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Now in its fifth year!
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WELCOME to PSL 2012
From Brian Cripps, Nathan King and Mike Sallis
Welcome to the fifth ‘Primary Schools Live’. The number of schools taking part this year shows a further increase, with several ‘new’ schools coming on board, while others are taking part for the fourth time. We sincerely hope that everyone involved – performers, teachers, audience – in whatever capacity, share in another uplifting and enjoyable experience.
‘Primary Schools Live’ has come about quite simply because three like-minded people who work and teach in Cheltenham schools wanted to provide an opportunity for children to access, experience and share creative performance. There is no room in ‘PSL’ for auditions, hurdles, prescribed standards or competitive elements.
We hope to see ‘Primary Schools Live’ continue to evolve and grow, attracting even more schools and eventually developing into a two day event. Another possibility is a further ‘PSL’ event where schools might perform together.
Another key element of ‘PSL’ is to encourage schools to spend some time to listen to each other’s performance, rather than simply turn up, perform, then go. Music that is simply competitive can be divisive. ‘Primary Schools Live’ aims to share opportunities and performances; to listen to and to support each other.
Have a great day of live performances.
Our thanks to:
•Berkhampstead and Woodmancote schools for their generous financial support
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• St Andrew’s Church for staging the event and providing refreshments throughout the
day
•All the performers, their teachers, parents and wider audience for supporting ‘Primary
Schools Live’
When does it happen?
This year, 2012, ‘Primary Schools Live’ is again a two day event, with performances on Friday evening and all day Saturday in the Spring Term. However we hope, in the future, to develop workshop opportunities which will happen throughout the year, together with joint performances and the chance to work with professional musicians.
Can any school be involved?
Open to all local Primary Schools, ‘Primary Schools Live’ is non-competitive and there are no auditions or other hurdles. Schools are encouraged to offer a music or drama activity which stimulates group performance. A great opportunity to take part in an enjoyable and creative experience.
Does it cost?
There is no charge and we try to provide equipment (piano, PA, drum kit, amps, percussion, music stands etc.). Specialist musical expertise is available to schools which may need assistance.
Can I get involved?
We are always searching for schools and teachers with new ideas. Please contact Brian Cripps at bcripps1@blueyonder.co.uk
Who is performing 2012?
Berkhampstead, Bishop’s Cleeve, Charlton Kings Junior, Glenfall, Grangefield, Holy Apostles, Holy Trinity, Leckhampton, Oakwood, Prestbury St Mary’s Junior, St Edward’s Junior, Swindon Village, The Catholic School of St Gregory the Great, Woodmancote.
(For a programme of this years events please click here.)
St Edward’s Junior School
St. Edward’s Male Voice choir is five years old this year and consists of boys aged between ten and eleven. The choir began with just eight boys and has grown steadily to fourteen singers. They sing in a variety of styles ranging from comic and pop to sea shanties and songs from musicals. We have enjoyed performing at the Cheltenham Schools Live Festival for a number of years and look forward to performing at this year’s event.
Anne Earnshaw and Katherine Dade
Warden Hill Primary
Warden Hill Primary School has a strong musical tradition, with many children joining the orchestra having only learnt their instrument for a couple of months.
In the last year, the Choir sang at the Inauguration of the Mayor at Cheltenham Town Hall, and the turning on of the Christmas Lights at St Christopher’s Church in Warden Hill, as well as carol singing at the Christmas Fayre and school concerts. The Orchestra performed recently at the Music For Youth Regional Festival and was commended for being: “a very promising orchestra, with years of music making ahead”. The adjudicators also commented on the number of musicians in the orchestra, which currently stands at 55!
Ellie Freeman
St James C of E Primary School
St James C of E Primary School is situated in ‘The Park’ area of Cheltenham; we currently have 305 pupils on roll. As a school we recognise how important it is to provide children with the opportunities to take part in the Creative Arts and are very aware of how this can greatly enhance the self esteem and confidence of children; we are therefore delighted that our pupils are taking part in the ‘Primary Schools Live’ event for the fifth year running. The children in our school also perform in the Festival of Performing Arts, local dance festivals and other local events. We are very proud that approximately fifty percent of our Key Stage 2 children are learning to play a wide range of musical instruments and endeavour to ensure that the children have the opportunities to show case their talents in a variety of forums! In addition to this we ensure that our children are able to take part in quality music lessons every week; these are delivered by a specialist music teacher who also co-ordinates many in school musical productions and other Creative Arts events in which all of the children have an opportunity to take part.
