WELCOME TO THE EXTRA-CURRICULAR MUSIC BLOG FOR 2022-23!

Please see below information about what our excellent musicians have been doing outside of the classroom! 

Spring Term 2023

Miss Kropman's KS2 Choir Performing at Young Voices, Wembley Arena - Monday 6th February

On Monday 6th February, thirty-three incredible singers from Year 3 - 6 took part in the world's largest youth choir concert series, performing at the iconic Wembley Arena along with over 4,000 other singers aged 7 - 13. After rehearsing a plethora of amazing songs and medleys since September, the choir were in fine voice (quite literally!) as they began the afternoon rehearsals. Excitingly, we learnt that we would be performing with famous artists such as The Beatbox Collective, Urban Strides, Heather Small (from The M People) and violinist Anna Phoebe. 

Following a successful afternoon, excitement levels rose even further as the audience began to take to their seats at 6pm. By the time the concert began at 7pm, however, the Brookmans Park choir were almost bouncing in their seats! We then sang our hearts out, enjoying the wonderful atmosphere and amazing sound produced. Below are just a sample of the brilliant performances from the night and some pictures which hopefully demonstrate what a super time we all had! Miss Kropman is SO proud of all of our singers for representing our school with utter aplomb throughout the whole day and for (in what could possibly be argued as a slightly biased opinion) being the best choir there! We would all like to thank Mrs Kropman (Miss Kropman's mum), Mr Fennell and Ms Sharkey for coming with us for the day, and to show our appreciation to all of the family members that were in the audience last night. Bring on next year!

Guitar assembly - Tuesday 31st January

Our eagerly anticipated guitar assembly took place this afternoon (postponed from last month's snow day), with six of our most talented guitarists taking centre stage. Incredibly, some have only been learning since September, whilst others have now been learning for three years. We were all thrilled to hear such confident performances and the audience were particularly impressed with how well Amelia has started her guitar lessons this year! Elsie's dazzling solo was also met with rapturous applause, whilst some familiar tunes feature in the videos below. Well done to all six of today's performers and thank you to Mr Nicola for teaching them so well each week. 

Although we have a waiting list, if anyone has been inspired to begin guitar lessons in schol in the future, then please speak to Miss Kropman.

Autumn Term 2022 

Piano Assembly - Monday 19th December

Our piano assembly this morning was the last of our termly instrumental concerts (with snow day affected Brass and Guitar assemblies being postponed until January). Eight talented pianists, all of whom having had weekly lessons with Mrs Kropman (Miss Kropman's mum!), took to the stage. Whilst some have only just begin their piano lessons this term, others have now been learning for three years! A special well done to James, who played Fur Elise so brilliantly that the audience applause was allegedly heard half way down Bradmore Way, and to Rosie, who only started learning in September yet played a note-perfect Cathedral Bells. All of the children demonstrated excellent confidence and showed just how hard they worked this term. Congratulations to Ayla and Amelia, who both passed their exams last week, too!  

Although we have a considerable waiting list, if anyone has been inspired to begin piano lessons in the future, please speak to Miss Kropman.

Drums Assembly - Friday 16th December

This afternoon saw yet another end of term music assembly, this time courtesy of six exceptional drummers! Having had lessons on Fridays with Mr Chivers, each and every one played with excellent enthusiasm and accurate timing. The audience certainly enjoyed themselves, with visible head bopping and toe tapping from both children and adults alike! Firm favourites included songs by Eminem, Coldplay and Cameo, and all of the boys should be so proud of their brilliant performances. 

Although we have a considerable waiting list, if anyone has been inspired to begin drum lessons in the future, please speak to Miss Kropman.

Cello and Flute Assembly - Thursday 15th December

We were treated to another excellent music assembly this morning as four cellists and seven flautists took to the stage! First up were Mrs Lines' cellists, who played a number of Christmas pieces. Impressively, only one of them had been learning for more than a term, yet they all played beautifully in tune and in time! Following this, Mrs Carter's pupils performed for us. Violet, who has been learning for two years and is working towards her Grade 2, played two carols which left the whole school in rapturous applause due to her lovely tone. The concert then ended with all of the flautists playing 'Jingle Bells' together, which was incredible considering that some of them have only been learning for a matter of weeks! The risk taking nature of this concert left Miss Kropman so proud of all of the girls, and they show such amazing potential for the future! 

If anyone has been inspired to begin cello or flute lessons in January, please speak to Miss Kropman.

Violin Assembly - Wednesday 14th December

Well done to the eight talented violinists who performed for us in assembly this morning. Taught and prepared brilliantly by Miss Gardner, each child played with excellent confidence and impressive technique (including two girls who had only been learning since September!). It was lovely to see the progression from children just beginning their lessons to those who are now working towards their Grade 3, and everyone should be very proud of themselves! A special congratulations should also go to one child who performed today despite only just being out of hospital after an operation last weekend! 

If anyone has been inspired to take violin lessons after this assembly, Miss Gardner has one slot left for January. Please speak to Miss Kropman if this interests you. 

Thirty members from Brookmans Park KS2 Choir sang carols this evening with Potters Bar Brass Band, as the local Rotary Club turned on the Xmas lights in the village. Despite the darkness, cold wind and light rain, they sang beautifully and Miss Kropman and Mrs Davies were very proud of all of them! Thank you to all of the choir families for supporting us and to Mrs Carter and Mrs Panayiotou for joining in, too! We look forward to singing carols in public again on Saturday 17th December at Christopher Place in St Albans. 

2022-23 Extra-Curricular Music Lessons for Years 2 - 6:

Every Monday (all day) - Piano lessons with Mrs Kropman

Every Tuesday morning - Brass lessons with Mr Lavelle

Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon - Guitar lessons with Mr Nicola 

Every Wednesday morning - Violin lessons with Miss Gardner

Every Thursday morning - Flute lessons with Mrs Carter and Cello lessons with Mrs Lines

Every Friday (all day) - Drums lessons with Mr Chivers 

Singing assembly takes place every Thursday morning with Miss Kropman and Ms Sharkey for all children in Years 1 - 6. 

Choir for Years 3 - 6 with Miss Kropman takes place after school on Thursday afternoon. There are also out of school events for our orchestral instrumentalists, who will be contacted separately about these.