Bronze Arts Award Pupils Lead Junior School Musical Workshops

2nd year pupils Sathvika Krishnan and Miles Scott-Burt, together with Shell Music Scholar Harry White led three excellent practical music workshops for our Y4 Bablake Junior School pupils as part of their Bronze Arts Award programme.

SAMYO member Sathvika's Carnatic singing session was immaculately presented. Her historical knowledge related to her musical passion and professional attitude to practice were particularly evident. Our Junior School pupils were made to work very hard too, with a tub of chocolates acting as a very clear incentive!

Miles Scott-Burt has been playing percussion for just a year but his enthusiasm and versatility were very clear to see as he first demonstrated how to play the xylophone, snare drum, tympani drum and glockenspiel before allowing our Junior School pupils the chance to make their own (very loud) sound! He also taught his charges how to tune the tympani.

Harry White gave a super rendition of 'Strangers on the Shore' on his clarinet before explaining how the instrument was put together. Almost everyone from the three groups that were playing the clarinet for the first time elicited a sound! No mean achievement!

Mrs Cathy Scott-Burt (Head of Enrichment and Outreach Coordinator), who organised the session with Mr Steve Cooper (Music) and Mrs Marion Mason (Head of Music at Bablake Junior School), said: 'Our three young 'music teachers' really enjoyed the afternoon and all our Junior School visitors went back with new knowledge and hopefully inspired to think about some instrumental lessons themselves. The Arts Award programme is shortly to expand into the Junior School, where Mrs Marion Mason (Head of Music at Bablake Junior School), is set to introduce the Discover and Explore levels of the Award. I'm sure that there will be some exciting collaborations ahead between our schools and pupils.'