Solihull School
At Solihull Preparatory School, music is an integral part of our vibrant school community, with engaging lessons, diverse clubs and groups, and frequent chances to perform. Whether students are just starting their musical exploration or building on their talents, we aim to provide a supportive environment that encourages every young musician to flourish.
Classroom Provision
Music education at Solihull School is delivered through a broad and imaginative curriculum designed to ignite passion and curiosity for music in children aged 3 to 11. Covering the key musical skills of performance, listening, singing and composing, we also study a broad range of composers and learn about musical history. Children from nursery upwards are taught by a music specialist, ensuring that every child receives high-quality instruction tailored to their developmental stage. From early years to J4 (Year 6), pupils engage in a variety of musical activities, ranging from keyboard skills and percussion performance, to African drumming and jazz improvisation – with everything in between!
Excellent Facilities and Performances
Our pupils benefit from the use of our spacious music classroom, equipped with 10 keyboards, a class set of iPads and a wealth of tuned and untuned percussion instruments. Regular music performances are held in both our school hall and our purpose-built theatre, the “SMArt” Centre (Saint Martin’s Arts Centre). From informal ‘soloists concerts’ to year group assemblies, children are encouraged to share their talents and celebrate their musical achievements. For our larger scale events, we benefit from the use of the Senior School’s ‘Bushell Hall’ where we perform termly music concerts involving more than 200 pupils and an audience of over 500! These fantastic opportunities help our pupils build confidence and stage presence, and develop not only musically but also socially, as they learn the joy of working together as a team.
The Benefits of Learning an Instrument
We are proud of the extensive opportunities available to our pupils. During their time at the school, more than two-thirds of our students learn to play at least one musical instrument, and many achieve success in external music examinations. Research shows us that learning an instrument offers numerous potential benefits, including improved cognitive abilities, enhanced coordination, and increased discipline and patience. It certainly provides a creative outlet and a means of personal expression, contributing to overall emotional well-being. Our music programme is further enriched by initiatives like the ‘Solihull Sings!’ project, which promotes singing and collaboration with other schools in the area. All these things ensure that every child has the opportunity to explore and develop their musical potential.
Clubs and Groups
Our Preparatory School boasts a wide array of musical clubs and groups designed to cater to various interests and skill levels. Once learning an individual instrument, pupils can join one of our many instrumental music groups: String Orchestra, Wind Band, Brass Ensemble, Samba Band, Guitar Ensemble, and many other specialised instrumental ensembles. There is also the opportunity for every child in every year group from Infant 2 (Year 2) upwards to be a member of one of our school choirs. These groups rehearse after school or at lunchtime and are extremely popular! Our pupils from J2 (Year 4) upwards also have the chance to audition for the Chapel Choir, where they can further develop their vocal abilities and participate in services at the Senior School Chapel throughout the year.
With vibrant musical opportunities that combine structured lessons, practical experiences and inspiring performances, Solihull Preparatory School is committed to nurturing a lifelong love for music in every student.
