Virtual Juilliard Music Specialist Visit

This week the Music Department had a virtual Juilliard visit with our curriculum specialist in Music, Amy Christman. The visit was an opportunity for the Music team to have 1:1 discussion with Amy to discuss the year ahead and further ways we can continue to support our students in their Music learning through our Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme.

Our students cover a range of Juilliard lessons which are embedded within our own curriculum and designed to engage and enhance their understanding of a range of key concepts whilst igniting their creativity and abilities to reflect and refine on their work. These skills are achieved through a range of Juilliard core works. Already this academic year, students in Year 2 have been looking at creating accompaniments through Prestini’s ‘From the bones to the Fossils’, Year 6 have explored the different ways musicians can train their ears through Meredith Monks ‘Ellis Island’, Year 8 have been experimenting with improvisation and developing melodies for a 12-Bar Blues pattern through Thelonius Monks ‘Blue Monk’ and Year 9 have been exploring ways that musicians can interpret and perform the same song, using Gershwin’s  ‘They can’t take that away from me’ as a springboard.

I have watched this week as many of our students are nearing final completion of a variety of units of work and new skills they have been taught. Concepts that were very alien to them at the beginning of the academic year now appear to be ingrained in their creative processes and I am watching them now confidently compose and perform with these ideas firmly embedded in their work. I am proud of them for pushing through the challenges, embracing the process (with some gentle encouragement) and bringing their musical voices to life. I am reminded this week, of the immense value Music education can hold in the development of our young people, influencing their intellectual, emotional, social and creative growth and I am thankful to my Music team, Mr Cannon and Ms Nannery in their passion and enthusiasm to keep these values at the heart of everything we do here at BISB.

Sarah James

Director of Performing Arts