Art
At Hill House children are taught by specialist art teachers from an early age.
The practice of art encourages self-expression and development of the imagination. Increasing pupil’s visual awareness and developing their visual memory is a focus whilst they are taught drawing, painting, printmaking, 3-dimensional work including clay and other art techniques. Pupils keep sketchbooks to record their own observations and ideas.
A knowledge and awareness of other artists’ lives and work is introduced from an early age with visits to art galleries and exhibitions.
The School has three art galleries (in Founders’ Hall, Cadogan Gardens and Pont Street) where the children’s art is shown in exhibitions three times a year.
The children’s work is regularly entered into art competitions where they have achieved an excellent success rate by having their work exhibited and commended.
Music
Hill House regards the appreciation of music as a most important element in a child’s make up. The Music Department provides unrivalled opportunities for them to develop their talents at an early age, when progress is quick and other academic pressures are not so great as to interrupt regular practise routines. There are orchestras, choirs, chamber music groups, string quartets, guitar ensembles, woodwind ensembles and a brass consort.
In 1972 a fine two manual organ with mechanical action containing 456 pipes was especially commissioned for the school and installed in the Music Room in Hans Place. There is a second organ in Founders’ Hall. The school also possesses two harpsichords, a clavichord, 17 pianos and a stock of over 300 orchestral instruments, which are loaned to boys and girls for the duration of their time at Hill House.
The full course comprises instrumental tuition, choral work, aural and theory training, and ensemble coaching. In addition boys and girls have access to a comprehensive music library.
Singing is regarded as an essential part of every child’s musical education at Hill House and thus all children from Small School to Senior School will sing at least once a week with one of our Choral Animateurs. In addition we have nine choirs covering every level of ability. There are two touring choirs for which thirty-two choral scholarships are awarded each year to boys and girls already in one of the other school choirs. A residential music course is held every summer for the scholars, who have also toured in England, Scotland, France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and Sweden.
Many music scholarships have been won to Public schools in recent years and numerous Hill House pupils have gone on to have illustrious careers in both classical and popular music.
