Music News 2026

Click here for Music Extra-Murals🎶

As a reminder, if your child is part of an Ensemble or Choir, in addition to joining our WhatsApp Music Community, please also join the relevant Music Ensemble Group for specific communication pertaining to that Ensemble/Choir.

If you know that your child will be absent from a rehearsal, please get in touch with the relevant Director of the Ensemble/Choir.

If you’re experiencing difficulties joining any of the Whatsapp Groups, please get in touch with me

Term 1 - 2026

Week 3

🎤Feedback:

We are full steam ahead in the Music Department, and it has been wonderful to see the energy and enthusiasm as lessons and ensembles settle into their rhythm. The corridors are once again filled with music, and it is lovely to see our learners so engaged.

Most learners should have received their music notebooks by now. These books are an important part of each child’s music journey, so we kindly ask that you encourage your child to look after them carefully and bring them to every lesson. Should a notebook be misplaced or lost, the cost of a replacement will be charged to your account.

Our Culture Extra-Curricular schedule has now been finalised after a fair amount of careful reshuffling to accommodate sports clashes and other activities. We appreciate your patience during this process and thank you for your understanding.

Below, you will find the link to the 2026 Culture Extra Curricular Schedule.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xNEi4I91GMYQfhV2JI9EYnL850_BemE9q1hTGb-0OMQ/edit?usp=sharing

Extracurricular Policy:

We are in the process of finalising our official Extracurricular Policy for Sport & Culture Codes. Kindly be on the lookout for communication regarding this policy in the next few weeks.

🎤Music Lessons:

I trust that all parents of learners signed up for Individual/Group Music Tuition has received correspondence regarding your child's Music Lesson time and day. If not, kindly send me an email me to allow me to follow up. I also wish to thank our parent community for your patience and grace during the last two weeks as our Music Educators worked through all the new applications and timetabling processes. Please also ensure that you received the Welcome Information Letter from your child's Music Teacher. It is vital that all parents receive this letter, and complete the Music Lesson Policy link on the letter.

🎤Assemblies:

As part of our commitment in nurturing our learner's love for Music, we encourage our Musicians to perform during our internal Assembly slots. The selection of learners who perform during Assembly, is managed by our Music Staff.

If you wish for your child to perform during an Assembly slot, kindly email avanderspeck@thegrove.co.za.

🎤Lunchtime Concerts:

Our much loved Lunchtime concerts will commence in Term 2.

Yours in Music

Mrs Van Der Speck

Term 1 - 2026

🎤Opening Message:

Welcome back to our Culture Grove Community! It's time to dust off your children 's instruments, warm up their voices, and get their fingers moving — practising has officially started! 🎶 I am thrilled to welcome all our learners back for another exciting term of music at The Grove. The music rooms and rehearsals spaces are buzzing with anticipation, and we cannot wait to make beautiful music together.

Whether your child is joining an ensemble, continuing with lessons, or exploring their first notes, this term promises growth, creativity, and lots of fun. Our goal is to nurture every learner’s musical journey — from developing confidence and technique to fostering a lifelong love of music.

We are also delighted to welcome our new learners and families into the Grove Music community. We are excited to support you as you embark on this musical adventure with us. To our returning learners, welcome back — your enthusiasm and dedication inspire us, and we look forward to seeing how you will grow this term.

Let’s make this term a harmonious one — full of rhythm, melody, teamwork, and, most importantly, the joy of making music! Remember: every practice, every note, and every rehearsal is a step toward something wonderful. So, tune up, get ready, and let the music begin! 🎵

🎤New Music Pupil Applications:

At the end of 2025, I received a HUGE amount of music applications for 2026 - which is fantastic! I have done my utmost best to place 90% of these applications, but due to venue constraints and Music Educator's teaching capacity, this is not possible.

Our Music Staff are currently in the process of emailing and placing learners that have been assigned to them. If you do not receive any communication from a Grove Music Educator by the end of the week, please email avanderspeck@thegrove.co.za.

I ask all our parents/guardians for your patience as our Music Staff push to get all the start of the year Admin done as soon as possible.

For existing pupils - If you have not already done so, please be sure to get in touch with your child's teacher to confirm your child's spot for 2026. Also, please use this opportunity to discuss any changes you might want to make to your child's music journey - such as switching from a group lesson to an individual lesson, or changing an instrument, or switching from one lesson a week to two lessons a week.

