Music & Performing Arts

Performance plays a major role in the curriculum at Rupert House and we are very proud of our Music and Performing Arts offering.

We aim to inspire and enthuse all children to enjoy Music and we passionately believe in the power of Music and Performing Arts to build confidence, teamwork and communication skills.

We offer a comprehensive range of opportunities for children to learn an instrument, sing, dance and perform. Most children from Reception to Year 6 learn at least one musical instrument and we have ten peripatetic teachers who visit the school on a weekly basis to teach the children. All pupils have a timetabled weekly Music lesson and from Year 3, all children in the school also have a weekly Performing Arts lesson, too.

Throughout their time at Rupert House, all pupils will have the opportunity to learn a tuned and an untuned instrument during their weekly Music lessons including; Recorder, Violin, African Drumming and more! Children learn about different styles of music, musical history and are encouraged to compose their own music.

During Performing Arts lessons, the children learn to devise, to perform and to evaluate others’ work. They study play scripts, performance poetry, improvisation and characterisation.

Throughout the year, the school puts on numerous performances and productions. All our Pre-Prep children perform a Nativity or Christmas Show, while the whole school perform at our Harvest and Christmas Services. At Easter, we hold an evening concert performed by the Prep children at Henley Town Hall and the younger children showcase what they have been learning in the their one to one Music lessons to their parents within the school setting. We have a Chamber Choir which practices every week and they sing at events across the local community.

Performance plays an important part in the curriculum. The school year always ends with a grand summer production at the local Kenton Theatre for children in Years 3 to 6. This is the highlight of the year for all and a fantastic opportunity for the children to experience working in a theatre. Past productions have included ‘Aladdin, ‘Honk’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

To further develop Music and Drama skills we offer the following clubs:

• Orchestra
• Pre-Prep Choir
• Prep Choir
• Chamber Choir
• Music Theory Club
• Samba Drumming Club
• Song writing Club
• Year 6 Vocal Group
• ‘Dramaworks’ (LAMDA)

We are delighted that each year a number of our pupils go on to secure Music and Drama scholarships at their future school and are inspired to continue developing their skills to an extremely high standard.