Figure 1.--Here some boys are working on a choral piece in the school music roomas part of their form activities. The school has a very competent little choir.
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Figure 1.--Here some boys are working on a choral piece in the school music roomas part of their form activities. The school has a very competent little choir. |
Most schools have a choir, of varying distinction, to peform at chapel services and other occassions. Some schools have impresive choral programs. These are of course the choirs of Englad's great cathedrals. Other schools vary greatly in their music program. We visited one school, St. Michael's Tedbury, that had a wondurfull choral music program. We attended the evensong. Unfortunately almost no one else attended. It was a lovely school, but unfortunately not well placed. The school closed a few years after our visit. A few other schools had an impressive music tradition. Here much depends on the staff's interests and capabilities. More common at prep schools is some attention to choral singing, but not serious music training. Some work might be done in the form rooms, but because of the noise problem and the need for a piano music room is often set aside or tghey might use the gymnasium or all purpose room. The choirs often take part in various school programs. Some of the more serious might give community performances.
Some of the
schools with especially proficient choirs may deputise for resident cathedral choirs. Some have regular recitals and concerts which they may give with orchestras. The performance can be quite impressive for children. Feistead reports, for example, performing the requiems of Faure and Mozart, Haydn's Theresa Mass and Mozart's Coronation Mass.
Most schools have a choir, of varying distinction, to peform at chapel services and other occassions.
Some schools have impresive choral programs. These are of course the choirs of Englad's great cathedrals. These schools have a truly impressive tradition. In fact the earliest schools os in Britain folllowing the departure of the Roman Legions appear to be the monastic choir schools.
Other schools vary greatly in their music program. A few other schools had an impressive music tradition. Here much depends on the staff's interests and capabilities. More common at prep schools is some attention to choral singing, but not serious music training. We visited one school, St. Michael's Tedbury, that had a wondurfull choral music program. We attended the evensong. Unfortunately almost no one else attended. It was a lovely school, but unfortunately not well placed. The school closed a few years after our visit.
Some singing might be done in the form rooms. This is often the case with the younger children, but not restricted to them. Children enjoy singing and many teachers integrate some singing into form room activities. Here the subject matter and the interests of the teachers were factors. This seemed to be an activity that the children enjoyed. Here a variety of music was loaned. We noted quite a number of American songs, including several I remembered sing as a little boy, including many Western songs like "Ole Susana".
Because of the noise problem and the need for a piano music room is often set aside or they might use the gymnasium or all purpose room. Most prep schools have a dedicated music room. Here choirs and instrumental groups can practice without disturbing the classrooms. The choirs practice here as a group. Or individuals or small groups can practice their pieces and benefit from individual coaching.
The choirs often take part in various school programs. Some of the more serious might give community performances.
Some of the
schools with especially proficient choirs may deputise for resident cathedral choirs. Some have regular recitals and concerts which they may give with orchestras. The performance can be quite impressive for children. Feistead reports, for example, performing the requiems of Faure and Mozart, Haydn's Theresa Mass and Mozart's Coronation Mass.
