Music
We believe that participating in music together is a powerful way to build pride and unity within our school community. As boys progress through the school, participation in a wide range of musical activities is intended to develop important transferable skills such as perseverance and self-confidence, but most importantly, nurture long lasting bonds of friendship.
The music you can expect to hear at Shrewsbury House might range from a rousing hymn sung in Monday morning assembly, to a boy glowing with pride after giving his first solo performance. There are events involving every boy in the school community, such as year group concerts, the House Music competition and Carol Service, along with opportunities to showcase the commitment of boys in ensembles, such as the Spring Concert and Musical Soirée, to which colleagues from Senior Schools are invited.
Endless opportunities to get involved at all levels and regular concerts and soirées, plus the annual house music competition, provide boys with opportunities to perform in public.
Good Schools Guide
In our most recent set of ABRSM exam results in Spring 2025, boys achieved a 100% pass rate with 87% of achieving either a Merit or Distinction. The Director of Music also offers personalised support to families applying for music scholarships at Senior Schools and boys have recently been successful in achieving music awards at Dulwich, Rugby and RGS Guildford.
Class Music
How do we inspire and encourage boys to take an active interest in music? Our school values lead us to continuously develop a class music curriculum around the core value of challenge, aiming to nurture the skills of patience, resilience and determination that boys need to thrive, wherever their musical interests take them.
This challenge begins in Year 3, with a motivational recorder curriculum that rewards boys with karate-style belts for their progression. In Year 4, the djembe drums are used to introduce music from other cultures and the discipline of group performance. These ensemble skills are developed further in Year 5, using the ukulele to introduce boys to elements of rock and pop music, culminating in their first extended composing project, writing a structured pop song.
Composition skills are developed further in the upper year groups, using ideas from innovative composers, such as Gershwin, Reich and Derbyshire, with boys being introduced to elements of jazz, contemporary classical and electronic music.
Impressively, there are over 200 musical instrument players and groups for all tastes including wind, jazz, brass and strings as well, of course, as the choirs.
Singing features as a core element in all year groups. In the upper year groups, more able boys might be challenged with the opportunity to create a band to accompany their year group’s singing.
Good Schools Guide
Music at Shrewsbury House is about more than individual progress. Boys are actively encouraged to join ensembles and choirs appropriate to their level, including Concert Band, Jazz One, String Sinfonia, String Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, and choirs from Year 3 upwards. These groups help foster teamwork, confidence and a lasting sense of musical enjoyment. There are regular opportunities to perform throughout the year, from soloists’ recitals and ensemble concerts to informal assemblies and major events such as Prize Giving and our Summer Term Music Soirée.
Visiting Music Teachers
In addition to weekly class music lessons, boys have the opportunity to take one-to-one lessons with our outstanding team of visiting music teachers. These experienced professionals offer expert tuition across a wide range of instruments, including violin, viola, cello, double bass, classical and electric guitar, bass guitar, flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bagpipes, trumpet, trombone, French horn, baritone horn, tuba, piano, harp, drums and singing. We also offer lessons in aural training and music theory to support boys preparing for ABRSM exams, which are held on site each term. Boys learning instruments outside of school are also welcome to sit ABRSM exams here as private candidates, subject to availability.
Visiting music teachers are self-employed, and fees are payable directly to the teacher. Lesson timetables follow a rotating schedule, and parents will be notified in advance of when their son’s lesson will take place. You can find out more about the team by downloading our booklet below.