Sarah Henderson
Holy Trinity C of E Primary School
Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, located in the Fairview area of Cheltenham, has a strong tradition of providing a curriculum focus on the arts, especially music. Music tuition at the school includes lessons in a variety of brass, woodwind and string instruments as well as singing, with children strongly encouraged to participate in musical activities even at a young age. The School Orchestra, run by Sarah Morrall, has taken part in many musical activities, including Primary Schools’ Proms and Cheltenham Festival events. The Arts Council of England has awarded the school Artsmark Gold status (the highest level a school can achieve) for its provision in music, art, dance and drama.
Sarah Morrall
St Gregory’s RC Primary School
The Catholic School of Saint Gregory The Great was founded in Cheltenham in 1827 and has been on its present site, in the centre of town, since 1936. The school has a distinctive Catholic nature and serves a wide, urban catchment area and a diverse social and cultural community of 400 pupils.
We place great emphasis on providing the best possible learning environment so as to ensure that all children see themselves as pupils who can achieve and be successful. It is of paramount importance to us that there is a positive ethos in school where success is celebrated and where children who need support and encouragement can access it.
We teach a broad, balanced, creative curriculum and equal opportunities are offered to all pupils. We believe that the arts, music and P.E. are vital to the well-being of our children. We have a thriving orchestra and choir, many sporting teams and art work annually displayed in the Cheltenham Museum and Art Gallery.
The school has achieved the Healthy Schools Award, the Active Sports Mark, the Intermediate International Award and the Foundation Stage staff have achieved the Bristol Standards Award for their work with our early years children.
Mark Faulkner
Leckhampton C of E Primary School
We are very pleased to attend the Primary Schools Live event once again this year and we look forward to entertaining you with our Infant Music Making Group, our Junior Choir and our Year 6 Choir. This event gives us a unique opportunity to present our larger ensembles across a wider age range and we hope you enjoy the sounds of our younger children perform alongside our more senior Year 6 children who are fast-becoming established musicians in their own right. We are so proud of them all.
Music is important to all of us at Leckhampton and we hope that the pupils’ enthusiasm and commitment shines through. Enjoy!
Miriam Hartley
Charlton Kings Junior School
Charlton Kings Junior School has a vibrant musical atmosphere. From whole school singing and productions, through whole class instrumental tuition to individual music lessons, all forms of musical experience are offered to the children. In Year 3, every child learns how to play the recorder. All children can also have small group or individual tuition from a wide range of instruments that we have to offer: violin, cello, guitar, clarinet, flute bassoon, trumpet and drums. From this has sprung a Wind Ensemble and the String Ensemble which features here today. The String Ensemble began about 3 years ago and children are invited to play in this after they have been learning about a term, so that they experience at an early stage the excitement of playing with other more experienced string players and hopefully realise how sociable music can be! The school also has a choir which has performed in many prestigious local concerts. Finally, each year group stages a production during each school year, the Year 6’s currently working on a major production to be performed at the end of their time in school as a testament to the huge wealth of musical skills they have acquire during their time with us!
Stuart Gaston-Nash
Glenfall Community Primary School
Music continues to be an important feature of life at Glenfall. Children from Y2 through to Y6 are currently learning: Ukulele - Clarinet - Guitar - Flute - Recorder - Saxophone - Drums - Trumpet - Violin - Bass Guitar.
These learning opportunities are provided by a talented, committed and supportive team of peripatetic and private instrumental teachers. Glenfall’s children also benefit from a dedicated music room which is available for curriculum music activities, instrumental teaching and rehearsals. Children are encouraged to be involved in a range of performance opportunities. These include individual/small group/ensembles through to the school orchestra, and not forgetting the schools second emerging rock band. These opportunities support the development of self confidence, self-esteem and teamwork in their musical lives and in other areas of life in school and in the classroom. They also accelerate the process of learning to play a musical instrument by providing a sense of purpose to the process. And, of course, playing and performing together is fun.
Glenfall children are pleased to be taking part in their fifth ‘Primary Schools Live’, especially the Samba Band, who are not only making their first appearance at PSL, but also their first ever public performance.
