On this page you will find choir songs (to practise at home), Musician of the Month and other music related news and events happening in school and locally.
You may also want to explore curriculum music at Rockmount, find out how to start learning a musical instrument in school, or see and hear some of our amazing Rockmount Musicians LIVE.
Rockmount is proud to be a MUSIC MARK SCHOOL. Awarded by Croydon Music and Arts in recognition of a commitment to providing a high-quality music education for all children and young people.
The UK Association for Music Education - Music Mark www.musicmark.org.uk
In November 2023 we introduced a new whole school musical focus with the ‘Musician of the Month’. The idea is to introduce children to a wide selection of music and musicians that they might not have heard of before. Each month we explore a different musician and listen to music being played by that musician in class, assemblies or in the lunch hall. Children are also encouraged to do their own research and listening at home and share their findings and opinions by adding ‘post it notes’ to our display board.
Our musicians so far have been David Bowie, Elton John, Florence Price, Nina Simone, Mozart, Joni Mitchell, Fisherman's Friends, Aretha Franklin, Gurinder Kaur Kainth and Bob Marley. Have a listen to a YouTube playlist of all the musicians we've learnt about so far.
You can find out who the current musician of the month is, along with a playlist QR code on the home information sheet below:
This is Croydon, London Borough of Culture 2023 celebrates Croydon’s unique culture and communities through a year-long programme of culture from April 2023. We recognise the positive power of the arts for our children and young people and plan to take part in as many 'This is Croydon' events as we can. For more information and to see upcoming events you can take part in see: This is Croydon
This is where you will find the lyrics and backing tracks for the songs so you can practise at home.
Tips:
Year 6 Choir
We are focusing on Young Voices songs for now. You are also welcome to learn the Year 5 choir songs and join their rehearsal if you are free on Wednesday lunch times.
Here is a sample of some of our favourite choir performances. To see more go to our Rockmount Musicians LIVE page.
Rockmount Upper Junior Choir performing with the CSMA Junior Choir at the 2019 festival.
(Thanks to Paul Hadfield for recording us!)
Well done to all our amazing Rockmount Musicians for making Rockmount Proms 2024 another huge success. To see footage from the concerts please see our Rockmount Musicians LIVE page.
Year 5&6 Choirs perform at Fairfield Halls
Congratulations to the Year 5 and 6 Choirs for performing in the CSMA Junior Concert at Fairfield Halls. For a lot of the children this was their first glimpse inside Fairfield Halls, let alone performing on the stage with a live band! The choir joined forces with several other Croydon schools to form the mass CSMA Junior Choir. The choir sounded amazing and we all (including staff!) had a fantastic night! Maximilian Dargoi auditioned and was selected to sing the solo in Nina Simone’s ‘I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free’. Max sang amazingly well and received lots of well-deserved compliments. All the children were fantastic and demonstrated a huge amount of enthusiasm, effort and commitment.
Year 5 Choir performs at Fairfield Halls
Congratulations to the Year 5 Choir for performing in the CSMA Junior Concert at Fairfield Halls. For a lot of the children this was their first glimpse inside Fairfield Halls, let alone performing on the stage! The choir joined forces with several other Croydon schools to form the massive CSMA Junior Choir. The choir sounded amazing and we all (including staff!) had a fantastic night! Isobel Freeman auditioned and was selected to sing the solo in ‘Streets of London’ in the epic Singing Songbook Medley. Isobel sang amazingly well and received lots of well-deserved compliments. All the children were fantastic and demonstrated a huge amount of enthusiasm, effort and commitment.
Year 6 Choir performs at the O2 Arena
On Monday 16th January the Year 6 Choir joined together with over 9000 children to form the Young Voices Choir at the O2 Arena. We spent the afternoon rehearsing at the O2 before performing in the evening to a packed audience. The concert sounded and looked amazing!
The Young Voices Choir were joined by The Beatbox Collective and Urban strides as well as award winning singer, Heather Small! The Young Voices Choir even got to sing with Heather Small on her hit song, ‘Proud’. The performance of ‘Proud’ was recorded live on the night and is soon to be released to raise money for the charity Place2Be.
To perform at such a large venue in a choir of over 9000 children, alongside professional singers, instrumentalists, beatboxers and street dancers was a truly unforgettable experience for both the children and staff that took part. It was a lot of work and a very long and exhausting day, but totally worth it!
One of our piano teachers (Jonny Davies) organised for the orchestra he plays in (Kensington Chamber Orchestra) to use our school hall for their concert and workshop. Here are a few photos and a short film of the Queen of the Night Aria being performed - it looked like a lot of fun!
(NB. these organisations are not associated with Rockmount)
JUNIOR CHOIR ON THE HILL is a new choir starting in Crystal Palace for children ages 6-18. To find out more and register your child for a free tasters session see: https://www.sflcommunity.org.uk/junior-coth
Something for the grown ups too! JUNIOR CHOIR ON THE HILL is an offshoot from CHOIR ON THE HILL which is a women's community choir led by professional singer Frazer Scott and overseen by Christopher Braime, head of Studio Falkland Lodge Community Music Services. It is for anyone who would like to enjoy singing with others - to explore music, talk about singing technique and how to be better singers. To find out more and register for a free taster session see: https://www.sflcommunity.org.uk/coth
LMP in Concert: 'Peter & the Wolf' and 'Carnival of the Animals'
at Fairfield Halls
Saturday 11th June at 4pm
Lions! Elephants! A cheeky duck!
London Mozart Players (LMP) bring the musical animals in Peter & The Wolf and Carnival of the Animals to life at Fairfield Halls in a concert for all the family.
Bring the family to Fairfield Halls to see Croydon’s resident orchestra animate these fictional furry friends.
The LMP will be joined by illustrator James Mayhew painting along live to the music, animating the roaring lions and braying donkeys. Narrating the accompanying poems will be none other than children’s TV presenter and national treasure, Floella Benjamin.
Concert details:
The concert will be at Fairfield Halls at 4pm on 11th June 2022. Ticket prices: £8 (under 18s) and £15 (standard).
Booking link: https://www.londonmozartplayers.com/whatson-event/peter-the-wolf-and-carnival-of-the-animals/?venue=20893
Past events the school orchestra or choir have been involved with...
Members of Rockmount and Cypress School Orchestras have been invited to play alongside the London Mozart Players (LMP) at their forth coming concert ‘Carnival of the Animals & Peter and the Wolf’ on Sunday 17th March at 4pm in St John’s. This will be a lovely family concert and a great way to introduce younger children to classical music. Do go along if you can. See the flyer attached below or the LMP website for more details: http://londonmozartplayers.com/concert/carnival-of-the-animals/
Rockmount orchestra and both our choirs are very excited to be taking part in the London Mozart Players Christmas Concert, 'Deck the Halls!' on Friday 14th December 2018, 7pm at St John's in Crystal Palace. We will be performing alongside the LMP and are very excited and honoured to be taking part for the second year running. We hope to see you there! Tickets and further details are available on the LMP website: http://londonmozartplayers.com/