Plenty of practice, ready for performances to begin again

As Winter finally turns into Spring, we look ahead to a time when we will be able to sing and play in our ensembles again. Meantime, the peripatetic staff at Copthill have continued to deliver a full programme of instrumental lessons and have reported on the fantastic progress that so many children have made during the online school provision. Because of this, next term, a good number of our children will be sitting ABRSM Music Theory exams, Grades 1 and 2, and a pleasing number will also be taking practical exams. Our theory groups have thrived this year and, from September, we hope to have separate Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 theory classes running. Although we have been unable to attend any Prep School Music Days at Oundle, Oakham or Uppingham in the last year or so, Uppingham School provided some fun online activities during the last lockdown and a number of our children enjoyed accessing these. In Year 6, everyone has been warming up their singing voices as we get ready to begin rehearsals for our Year 6 production of ‘Oliver’. Although as yet we are not sure how the final performance will look, in terms of live audience or otherwise, it has not dampened our spirits! Everybody is asking ‘Who will buy?’ and ‘Where is love?’! We have been so impressed by the children’s enthusiasm and their desire to get involved. It promises to be a lot of fun if these first few weeks are anything to go by! Year 3 children are looking forward to finally having their free term of group instrumental lessons in the summer. The scheme had to be delayed twice due to Covid and, cross fingers, our Year 3s will be experiencing the joy of learning to play the violin, cello, trumpet, clarinet or flute in the very near future. New recruits to our instrumental ensembles I hope! Usually this term is so busy and bursting with musical news, so it is rather sad not to be relaying tales of our adventures at other local independent schools and music festivals. However, it has given us time to practise even harder on our instruments and, when we regroup, as we surely will in the not too distant future, we will regroup stronger than ever and be more thankful than it is possible to say for the joy of sharing music with our friends.