21st November 2025Heather Morgan

Welcome from the Director of Music

It has been a very busy few weeks, celebrating what our incredible musicians achieve. Concerts, rehearsals and the coming together of our musical community. The standard of music across our all-through school has been beyond expectation and I believe this is due to our unique ethos and high expectations. We teach musically, and expect results, musically.

Day after day I am astounded with what our musicians love about Team Music and achieve within Team Music. This newsletter is a celebration of our music, your young people, our community. There is much more to come - more ideas, more celebration, more music. Thank you to everyone who is part of what we do. You don’t get this anywhere else!

Mark Taylor
Director of Music
Simon Balle Music and the Laurel Education Trust

Fortnightly Focus: Reading Music

This is a subject I have returned to many times over the years. To read or not to read music, depending on the instrument.

Our take has become quite clear, as we have again had this debate - all musicians need to be able to read music.

Why? It means they can play more, and take part more in music, in various styles. If someone is, say, Grade 4, can they read music at grade 4 standard? Can they sight read music at grade 4 standard?

Our ethos is all about being in ensembles - making music with others, going beyond a comfort zone, learning new musical skills. Reading notation, especially treble and bass clef (again, depending on instrument) is crucial.

I am proud that we do ask all musicians to be fluent in reading music, and we will continue to expect all to be able to do this!

Celebrating our Musical Curriculum

Year 3 are continuing their brilliant work at reading notation, and even starting to write some notes themselves!

Year 2 have enjoyed composing their own pieces inspired by Fireworks, using glockenspiels and untuned percussion.

Reception are working really hard to learn their nativity songs, and Year 1 are using music and movement to discover pieces from ‘The Nutcracker.’

Celebrating your Musicians

Music Medal & Exam Success

Congratulations to the students who have been working hard at exams!

Trinity

  • Isaac B for passing his Grade 3 Clarinet exam

Music Medals

  • Natalie for passing her Copper Flute Music Medal
  • Jacob for passing his Bronze Cello Medal with Excellence
  • James for passing his Bronze Cello Medal

Larch Star Assembly Performances

Each Wednesday, as part of the KS2 Celebration Assembly, musicians perform to their peers. Congratulations to the following performers!

Piano

  • Havannah
  • Ariana
  • Alexa

Violin

  • Willow
  • Juliette
  • Ariana
  • Idil

Saxophone

  • Felix
  • Isla

Celebration of Singing & Strings

We had over 100 musicians performing tonight to a packed hall. This was the final joint number. Coming off the back of the Remembrance Services this morning, I am so proud of Team Music and what everyone has achieved.
It was wonderful to bring together part of our musical community with so many proud families celebrating what their students were achieving. This was an incredible concert.

 

Larch Celebration of Music

Congratulations to everyone from Years 2 - 6 who performed in the incredible concert last night. 130 performing, over 300 there from our community.

Celebration of Wind and Brass

A superb evening of Wind, Brass and Percussion. The concert was, quite simply, stunning.

Do enjoy watching the performances, celebrating all that is Team Music!

 

I really enjoyed performing in the celebration of wind and brass on Monday where there were 5 different bands playing a selection of pieces. I thought the evening went really well and enjoyed playing and listening to all the music. My favourite piece was Lucky to Be Me and it was an amazing experience to do my first solo playing this song. 

Lilia

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