Opportunities for all
Loughborough Schools Music is a place of exceptional individual and collaborative efforts where everyone is invited to contribute. There are over 100 annual performance opportunities and 50+ ensembles and choirs. We hold weekly senior lunchtime concerts (Lunchtime Live) and fortnightly upper-prep lunchtime concerts (Soundbites) as well as twice-yearly pre-prep concerts (Minibites) which allow soloists a safe platform on which to perform. Annually there are faculty concerts (Wind and Brass, Strings and Orchestras, Keyboard and Chamber Music). Our Spring Concert in De Montfort Hall, Leicester is our main showcase event of the year, showing off our most senior ensembles and allowing Year 13 musicians the opportunity to perform a concerto movement. To finish the year our festival style event ‘Al Fresco’ is always popular, with two stages showing four hours of back-to-back music from all of our musicians from pre-prep to Y13! There are also countless informal opportunities to perform including regular performances in assemblies and there are both house and instrumental (open externally) music competitions.
Instrumental lessons
Learning to play an instrument is a valuable skill which can be a life-long passion. Not only is there enormous musical and social enjoyment, artistic and expressive satisfaction, there is also a real sense of achievement which continues beyond school. Although it is a lengthy process which requires commitment and hard work, there will also be many occasions to celebrate and enjoy along the way, which make it richly rewarding.
We are often asked to help pupils and their parents choose which instrument to learn. There is no hard and fast answer to this question and the ‘gut feeling’ that children may have towards specific instruments can be as important as any other factor. It is important, however, that pupils are aware of the sounds that particular instruments make. To apply or to find out more please click here.
| Piano | Violin | Flute | Trumpet | Drum Kit | ||
| Organ | Viola | Oboe | Cornet | Tuned percussion | ||
| Voice | Cello | Clarinet | French Horn | Tabla | ||
| Harmonium | Double Bass | Bassoon | Trombone | Music Technology | ||
| Harp | Saxophone | Tuba |
In the community
We also play a major role in music making in the community and for charity, which we believe to be a vital part of our remit. We are regularly called upon to take part in town events; the switching on of the Christmas lights and the opening of the fair being just two examples. We contribute monthly to the lunchtime concert series at Loughborough Parish Church ‘Tasting Notes’, often giving our Music Scholars an opportunity to shine in a more formal setting.
Excellence
We are committed to providing the very best in musical education and opportunities for our pupils. The development of our award-winning Music department in 2006 and the attainment of ‘All-Steinway School’ status in 2015, are each a testament to this determination to offer enhanced provision in this important area. Our music staff are some of the best both regionally and nationally and are able to teach our students to diploma level and beyond, regularly enabling our top students to access places at prestigious music colleges. Our Scholars are our most able and most ambitious students, and follow a pathway that enables them to access opportunities they would not otherwise have. Alongside a rigorous but supportive mentoring scheme they have access to Alexander Technique lessons, additional performing opportunities, repertoire sessions and our EMP (enhanced music programme).
