Children enjoy musical challenges at workshop

The children from these schools experienced a hugely challenging and exciting day, under the organisation of Alison Burke and the teaching of Advanced Skills Teacher for Primary Music, Tina Kear.

They worked on rhythm challenges, putting together a polyrhythm Stomp-style routine, learnt warm up action songs, and songs in harmony.

The main focus of the day was to compose their own group Christmas song – writing their own lyrics, composing their tune, learning how to accompany their melody using chords on keyboards, adding in other instruments such as violins, flutes, a recorder, a harmonica, percussion etc and creating harmony parts for their vocals.

The children, aged ten and 11, worked together incredibly well to create some fantastic compositions.

The children were all thoroughly engaged in the challenges and commented:

“I had so much fun. I have never done anything like it – I wish the day had been longer.”

“The day has been outstanding! – I have loved being here!”

“My favourite part of the day was the song composition because we made great progress and it was challenging.”

“I feel I have grown as a musician and in confidence.”

Asked if there was an opportunity to attend another Music Day, would they want to – 100% of the children responded with ‘yes!’, ‘definitely!’, ‘absolutely’ and ‘who wouldn’t?!’.

Parents were treated to an informal performance at the end of the day, where the children performed their group compositions along with the 7-part Stomp Routine and songs they had learnt.

Report and picture contributed by Southwater Junior Academy.