Brian Cripps
Prestbury St Mary’s C of E Junior School
We continue to value experience music at Prestbury St. Mary’s in a variety of ways. So far this year, a Spring Term music club successfully used a form of supported improvisation to enjoy group music-making and a new ukulele group helped to accompany both the choir and the music group in performances to the school and parents.
The choir has resumed this term and as well as taking part in Primary Schools Live, has the privilege of joining with Oakwood school this term to perform in events associated with the Lord Mayor.
Children from our school had a great time at the Samba Rhythm workshop at Glenfall Primary School in the Spring Term and we continue to find ways to give all children the opportunity to enjoy music and develop their musical appreciation, understanding and skills.
Tristan Thomas
Gotherington School
Music at Gotherington is great! We believe music is a part of everyday life and our school provides a wide range of creative activities, including infant and junior choirs, school orchestra, music lessons and much, much more. Pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6 also have the chance to learn one of three instruments, the flute, clarinet or trumpet.
This year, the children in Years 5 and 6 were lucky enough to receive ten soprano saxophone lessons over a period of two weeks through the wider opportunities scheme. Years 3 and 4 tooted their way through a series of recorder lessons and mastered three tunes by the end of the second week.
On National Sing Up day in February the choirs gave a concert to the rest of the school whilst they were eating lunch. This was really enjoyed by everyone and included a range of songs, some in different languages.
As part of the schools Africa Day in March, every class took part in a drumming workshop and had the opportunity to make lots of noise, learn about music from Africa and have a great time too!
As well as music we love to dance at Gotherington. In the spring term, pupils from Years 5 and 6 were chosen to take part in the Tewkesbury Feet First and Gloucestershire Youth dance festivals, with exciting routines they were both a massive success.
Music at our school gives us a chance to have fun and learn and also helps us relax and express ourselves. It also gives us skills which we can use and cherish for the rest of our lives.
By Ellie Fisher and Charlotte Cawthorne (year 5), Alicia Fearn, Sophie Letzer and Jessica Marchant (year 6).
Oakwood Primary School
Oakwood Primary School is a new school which is an amalgamation of Whaddon and Lynworth schools. We have recently moved into our brand new school on the Lynworth site. As a new school we have performed Christmas plays, summer shows, pantomimes and held carol services at St. Michael’s Church. Oakwood Street Dance Group have performed at the Gloucestershire Dance Festival at the Bacon theatre and at the ‘Feet First’ dance festival at the Town Hall. They specialise in street dance and are keen to help choreograph their own routines. We really enjoy taking part in Primary Schools Live every year as well as watching other schools perform.
Olwen Raper
Grangefield Primary School
Grangefield was built in 2000 on the outskirts of Bishops Cleeve. As the school has grown, the amount of music and musicians has grown too.
We currently have 210 children on role and offer them the chance to learn a variety of instruments through the Gloucestershire Music Scheme as well as teachers from the school.
A choir has been running for the past 4 years, but our orchestra only started last year.
Children and staff enjoy music at Grangefield, and we hope you enjoy it too.
Mrs Gilroy
Woodmancote Primary School
Woodmancote School has been involved with Primary School's Live from the very beginning and is proud to be supporting this event again this year. We have a variety of music ensembles throughout the school including; wind band, string band, infant ukulele band, choir, percussion group and a jazz and rock group. The children are encouraged to take peripatetic lessons and to use their instruments within these groups to learn to play with others.
Nathan King
Greatfield Park Primary School
Greatfield Park Primary School is situated on the south-east outskirts of Cheltenham, in the district of Up Hatherley. The school is a modern building with large, landscaped gardens and play areas. The school has a friendly, family atmosphere, which provides a secure and caring environment for its pupils. All children are expected and encouraged to show independence and positive attitude towards their work.
We are a one form entry primary school with 30 children in most year groups. We are lucky to have an enthusiastic and dedicated team of teachers and support staff that offer a varied number of extra-curricular activities.
Music plays an important role in our school and all children have the opportunity to play instruments either through whole class teaching or individually by peripatetic staff. We hold many concerts throughout the year and we believe that music plays a vital role in encouraging children’s creativity, self esteem and teamwork. We have a very enthusiastic choir of approximately 50 children (year 1 to year 6), who meet once a week.
