Music

Musical Opportunities at St Paul's

St Paul’s Church of England Primary School’s music department is highly regarded for both vocal and instrumental accomplishments.  We enjoy playing and singing music from a wide range of genres, including and enthusing children from the very youngest to the eldest members of our school.

Our school choir has gained an excellent reputation over the years.  We regularly receive invites and accept engagements to perform in and around the local area.  The choir members range from age 7 to 11 and they enjoy singing a variety of music from choral works such as Faure's Requiem to popular favourites from our school worship and songs from the shows. 

Over the past decade, the choir has been privileged to take part in concerts with Hereford Police Male Voice Choir, Evensong at Hereford Cathedral, numerous joint concerts with Hereford Cathedral School, the Three Choirs Plus festival and the Queen’s Jubilee Diamond Day celebrations.  We enjoy our close links with St Paul’s Church and have enjoyed leading Sunday morning worship.  Our choir was recently chosen as the only primary school to sing at the inauguration of the new NMiTE University in Hereford Cathedral. 

Whole-school singing is valued highly at St Paul’s.  In recent years, our anti-bullying films have achieved national prominence on social media.  We have also received a visit from CBeebies’ Andy Day (along with his band, the Odd Socks), who listened to us performing one of our anti-bullying songs.  It has been fantastic to make recordings as part of the “iSingPop” project and to receive a visit from the Sunshine Radio team.

Children have numerous opportunities to develop their skills in music and drama during their time at St Paul’s.  Every year, the children put on an Infant Nativity, a Year 3/4 production and a Year 6 show.  Class-led worship regularly includes singing, dance and drama too.  The children take part in ‘Songs and Praise’ assemblies every week, where part-singing is encouraged.  Harvest, Christmas and Easter celebrations always include hymn-singing, as well as instrumental accompaniment from members of our woodwind ensemble and hand bell team.
 

Musical opportunities are encouraged from an early age and talents are nurtured through the extra-curricular activities run by music specialists on the school staff.  A high proportion of our children receive peripatetic instrumental lessons during school time on instruments such as piano, guitar, drums, violin, cello, flute, oboe and trumpet. 

Our instrumentalists have regular opportunities throughout the year to perform to friends and families in school music concerts and events.  Performing highlights in recent years have included giving a recital at Hereford Sixth Form College, putting on a joint children’s concert with Hereford Concert Band, and playing at St Michael’s Hospice.  At the Hereford Festival, our string orchestra received the prestigious ‘Elgar Award’ in 2011 and in 2013. Some members also played in a special concert with The English Symphony Orchestra. 

We have excellent facilities for the teaching of whole-class music.  Our refurbished music suite is fully equipped with the latest in music technology, along with tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments.  Our Year 3 children also take part in ‘Wider Opportunities’ sessions, which are run by specialist teachers from the Herefordshire Music Service.