Music at Bishop Gilpin
Music is at the heart of Bishop Gilpin, and we believe strongly that all children should have the opportunity to learn about and experience the joy of music. From Nursery to Year 6, every child enjoys weekly music lessons and singing assemblies with our talented and enthusiastic music teacher, Mrs Jones. Through building music skills and encouraging participation and musical curiosity, we boost our children’s self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.
Our aim is to create a firm foundation for a lifetime of learning, by developing an understanding of a range of music and musical artists and engaging children in musical experiences designed to inspire them to lead a life filled with music.
Read our music curriculum aims here.
The Music Curriculum
Our thematic music units excite and extend the children's experience of music - from djembe drumming and ukulele to trumpets and ocarinas, our children learn a range of instruments as part of the curriculum. In weekly music lessons children explore rhythm, singing technique, instruments, aural skills, notation, composition, listening and music history.
Read our music curriculum planning overview here.
"The curriculum has many strengths ... among its particular strengths are music ... taught by specialist teachers."
Ofsted
Music Clubs
Every child at Bishop Gilpin learns music and performs at special occasions through the school year. Children who would like additional musical opportunities are warmly invited to join one of our weekly music clubs.
Merton Music Foundation (MMF)
Approximately two-thirds of Key Stage 2 children at Bishop Gilpin learn instruments, either privately or through MMF at school. MMF offers music lessons in woodwind, brass, violin, cello, guitar, piano and drumkit. These lessons take place during the school day, and the school provides free/subsidised tuition to eligible children. Currently 128 MMF instrumental lessons take place every week at Bishop Gilpin.
To apply for lessons, please register with Merton Music Foundation. Please note that the number of MMF lessons is limited; when we have too much demand it is necessary to have waiting lists for certain instruments.
Sign Up For Lessons / See Our Fees / Contact Us
Woodwind (flute, clarinet, recorder and saxophone) with Margaret Byde – Mondays
Drums/Percussion with Iain Cameron – Mondays and Fridays
Brass and Ukulele with Billy Fisher – Tuesdays
Cello with George Pasca – Tuesdays
Guitar with Michael Hughes – Wednesdays and Fridays
Piano with Phil Mitchell – Thursdays and Fridays
Piano – Rob Brockway – Wednesdays
Violin/Viola with Polina Dongarova / Holly Beckmyer – Tuesdays
BG Community Choir
It's not just the children who enjoy music! We have a flourishing community choir for adults: the BG Community Choir. We rehearse on Thursday evenings from 8 till 9.30pm during term time. As well as singing a wide range of choral music and performing several times a year, it is a great way to meet parents from other year groups and people from the wider community. No choral experience necessary; just a love of singing and a sense of fun! For further information please contact Emily Jones: music@bishopgilpin.org
Please click here to see our lockdown version of Jazz Is Cool!
BG Staff Choir and Band
Last but not least, the staff like to get involved too! At the Year 5/6 Christmas Carol Service, and to the delight of the children and parents, the staff choir performs a surprise Christmas number. We also have a staff band who play for the children at special assemblies and who raise money for Friends of Bishop Gilpin. Click here to see when we're next performing!