Debbie Godsell
Bishop’s Cleeve Primary School
Bishop’s Cleeve is a thriving Primary School on the outskirts of Cheltenham where Music plays a big role in all the lives of the children. From singing in assemblies to classroom music and the ‘Singing Playground’, children enjoy daily access to music. There are also wide opportunities for children to learn a range of instruments from brass, to woodwind and guitar with specialist instrumental tutors.
Our rapidly expanding choir now has over 80 members, all of whom attend weekly rehearsals and look forward to opportunities to represent the school whenever possible. This year, the choir attended the Young Voices concert held at the NEC in Birmingham where they had the opportunity to sing with over 6,000 children. We had so much fun that we’re already booked to go again next November! The lively Singing Playgrounds have been a real hit and each day our team of 32 Young Singing Leaders from Years 4-6 lead the playgrounds in a range of action, movement and part songs.
Children look forward to the opportunity to share their musical talents with the school through singing and talent assemblies as well as in musical productions. In the coming months Bishop’s Cleeve is preparing for it’s first Summer Spectacular - a concert which will showcase creative talent from across the school including solo and group performers.
The children of Bishop’s Cleeve Primary are really looking forward to their second performance at ‘Primary Schools Live’!
Gill Izzard
Holy Apostles C of E Primary School
At Holy Apostles School we do a lot of fun music such as after school Choir, Young Singing Leaders and singing assembly with our singing teacher Miss Johnson. Some children also have lessons during the day to learn how to play instruments.
After school choir is run by Y5 teacher, Mr Hayden and recorder teacher Mrs Chestney. Choir is fun and lots of people have joined. At choir we start with warm ups which are run by the children. Then Mrs Chestney plays a song on the piano. We then learn a song with Mr Hayden.
As well as school choir there is a staff choir called ‘H. A. Harmony’. The name was chosen by the children entering a competition. The winner was a Y6 boy and he was congratulated in assembly and given a percussive egg as a prize. H. A. Harmony sometimes sings with the children in assemblies and on Thursday lunch times they practise their songs. They can sing really well together.
Holy Apostles is a very musical school and everyone enjoys it.
Louise Johnson
Berkhampstead School
Every pupil at Berkhampstead School is involved in music in one way or another. There is an enthusiastic culture of taking up an individual instrument with specialist visiting music teachers and by the time they reach Y4 over 92% have started to learn an instrument and are able to join our many thriving string, recorder, guitar, percussion and jazz ensembles.
Choirs are also popular and all the children have the opportunity to perform during the year at concerts in the Pump Rooms and musical productions. These have included fully staged musicals ‘Oliver’, ‘Bugsy Malone’, ‘Guys and Dolls’ and ‘Oklahoma’.
Whilst encouraging all pupils to enjoy participating in musical activities we also nurture especially talented musicians with chamber groups for instrumentalists and singers. Some of these have reached Grade 5 and this year seven have been successful in auditions for the National Children’s Orchestras and Choirs as well as many local music groups. Whatever the level of ability there is something special for everyone, to help them grow in the skills and pleasure of music.
Today’s performance features musicians from the Pre-Prep Department, where Mrs Debbie Sallis nurtures great enthusiasm amongst all the children. They enjoy music clubs ‘Crash, Bang, Wallop’ and ‘Ukelele Club’.
Penny Mitchell
Swindon Village Primary School
Swindon Village Primary School are delighted to be taking part in their first Primary School’s Live concert. This will be the first big performance for our Samba band which was formed at the beginning of this year. When you hear them play it is hard to believe that many children in the band had never played an instrument outside of school before.
The Junior Choir is now in its third year. During this time they have performed in front of thousands of people in the ‘Young Voices’ choir in Birmingham NEC. They also competed in last year’s Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts gaining a distinction for their performance.
The school orchestra will also be performing at PSL. The band has been formed by bringing together the instruments taught by the excellent peripatetic music teachers at our school. We have also recently formed an infant singing club with over 25 members. The children have performed in assemblies and during ‘Sing Up Day’ and are enthusiastic to share their love of singing with you.
Why not have a look at our Photo Gallery
For a programme of this years events please click here
For more information contact:
Nathan King 0785 015 3949
primaryschoolslive@hotmail.co.uk
Thank you to Glenfall Primary and Woodmancote Primary Schools for making this possible.
Sharing, Listening & Supporting....................
