The Swan Blog- Issue 5. Striking a Chord

Dated: 23 June 2021

STRIKING A CHORD

Last academic year, during the autumn term 4, our players introduced themselves and their instruments to the visually impaired pupils at Priestley Smith Specialist School . 

They led a whole school assembly, in which they played as a quartet and as duos, so that the students could hear how their instruments blended and the sounds they made playing different pieces of music.

“Our players subsequently delivered a series of ‘have-a-go’ sessions, whereby all 19 children in the upper primary phase tried all instruments available.”

Our players subsequently delivered a series of ‘have-a-go’ sessions, whereby all 19 children in the upper primary phase tried all instruments available (trumpet, cello, violin, recorder, oboe).

At the end of the session the pupils were asked to choose which instrument they would like to learn, and staff had a discussion to allocate children to players.

Covid Restrictions

Due to Covid-19, this year the school asked that only string and percussion players are involved in the project, which started earlier in May at the school, reducing the numbers. 

“Due to Covid-19, this year the school have asked that only the string and percussion players are involved in the project.”

They will provide PPE for each players who will lead 20 minute sessions with primary pupils to teach them one-to-one how to play an instrument. 

Read last week’s here.