Page 8 - Abberley Adventures - June 2021

ABBERLEY ADVENTURES
8
Music, Art and Drama (continued...) Chapel
We have made efforts to ensure that all pupils are able to take part in Chapel services this term rather than just the Full-Boarders on Sunday mornings. The majority of children in the Prep School have attended Chapel services and they have been an incredibly positive experience for all involved. Services have been livestreamed and so I hope that many parents have managed to see them. We have enjoyed two Senior, two Middle and a Palace bubble service this term with all of our Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 children as well as our Chapel Choir performing songs and leading the services. Highlights were the Chapel Choir’s beautiful performance of Can You Hear Me by Bob Chilcott (complete with sign language), the Removes and Shells VE day service, celebrating peace, and the Palace version of BELIEVE at their service, which focused on friendship.
After Half Term, because of the way the term has been split up with the early bank holiday, it is much quieter, with a Palace service on Friday 25th June and our Leavers’ Service taking place, with the High Sheriff of Worcestershire, on Saturday 26th June.
Music Technology
We have created a new Music Technology Centre, complete with MacBooks, Garageband and MIDI keyboards. The children in Years 5, 6, 7 and 8 have enjoyed learning how to use this software and this will become a part of each of our units of work in Music from now onwards.
Reduced Music charges from September 2021
We are pleased to announce that the charges for individual music lessons at Abberley will be reducing from September 2021. First instruments will be charged at £20.50 per lesson and second or third instruments will continue to benefit from a further 10% reduction at £18.45. We have researched charges across local prep schools and believe that these new charges are competitive and below what some other local schools are charging. Hopefully this reduced rate will appeal to those considering whether or not to start individual music lessons. We would encourage you to have a go!
Macy O’Neill
Year 8 pupil Macy O’Neill has a busy Half Term holiday planned! On 1st June she will be auditioning for the Young Musician of the Year and she will be accompanied by Abberley Hall piano teacher Andrew Kristy. In addition to this, having made it through the rigorous casting process, Macy is now a lead member of the D Day Darling Juniors and will be performing with the D Day Darlings and Colin Thackeray on the 6th June. We are all immensely proud of Macy and her musical achievements and we wish her every success.
A New (Old) Music School and Theatre
Yates’ House, the top floor around the Stable Courtyard (Pre-Prep) used to be used as a Music School and Theatre and it was, by all accounts, a much-loved and beautiful space for music and performing arts. Later, it was required for girls’ boarding and was used for this purpose until last year with the Music School being housed in the basement underneath the Ashton Hall.