Bayan Zouhar (Y8): Peripatetic music lessons

During my time at Westminster Academy so far, I have participated in the school’s Peripatetic Music lessons. It was a fantastic opportunity, hence “opportunity” being one of our WA HERO Values. 

The peripatetic music lessons last half an hour a week in groups of three, pairs or individuals. WA offers a range of different instruments you may choose to play, such as: piano, violin, drums, guitar and singing. Over 40 of our students have taken up the entire timetable for lessons and there is a waiting list of eight students wanting to join in on the fun. WA Ambassador and Expressive Arts Prefect, Jasmine Rahman said “these lessons are incredible and they are extremely enjoyable,” when asked about her experience taking the lessons. 

These music lessons lead to further ambitions. For example, Hull Partridge in Year 10 got the chance to showcase his incredible piano skills at The Rosewood Hotel not too long ago. Tariq El Nahsa, Year 9, also performed beautifully at the Year 6 Welcome Evening and attracted many of our visitors. Moreover, almost every year we have around ten students bravely performing in our annual winter show in bands or even individually. Students like this without a doubt portray our IB Learner Profile: risk-takers. 

Students who take peripatetic lessons tend to use them in their compulsory music lessons and use that extra knowledge for their GSCEs/IB. These lessons also show students how stunning the art of music is. The quote “Where words fail, music speaks,” explains it perfectly. Our students not only do music for fun and in their spare time, but they also use it as a way to express and understand themselves in the form of something that doesn’t just sound nice, but is also personally meaningful to them. Music expresses that which cannot be said, and on which it is impossible to be silent.

Thanks to Ms Hall, our wonderful Head of Expressive Arts, the reason we have so many opportunities in Expressive Arts. Also, many thanks to Ms Sweeney-Ellis and Ms Tsoi, our beloved music teachers who support us into taking a musical approach in life. 

If students would like to take part in these lessons email Ms Hall at a.hall@westminsteracademy.org.uk or Ms Sweeney-Ellis at p.sweeneyellis@westminsteracademy.org.uk .

Bayan Zouhar, Year 8 

(Expressive Arts subject prefect)