Music plays an important role in the daily life of the school and every pupil’s education, with class music lessons taking place from Nursery through to Year 6. We hold a weekly singing assembly for Years 2 to 6 and singing is at the heart of our school. 

We are fortunate to enjoy a superbly equipped music room which houses our musical resources and provides a generous space in which pupils enjoy their musical learning and perform regular concerts. There are electronic keyboards permanently set up to enable all pupils to gain experience of playing the piano and develop their musical knowledge. A plethora of percussion instruments enables creativity in composition and exploring sounds.  Our main school hall is used for larger concerts and our regular ‘informal concerts’ are hosted in the music room, which opens up into the dance studio next door to create a larger space for performance. Other facilities include four large teaching rooms for individual instrumental lessons, with both acoustic and digital pianos, and a baby grand piano in the main music room. 

In class music lessons, pupils are taught to sing and encouraged to enjoy singing together. We develop skills in composition, percussion, listening and appraising and using technology to create music, as well as giving all pupils a foundation in reading notation and playing instruments. Our Year 3 pupils learn to play the recorder and have the opportunity to join the Woodwind Ensemble in Year 4 if they wish to continue. 

The Music and Drama Departments work together to produce annual shows for Years 4 and 6, and all pupils from Year 2 to 6 take part in our annual Carol Service. The Music Department supports the Pre-Prep children in learning songs for their Nativity performance and all pupils in the school have the opportunity to enjoy and gain confidence in performance. 

Co-Curricular Music 

There is a wealth of opportunity for pupils who wish to develop their musicianship beyond class music lessons, with three Choirs, Orchestra and Recorder/Woodwind ensemble freely on offer at lunchtimes. Our violin teacher offers a string group for her students, and all choirs and ensembles have performance opportunities throughout the year. 
We have nine Visiting Music Teachers offering one-to-one tuition in a variety of instruments including Piano, Guitar, Singing, Violin, Woodwind and Brass. 

For more information regarding individual lessons, please click here: [link to the below page – Instrumental Lessons from September 20205, titled ‘Co-Curricular Music’ 
 

Instrumental Lessons from September 2025

At Aberdour, we believe in the value of our pupils having the opportunity to learn a musical instrument; this enhances not only their musical education but has a wider positive impact in terms of their concentration, confidence, wellbeing and academic growth. 

We have a team of excellent Visiting Music Teachers, offering a range of instruments. Please note that starting ages vary and the following minimum age is a general guide; this can also vary from child to child:
  

• Piano - From Year 1
• Guitar (acoustic and electric) - From Year 1
• Drums/Percussion  - From Year 1
• Strings: Violin/Viola  - From Year 1
• Singing  - From Year 2 or sometimes earlier depending on the child’s development 
• Woodwind: Clarinet/Flute/Saxophone - Year 2 or 3 depending on the instrument
• Brass - From Year 3 

 
Most of our Visiting Music Teachers offer a ‘taster lesson’ to give an instrument a try, and we have various instruments which can be borrowed for initial lessons. Lessons are currently in the region of £250 for ten lessons of 30 minutes (this varies a little between teachers) and the teachers will invoice you directly. Please note that after the first term of lessons, a full term’s notice is required in writing to the teacher concerned in order to discontinue.   

Music is a vibrant and vital part of our school life, with many choirs and ensembles freely on offer at lunchtimes, and concerts taking place throughout the year. I hope that you may consider steering your child to learn an instrument if they do not already do so. 

If you are interested in your child learning an instrument, please email Mrs Gillian Gay, Director of Music, and she will be able to put you in touch with the relevant teacher.

Click here to email Mrs Gay, Director of Music