The people of God sing. After escaping from the Egyptians and crossing the Red Sea, the people of Israel sang a song to the Lord (Exodus. 15). Singing was part of Israel's formal worship in both tabernacle and temple (1 Chronicles. 6:31-32, 16:42). The Psalms bear rich testimony that in joy and sorrow, in praise and lament, the faithful raise their voices in song to God. Hymn singing was practiced by Jesus and his disciples (Matthew. 26:30). The Apostle Paul instructed the Colossians, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians. 3: 16-17).
Music and song continue to play a vital role in the life of God’s people today – and so it is at Harper Bell Seventh-day Adventist Primary School.
At Harper Bell we cannot imagine living our life without music. It would be very hard to do so, as music has been hard-wired into our very existence as Harper Bell pupils. It is central to our daily acts of worship; a way for us to give thanks and praise.
It is also a way in which our children grow as performers – we sing, we act and we play instruments in a public setting. Every pupil at Harper Bell is given the opportunity to learn an instrument, perform in a show and sing on a daily basis.
Practising music reinforces teamwork, communication skills, self-discipline, and creativity. These qualities are all highly sought out in the workplace and can often make the difference when a young person applies for a place at a selective university.
Participation in music enhances a pupil’s creativeness. Musical improvisation brings with it many benefits that can be transferred to other areas of life. When situations do not always go as planned, one has to improvise, and come up with new strategies. This type of situation can happen in any area of life, be it another academic subject or further down the line while in employment; and when it does, creativity is key. Similarly, music strengthens a person’s perseverance and self-esteem—both qualities that are essential in having a successful career. Thus, music education can contribute to pupils’ future careers and occupational endeavours.
Participation in music also boasts social benefits for children. Music is a way to make friends. Participating in ensembles or performing in a show provides opportunities to socialise with like-minded people, make new friends and meet interesting people, who without the musical engagement they would not have had the opportunity to meet. Every time a pupil is involved in music, they have the chance to meet new people, and form lasting friendships.
Alongside music, we have a rich and varied arts curriculum that provides our children with a wealth of opportunities to be expressive and creative. Our children work with textiles, create images using different mediums, produce sculptures and direct films.
Our extra-curricular provision offers further variety, with clubs ranging from stamp collecting to drama.
Our Arts Curriculum:
- All children are given the opportunity to learn an instrument
- All children perform to an audience several times a year
- Children watch live musical performances and drama
- Music and singing are key to our acts of Christian worship
- A wide range of after-school clubs offers further breadth to our curriculum
