Music is at the heart of everyday life at Withington both in and outside of the School. Founders’ Day, Christmas Concerts, Musical Productions, Citizenship Day, Assemblies, Curricular and Extracurricular Music. Listening, composing and performing, there is something for everyone at every level! The Music Department at Withington Girls’ School aims to cultivate a lively, active and happy atmosphere involving as many pupils as possible whatever their standard or previous experience. To achieve this, we aim to provide a wide range of activities in the Music Department to reflect pupils’ different tastes and standards.  We believe that extra-curricular music plays a vital role in our pupils’ education and development.

There is a wealth of extra-curricular musical groups to join and where girls enjoy playing, learning and performing together. Sessions can be before school, at lunchtimes or after school. Examples are: Middle School and Senior Choirs, Pop-up Choir, Chamber Choir, Brass Ensemble, String Ensemble, Chamber Ensemble, Folk Ensemble, Harp Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Clarinet Choir, Flute Choir, Stage Band, Garage Band, Middle and Senior Orchestra, String Group, Musical Theatre Group.

The extra-curricular programme offers an excellent platform for musically gifted pupils to continue their development and strive for higher standards of achievement in performance and composition. Pupils of every standard have the opportunity to develop their skills in teamwork, widen their repertoire and enhance their general musicianship whilst becoming more confident performers both in and outside school.

Last but not least, school rehearsals should be enjoyable and sociable events where everyone is there for one reason – to make good music.

Instrumental Lessons

At Withington we offer a wide range of instrumental lessons for our girls. Lessons on all standard orchestral and band instruments plus piano, guitar and percussion can be arranged. Our well-established Instrumental Tuition Programme is provided by our enthusiastic and committed team of peripatetic teachers.  These lessons are timetabled between 8.20am and 3.40pm with rotation of times across teaching periods. We are very lucky at Withington to have such accomplished and high-calibre musicians who are excellent role models, as they juggle their professional performances and teaching with such inspiration to our budding musicians. Under their care and attention, the musical talents of the girls are nurtured and guided as they prepare for Associated Board of the Royal School of Music exams, music festivals, auditions, GCSE and A-level performances.

The instrumental staff also present at least two Informal Recitals, in which the girls are encouraged to perform, demonstrating their achievements thus far – and practising the art of performance. A life skill in itself!

Music is a hobby for a lifetime and provides our girls with many happy memories and friendships, all shared through the universal language of music.