Instrumental scheme launched with a fanfare

This September saw the launch of our enhanced Let’s Get Playing scheme, which provides free weekly instrumental lessons to every Remove (Year 7) pupil. 

Until the end of term, every pupil will enjoy weekly 30-minute lessons on an instrument that is brand new to them as part of their timetabled music lessons. All pupils are working towards the same aim of playing together in an end of term concert, and achieving an ABRSM music medal.

Director of Music, Debbie Whitfield, is really pleased with the progress that the pupils are already making on their new instruments.

She said: “This is an ambitious scheme but it has been amazing to see the pupils so engaged with their lessons and really exceeding all our expectations on their new instruments.”

Mrs Whitfield went on to explain why the scheme is so important: “King’s has a strong and proud tradition of excellence in music and it is important to me that as many pupils as possible benefit from being a part of that. I hope that many of these pupils will continue with their lessons, join one of our many ensembles and enjoy the lifelong joy of playing an instrument.

“In addition, we know that learning an instrument has many other fantastic benefits such as teaching perseverance, boosting mental health and giving pupils a real sense of achievement, all of which will have a wider positive impact on these pupils.”

Pupils are taking lessons on a wide range of orchestral instruments and when lessons end in December, they will have the opportunity to continue with peripatetic lessons at half price for the remainder of the year.

The enhanced Let’s Get Playing scheme has been made possible thanks to generous funding from KSPA and CAOKS.

Pictured here is one of our Removes classes with their instruments.