Wider Opportunities
Stevenage Perform!
On the morning of June 29th Wider Opportunities classes from five Hertfordshire primary schools gathered at Roebuck Primary School in Stevenage to play and listen to each other and then to take part in a workshop session which culminated in a ten minute performance. Each school used different instruments (steel pans, recorders, flutes, violins, cellos and djembes) and in addition four Hertfordshire students joined in the workshop providing saxophone, piano, double bass and lead singer parts. The Wider Opportunities teachers had been working on the workshop material with their classes during the summer term lessons so the children were already familiar with it and came along ready to participate. 
They had learnt two songs and some samba rhythms and had developed their own simple accompaniments to go with the songs. The final performance was watched by the Year 3 children from the host school who got to join in at the end. It was very exciting to be part of and was a great example of the four principles that underpin good Wider Opportunities teaching , access and inclusion, integration, creativity and collaboration, particularly the latter with school and music service staff, students and children all working together as musicians. It is hoped that more of these events can be held next year in other parts of the county.
The morning was inspired by the ks2music “Perform!” event held in Birmingham last year in which Taiko drummers from Monksmead School, Borehamwood took part . Thanks go to Francesca Matthews from TrintyGuildhall for her support, to Roebuck Primary School for their help and willingness to accommodate us, to the staff from the 
visiting schools, Broom Barns Community Primary School, Larwood School, Shephalbury Park Primary School, Stonehill School, to the students, Fergus Allan, Alison Coates, Andrew Jones and Jamie Stockbridge, and especially to the children and teachers, Ruth Gurney, Claire Humphries, Hilary Ingram, Andrea Lee and Dean White who entered into the spirit of the event so whole-heartedly.
Naomi Morris
Notes from the Music Service CPD session on Performance Skills
First Performances for Large Groups of Beginners
(much applies to any large group performances)
What outcome do you want for the performers (children)?
e.g.increased self esteem, show what they can do, cope with demands asked of them, a musical performance
What outcome do you want for the audience (other children/ teachers/ parents/ strangers)?
e.g. to be impressed, to be pleased, to enjoy the music, to support their children and wish to go on doing so
What do you want to achieve?
e.g. a performance to be proud of that gives the opportunity for all of the above.
Pointers
- Pick the right material – consider difficulty and genre - not too difficult, think what will appeal to audience and get good response for final piece
- People – be perceptive and sensitive about children’s strengths, weaknesses and feeling
- Practise! – make sure adequate time allowed
- Planning and organisation –
- Promote good habits and sense of occasion –
- Prepare the children well to encourage confidence -
- Praise – during and after the performance –
- they need to feel supported and that you are in control
- they need to know the performance material, what is expected of them and what is going on
- they need to feel as secure as possible – you must appear calm!
Use body language and eye contact.
(You may have to educate the audience in how to appreciate what the children have achieved!)
PROPER PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE
PROPER PREPARATION PROMOTES PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES AND PRODUCES PROUD PARENTS!
Naomi Morris
Lead Teacher - Wider Opportunities
naomi.morris@hertsmusicservice.org.uk
04/2011