🎤Music Lessons:

Music Lessons (Individual/group), commences on Monday, 19 January 2026. Although this is the official date for music lessons to commence, please understand that is it impossible to have a finalised timetabled slot for your child ready by then. I have asked all Music Staff to have their finalised timetables ready by the end of week 2, and to share your child's confirmed music lesson time and day by the end of week 2. For lessons next week, we ask that all learners bring their instrument and music on the day that their teacher at school. Music Teachers will liaise with class teachers to schedule music lessons.

🎤Welcome Letter:

As part of your child's Music Teacher's welcome back email, you should have received the notice below. Kindly, read through this notice carefully as it contains important information regarding music lessons for the year.

Individual Music Lesson- Information Letter and Policy 2026.pdf

🎤New Music Notebook:

This year, we are excited to be able to provide all our Music pupils with a brand new Music Notebook . This notebook will be used for lesson notes and communication throughout the year and will be provided free of charge . We kindly ask that parents/guardians check this notebook on a weekly basis, as it requires your signature. Please note that lesson content may not always be documented in writing by the Music Educator for every session. Please note that lesson content may not always be written down by the Music Educator. Music lessons are often tailored in the moment to each learner’s progress and creativity, so the focus is on hands-on learning and personal guidance rather than producing a written record for every session.

● The notebook is to be kept and used for the entire year .

● Should the notebook be lost or misplaced , parents/guardians will be required to cover the cost of a replacement (R85).

🎤Culture Extra-Curricular (Music Ensembles:)

Our Extracurricular programme commences on Monday, 19 January 2026. Our cultural sign up forms was communicated to our parent community on Tuesday.

Junior Orff, Orff Recorder Ensemble & Boomwhacker Ensemble:

Our 2025 Orff Ensemble and Boomwhacker Ensemble has dissolved. The sign up forms to join these Ensembles are below:

Junior Orff Ensemble (Grade 2 - 3):

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdexgvTP5_ixd3kC8nlTEKmTTaK1qW5qYQdJns5IP1YsLOBrA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114011005564693532340

Orff Recorder Ensemble (Grade 4 - 7):

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdVuCAp6ZjUfPD3zV6V09Ndxie3XtRMGbNx2ivTDs32T6dfqQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114011005564693532340

Boomwhacker Ensemble (Grade 2 - 3):

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdockKgWX9cczMrX67VIkVsYqWhL9KHt_OUgN24cgg7ppSEiw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101977507224257965411

Instrumental Ensembles:

Our existing Ensembles, such as the Recorder Ensemble, Rock Band, Drumline, String Ensemble etc functions differently. Learners are placed in these Ensembles based on merit, and at the Ensemble Manager's discretion. Should your child form part of instrumental Ensembles, the Ensemble Manager will be in contact with you.

Vocal Ensembles and Choirs:

We will be auditioning learners for placements in the Vocal Ensembles and Choirs today and tomorrow. Parents/guardians of learners who are placed in our Vocal Ensembles (Cantabile or Jazz), and choirs will receive communication from the relevant Ensemble Managers by end of day, tomorrow.

Marimba Bands:

Due to the huge of amount of applications we've received for Marimba Bands, we have decided to open up another Marimba Band. I am currently in liaison with Marimba Jam to finalise the details regarding the time and day of this Marimba Band rehearsal time, and will communicate all information once finalised. Please look out for communication from Marimba Jam regarding further information.

Grove Jazz Collective Band:

For 2026, we have decided to streamline our Jazz Band. This means, that the jazz band will no longer include string and recorder players in it. All string players will form part of the String Ensemble, and Recorder players will form part of the Recorder Ensemble. The Jazz Band will now only include a rhythm section, brass and woodwind players. This is the standard setting of any Jazz Band within the Music Industry.

Should your child form part of the Jazz Band for 2026, Mr Roos will be in contact with you.

Ensemble Participation:

If your child receives music tuition outside of Grove, and has 1-2 years of playing experience, please get in touch with me to place your child in one of Grove Music Ensembles. We'd love for all our Grovite musicians to be involved!

Extracurricular Policy:

We are in the process of finalising our official Extracurricular Policy for Sport & Culture Codes. Be on the lookout for communication regarding this policy in the next few weeks.

🎤Assemblies:

If you wish for your child to perform during an Assembly slot, kindly email avanderspeck@thegrove.co.za.

🎤Lunchtime Concerts:

Our much loved Lunchtime concerts will commence in Term 2.

For any further queries, do not hesitate to email me.

Yours in Music

Mrs Van Der Speck

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