Cambridge researchers and musicians are helping to support schools inCambridgeshire to deliver high quality and sustainable music provision over the next three years.
Cambridge researchers and musicians are helping to support schools inCambridgeshire to deliver high quality and sustainable music provision over the next three years.
Amidst the current environment of low funding for education, many local schools in Cambridgeshire struggle to make basic provision for music
Dr Sam Barrett
Cambridgeshire secondary school pupils had the chance to put into practice their new singing talents – from music from the Middle Ages through to the present day – at aon March 19.
For the past 5 months, the students from North Cambridge Academy and Sir Harry Smith Community College have been training alongside professional musicians thanks to an innovative musicprogrammethat seeks to close a gap in school education.
ֱ̽three-year project focuses on helping students develop both vocal and instrumental skills through regular workshops with professional musicians from Cambridge ֱ̽’s Associate Ensembleand ֱ̽Brook Street Band. Using the ‘VOCES8method’, teachers and students are encouraged to learn through participation, using vocal and rhythmic exercises that develop their music skills and confidence.
“Amidstthe current environment of low funding for education, many local schools in Cambridgeshire struggle to make basic provision for music,” explains Dr Sam Barrett, one of theorganisersof theprogramme, called . “Music can help children develop skills and confidence that can underpin many other aspects of their educational journey. Rootsaims to redress the balance by providing a new model for future music education within primary and secondary schools in the region.”
One teacher remarked: “One of the Year 8 [aged 12-13] boys struggles with dyslexia and his academic work. He is not confident – due no doubt to this learning difficulty - and finds it hard to make friends. This project is making a real difference for him. Not only has he stood up with his group to lead, he has introduced his group and as the day went on, began to comfortably lead some warm-ups.” A Year 8 boy added: “I feel more confident after the choir leadership project, I would now put myself out there for more and more things.”
Rootsinvolves the regional music education hub, Cambridgeshire Music; two charities, Cambridge Early Music and the VCM Foundation; and is supported by both Anglia Ruskin ֱ̽ and Cambridge ֱ̽. Researchers from the ֱ̽ of Cambridge’s Faculty of Music, for instance, have been working with teachers to help develop lesson plans informed by their latest insights.
A parallel instrumental strand is being developed by Anglia Ruskin ֱ̽ to establish a tangible legacy by founding a period instrument ensemble specifically for under18s. Specialist coaching will be provided through workshops, access to historic instruments and the Brook Street Band’s innovative online resource Handel Digital, culminating in performance opportunities.
ֱ̽concert at Trinity College represents the completion of the first phase of the project. Responses from the schools involved have been overwhelmingly positive both from teachers and pupils alike. As one teacher said: “Another pupil in year 8 hasbehaviouraldifficulties – often out of lessons and unable to manage in a regular classroom. She loves music. This project has given her an incentive to better manage herbehaviourso that she can participate. She has been able to attend the training sessions and now, having helped lead warm-ups for the children she has something to feel very proud of.”
Funding for the first year of the ROOTS project has been provided by theand thesponsored by(Humanities in the European Research Area). Individuals or societies interested in supporting years 2 and 3 of the project are invited to contactDr Sam Barrettfor further information.
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