We are delighted that instrumental and vocal teachers have been able to continue individual teaching remotely. Working on either Zoom or WhatsApp, girls have continued to develop their individual skills and prepare for ABRSM and Trinity exams. Girls have also been encouraged to take part in international programmes, such as that run by the Benedetti Foundation, and we were delighted that one of our Year 6 viola players was chosen from 8,000 videos to take part in the final concert edited for YouTube.
Class lessons have featured a range of listening and appraising tasks, performing and composing. Whilst our Junior School pupils have had a ‘song of the week’, including ‘Devon Days’ to fit in with the annual Devon Day, Year 7 have been studying fanfares, Year 8 reggae and Year 9 rock and roll. More recently girls have moved on to projects based on resources provided by the Royal Opera House and BBC Ten Pieces. With a mixture of written assessments, quizzes, project based work and recorded submissions each girl’s progress has been carefully monitored and regular feedback given.
A highlight has been our remote class concerts with a mixture of solo pieces, newly composed COVID19 songs or pieces using kitchen utensils, music quizzes to entertain and inform class mates and even a video of a rapping cat!
