Music holds a quietly transformative power in the life of a child. Whether through learning an instrument or simply raising one’s voice in song, I believe the boys and girls here discover far more than notes on a page because of what they sing and play. Our instrumentalists learn discipline, patience, and the value of sustained effort. They experience what it means to practise with purpose, to persevere through challenge, and to take pride in gradual improvement. Perhaps most importantly of all, they grow in confidence, finding the courage to share something of themselves with others, which when it is of a musical nature can feel deeply personal for them.
This was evident in abundance at this week’s Pupils’ Informal Concert. These concerts take place every half term and we possibly don’t refer to them enough, given their very joyful nature! It was a genuine pleasure to hear such a range of performances, from instrumentalists at differing stages of their musical journey to the boys who receive LAMDA lessons confidently delivering their prepared pieces. Each performance represented a small but significant step forward, and each boy who took part should feel justifiably proud.
We were treated again this morning to some lovely music by the boys from 5B in their assembly on the theme of ‘respect’. As part of their presentation, they sang two songs together, and the lyrics were a terrific embodiment of the very value they were exploring. Respect, after all, is rooted in listening, in awareness of others, and in recognising that each individual voice matters.
