A great hit for the Music Department as it celebrates one thousand musical lessons during lockdown!
06 July 2020 | Jill Lundberg | Posted in: Performing Arts
Our Music Department has really embraced modern technology in these uncertain times and is now ready to celebrate its ONE THOUSANDTH live lesson!
Instrumental lessons in all disciplines, strings, wind, percussion, piano, guitar and vocal moved online as soon as the school closed in March, resulting in very little disruption to the students learning. Students are able to log into an instrument-specific calendar each week, choose a suitable 25-minute slot that would be convenient for them, then take part in a live interactive, online lesson, much as they would in school.
Stephen Boyd, Lead Teacher for Music commented: “I am delighted with both our students and staff for the enthusiasm and professionalism with which they have adapted to our new way of learning. The continuity of having a weekly live music lesson has meant that many of our students have continued to improve their skills during the lockdown, some even going on to take virtual or remote Graded examinations with great success. I want to thank the students and staff for their unwavering support of our musical development at Richmond School and Sixth Form College. I could never have envisaged back in March we would be ready to deliver our one thousandth live lesson in the summer term!.”
Parent Viv Horton also commented: “Hannah says ‘she’s felt that her music lessons have seemed relatively normal apart from our rubbish internet sometimes!’ For me personally, working at home and having the privilege of being able to hear Hannah’s piano and flute lessons has brought me a little piece of joy in these uncertain times. I can’t thank the teachers enough for their continued dedication to our children’s musical development.”
The instrumental staff too are encouraged with the students’ engagement in lessons. Percussion Teacher Jose Williamson said “Continuing with online instrumental tuition has been such an important factor for us. It has given our students a little bit of normality in very stressful times and allowed them to continue to build their skills. Music binds us all together, and though the world has stopped for a little while… the beat goes on.”
Dave Harris, Guitar Teacher, said: “The online lessons have been a great and rewarding way to connect with the students and it has been satisfying, as a teacher, to see the students progress so well in these uncertain times. All of the students that have been able to attend these virtual lessons have overcome the technical issues, not only in the limitations of the technology but of their own instruments and now have a greater understanding of them. I have really enjoyed seeing the students develop as musicians and I’m really looking forward to when we will be able to meet again in person.”
If you would like your child to become part of Richmond School’s Instrumental and Vocal Programme, please contact Stephen Boyd sboyd@richmondschool.net.