Rydal Penrhos has once again put together an outstanding after school Music club schedule after so much disruption over the last two years.

Music is more vital now than ever at Rydal Penrhos and across the globe. In a world where citizens can communicate on a global scale so rapidly, access to music from diverse cultures is ubiquitous. We now have such a wealth of music to listen to, play and create that we find ourselves in the position of having to rise to the challenge of not devaluing the currency.

Neurologists such as Daniel Levitin and Anuh Patel have studied its beneficial effects on the brain. Susan Hallam relates its benefits in the development of literacy within children.

It is with this understanding and sensibility that music is taught at Rydal Penrhos, both in a theoretical sense and allowing our pupils to express themselves practically both during lessons and through concerts put on by the school throughout the academic year.

Despite current COVID-19 restrictions, the school’s teaching staff have devised an action-packed after school clubs schedule relating to music, with all sessions taking place in the spacious St John’s Church to ensure every possible precaution is taken.

The Senior Choir get the chance to build friendships and vocal prowess during two separate sessions on Monday and Tuesday, giving pupils the freedom to explore other extra-curricular interests alongside their music commitments.

Another popular group is the Rydal Penrhos Jazz Club, which performs within the school and across the community and will hone its skills every Wednesday, with Thursday’s slot reserved for individual ensembles.

This is something to be celebrated after so much change over the last two years. Something that will benefit our pupils enormously in terms of their confidence, their studies and for any upcoming Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music assessments.