressed by the development of the school band. They are always open to trying new things, and our rehearsals often include collaborative, experimental work. This approach is helping them build fantastic musical skills—arranging, improvising, listening, and working together creatively. Several members are even learning to switch between instruments, including glockenspiel, djembe, and piano.
Overall, it’s been a joy to see music flourish at Rougham Primary this year. We’ve seen high levels of engagement and retention in instrumental lessons, strong participation in the choir and band, and enthusiastic music-making throughout the school. I look forward to welcoming new instrumentalists next term and watching our continuing musicians grow and shine.’
