Despite the school being physically closed, Shiplake music plays on with one-to-one peripatetic music teaching continuing remotely throughout lockdown.
Music is at the heart of Shiplake College and we are pleased that our 16 teachers have continued delivering individual lessons each week on the drums, piano, voice, classical and bass guitar, clarinet, trumpet, violin, cello, saxophone, flute, other brass instruments and even the harp.
One Visiting Music Teacher (VMT) had this to say about her experience with online music teaching at the College:
I just wanted to drop you a line to say how impressed I am in the way Shiplake College has dealt with the school closure. I'm sure it is not always easy, but from a VMT's point of view, the institution has managed not to miss a single day of teaching, administrative matters have been dealt with in no time and the most effective way possible, children have continued to be engaged throughout this difficult period.
I have seen a lot of the social media activity around the educational community and it is clear that the school has chosen to find the positive aspect of the lockdown and transform it to be a strength rather than a problem. I'm sure this has also been directed and encouraged by the head of the school. Congratulations to the whole Shiplake College school community. I'm sure all the efforts and positiveness applied today will have an enormous impact in the future of the school.
Mr Jonty Slade, Music Administrator said: “We've been running a full timetable of instrumental and vocal tuition since the start of lockdown, including our Lower School Music programme of group lessons for Years 7 and 8. Our Visiting Music Teachers have risen brilliantly to the challenge, and feedback from teachers, students and parents has been overwhelmingly positive.
"The Shiplake Community can look forward to a virtual lunchtime concert of video submissions from our talented pupils and staff next Thursday at 12.45pm!"
