Trust News

At the start of this academic year, 30 of our SJL staff embarked on the challenge of learning a musical instrument. Their teachers? The SJL students. For some it was about re-learning an old skill now long lost or forgotten, or taking up that thing they always meant to do, but “never quite had the time for”. For others, it was about stepping out of their comfort zone and facing the fear of learning something new. Whatever their reason or motivation, they have been making great progress so far, and have been inspiring us with their determination and commitment!

Mrs Redford has made impressive progress on the saxophone and already starting tackling Grade One pieces. She even allowed us to share a little video of her second ever lesson in an assembly a few weeks ago! Mrs Ralph has just learnt "Ode to Joy" on the piano while Mr Herbert is working his way through Bruce Springsteen hits on the guitar. Having previously learnt the violin and then the clarinet as part of previous Staff Music Challenges, Miss Heley is now taking on the saxophone! Mr Garcia finally dusted off the cobwebs from his French Horn to have another go at learning it, but will he remember to turn up to his lessons? His teacher Daniel in Year 9 certainly hopes so...

While many staff are learning something new, some of our budding musicians are picking up instruments they learnt in the last Staff Music Challenge; how will Miss Caldicott, Miss Woolrych, or Mrs Leaver cope this year as they move up the grades and things get tougher and more technically demanding? And will Mr Williams make it to his Grade 4 exam by the end of the year?

Whether still finding those first notes or climbing ambitiously up the musical grade ladder, we are very proud of the SJL community's (slightly) more senior learners, and the commitment of their teachers, who, though students themselves, have proved themselves to also be the most fabulous teachers! It is true SJL community spirit at its best!

Check their progress on Instagram @sjlstaffmusicchallenge