Music is an integral part of the school day. Each morning, assembly begins with a carefully selected piece of music. This can be drawn from any part of the globe and students are encouraged to listen carefully to that music as a means of relaxing, meditating and understanding. Each assembly concludes with students singing a song again chosen from a range of areas and which every student learns by heart.

Students in classes IV to X also receive two periods of music a week as part of their CBSE course. Here, the emphasis is on building an understanding of the ragas and rhythms of Indian music and using these as a base to explore and understand other musical traditions. Our students are encouraged in lessons to discover and explore instruments for themselves. The aim here is to ensure that students develop their musical talents in the way most suited to them.

Music also features more widely in school life. At House Socials and in school events a solo piece played on the tabla might rub shoulders with a piece of modern western rock or a delicate ballad from Korea. Dance equally forms part of the school’s wider programme with students being eager to perform the latest Bollywood and Bangra routines as well as seeking to develop their more traditional local and classical repertoires. In both areas outside groups often visit the school to educate and inspire our students to new levels of expertise and interest.

In both dance and music, our emphasis is not just on building expertise in one area. Instead, we seek to provide each student with a clear system of thought which will allow them to judge the quality of dance and music from whatever tradition it might come.