Dear Parents
Music at Bishops Prep
Bishops Prep Music Department offers tuition on a wide range of musical instruments. We have a staff complement of over 20 experienced part-time music teachers, alongside 3 full-time educators: namely Mrs Nikki Fyvie, Mrs Tina Sheard and Ms Sandee Clapperton. Mrs Kashiefa Kervin is our Music Department Administrator.
During the Grade 3 year, your son will attend two Class Music lessons per week. The first lesson will involve singing, movement and general music education. During the second lesson, your son will be introduced to some of the instruments on offer at the Prep. These include strings, brass and woodwind instruments.
Individual tuition is offered on the following instruments: piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, harp, Double Bass, flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, drumkit, percussion, voice, trombone, euphonium, trumpet, cornet and tuba.
Grade 3 boys will be auditioned in the Fourth Term for inclusion in the Choir from Grade 4. The Grade 3 year is crucial for gauging talent to set the boys up for their instrumental journey ahead.
In addition to the Choir, the Prep boasts a very successful ensemble programme: Junior and Senior String Ensembles, Brass Ensemble, Wind Band, Marimba Band, Guitar Ensemble and the Grade 7 Vocal Ensemble.
Bishops Prep is very proud of the institution that is our Wednesday Assembly Concerts. These concerts take place on most Wednesday mornings of the school calendar, affording Bishops music pupils the opportunity to perform for their peers, teachers and invited parents.
Should you have any queries pertaining to your son’s music at Bishops, please feel free to contact us at prepmusic@bishops.org.za.
NIKKI FYVIE (HOD)
The Grade 3 Year:
Grade 3s have two music lessons per week. One is a Class Music lesson where music appreciation is developed and the second lesson is an instrumental class where they are introduced to the various instruments of the orchestra by specialist teachers. If they show an ability in a particular instrument, they are encouraged to commence lessons.
Towards the end of the year, the Grade 3s have a Grade 3 Celebration where songs/poems are showcased. Each class presents a variety of songs. They also receive certificates of commendation at this event.
Grade 4 – 7: Students in Grades 4 – 7 may start individual instrumental lessons at any stage.
Instruments on offer are:
- Piano
- Voice
- Strings – violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar and harp
- Woodwind – flute, clarinet, oboe, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bassoon
- Brass – cornet, trumpet, tenor horn, French horn, baritone, euphonium, trombone and tuba
- Percussion – drums, orchestral percussion, timpani, orchestral marimba
Students are given two 30-minute lessons per week except in the case of guitar, drums and voice, where they will have one 30-minute lesson per week. Many pupils also attend smaller ensemble groups where they are afforded extra time in their vocal and guitar work, Covid protocols permitting.
Fees for Instrument Lessons - please email prepmusic@bishops.org.za
Instrument Hire: Students who are unable to purchase their own instruments, are able to hire instruments from the school at a nominal termly fee.
Piano students are required to have access to their own piano at home. Keyboards are not ideal, but the school will allow this if the keyboard has 88 touch-sensitive and weighted keys.
Hire Fees - please email prepmusic@bishops.org.za
Theory:
There is an extensive Theory programme at the school accommodating boys from Grade 1 to Grade 5 ABRSM Theory. The school also has a user-friendly Theory website on the Prep Intranet with YouTube tutorials, worksheets and practice examination papers, for each grade.
It is important to note that should a pupil wish to further his musical studies at the College, he should have achieved a minimum of ABRSM Grade 2 Theory by the end of his Grade 7 school year.
Music Concerts:
We have weekly Assembly Concerts on Wednesdays, where all our music pupils have the opportunity to perform for the school. Presently, these concerts are happening on a much smaller scale due to Covid restrictions. We look forward to their return in time.
Bishops Classic Pops:
This event occurs every three years. Our Prep Choir is showcased.
Exams:
Twice per year, our music students enter for ABRSM Practical Grade exams. The examiners come to Cape Town from the UK and these are international exams. We have a May and a September session. We have up to 90 students in the September session at times and our average is usually 85% which is above the world average. Thus, we are very proud of the achievements of our examination candidates. In the past 18 months, with Covid, we have run internal examinations so that our pupils can have the live experience. Theory examinations have moved online. Students can do these online ABRSM examinations at designated times. In addition, music teachers will prepare pupils to write internal Theory papers in an examination situation at School.