Performing Arts
We believe that the Performing Arts play an important role in developing a child’s communication skills, self-confidence and imagination. Our specialist teachers for Music, Drama and Dance ensure that pupils achieve the highest standards possible in these areas. This is complemented by our outstanding facilities – purpose built music rooms, drama studios as well as the stunning Mairlot Hall.
All classes have weekly music lessons during which they cover key skills including singing, playing percussion instruments, composing, listening and appraising music and music notation. In Year 3, all girls learn the recorder in class and in Year 4 they play the ukulele. There are three choirs for Upper Prep girls: St Teresa’s Singers for Year 3, The O2 Singers for Years 5 and 6 and an auditioned Chamber Choir for Years 5 and 6. The choirs take part in local and national competitions and have been very successful over recent years. In the last few years our choirs have performed at the O2 and the Royal Albert Hall as well as more locally in Dorking Halls.
There is also a flourishing school orchestra, wind band, string ensembles and a ukulele club. Performance opportunities abound and a variety of concerts take place in either our beautiful chapel or our impressive Mairlot Hall auditorium. Whole school musical events take place each term for Harvest, Christmas and Easter as well as an Upper Prep Spring Concert and a summer production for Years 5 and 6.
Instrumental lessons are available for all orchestral instruments as well as voice, drum kit, guitar and piano. These can be arranged by contacting the Director of Music. Girls are prepared for ABRSM instrumental and music theory examinations and for scholarships to the Senior School.
An annual Easter Music Course is held during the Easter holidays for children from all schools who play an orchestral instrument.
Drama is a weekly lesson on our timetable for all year groups and Drama lessons comprise of three core elements: exploring, performing and evaluating. Each girl is encouraged to develop her performance skills and confidence through a varied curriculum that explores the history of theatre, play texts and core performance skills. Each summer our Year 5 and 6 perform a spectacular musical show or play, which is always anticipated with baited breath!
Pupils can take extra-curricular lessons in preparation for LAMDA examinations (acting and speaking, verse and prose for example). These sessions are run in small groups and take place after school.