Music is a very popular subject and has an extensive extra-curricular programme:
- Junior House Orchestra
- Junior House Choir
- Senior House Orchestra
- Senior House Chamber Choir
- Chamber Music Groups
- Musical Theatre Group
Music plays a major part in the daily life of Westfield. At Junior House pupils are taught musical awareness through a range of practical activities at Key Stage 1, involving singing, movement/dance and instrumental work.
In Upper One every pupil is given a group violin lesson for a year on an instrument provided by the school, in addition to her singing and general music lessons. Many girls choose to continue individual or shared lessons with the visiting teacher; there are currently 16 Junior House pupils who have continued after their initial year.
Most Junior House girls learn musical instruments or voice; the most popular are the piano and flute. Other instruments learned by the girls include guitar, clarinet,saxophone,violin, viola, trombone and percussion.
In the orchestra, girls play a variety of instruments in arrangements specially designed for their capabilities. We also join forces with Senior House at concerts and carol services during the year. We also have a regular series of Solos/Small Groups Concerts for pupils throughout the whole school to perform in front of friends and families.
At Senior House learning to play a musical instrument is actively encouraged and some girls learn one or more with the visiting teachers; most are enthusiastically involved in the wide variety of extra-curricular activities including the Choir, the Orchestra and smaller senior house ensembles.
Each programme that we prepare for performances is very varied.
We celebrate successes in Associated Board examinations of all grades both practical and theory – a 100% pass rate and a credit to our strong team of visiting instrumental teachers.
In addition to the Musical Soiree evenings each year at Senior House there is a concert in April and a Carol Service. Music features in the Prize Giving event at the end of the Summer Term.
The Choir have been out Carol Singing a number of times just before Christmas and the Senior Ensemble provided the music at a number of different events.
