Music Junior school
Music
We believe that every child should keep a healthy balance between academic work, sport and culturals to be well rounded and educated. Music is part of our everyday life. The girls sing in assemblies, chapel services and hymn practices, and perform at music assemblies and piece playing once a term.
Music is linked to many other learning areas – from songs about certain themes to research on musicians and instruments.
Senior Primary choir
The Senior Primary choir, comprising more than 80 girls from Grades 4 to 7, sings at many school events, functions and concerts, and takes part in the annual Magic of Music concert at the Linder Auditorium and The Ridge Choir Festival.
The girls rehearse once a week, and there is an annual weekend camp to learn new material and have fun as a team. Their songs range from traditional South African folk music to popular songs, rounds and sacred music. The emphasis is on having fun but, at the same time, working hard as a team to achieve goals.
Singing Angels
The Singing Angels consists of all Grades 2 and 3 girls, and they rehearse during school hours. They enjoy learning and singing various songs, ranging from old favourites to children's songs and South African folk songs. They perform at special chapel services, Junior School music concerts, and The Sound of Children with Richard Cock and the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra at the Linder Auditorium. The aim of the Singing Angels is to have fun singing together and, at the same time, learn songs they would otherwise not encounter.
The Junior orchestra
The Junior orchestra is involved in performing in school plays, carol services, school music concerts and chapel services. The orchestra features violins, recorders, clarinets, flutes, saxophones, percussion instruments, keyboards and trumpet. We encourage all instrumentalists in the Senior Primary to play in the Junior orchestra.
The chapel band
The chapel band assists our worship in chapel, and accompanies our singing during chapel services and assemblies.
Marimbas
Marimba lessons are offered to all girls in the Senior Primary phase. A marimba band consists of a maximum of 12 players, and they rehearse on a weekly basis. They perform at Junior School music concerts, music assemblies, the Reggio Conference, the Patronal Festival, carol services and any other events where entertainment is required.
Instruments
St Mary’s Junior School offers private lessons on various instruments. These include piano, violin, cello, flute, recorder, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, guitar and drums, as well as singing. The school supplies instruments for hire by the term, if necessary.