Pupils join in with symphony of sound (VIDEO)
Dozens of youngsters at St George and St Martin's Catholic Primary School, in Birches Head, spent a morning getting to grips with classical music yesterday, before joining children from other schools around the city for a mass performance.
Musicians from the world-famous Philharmonia Orchestra held one-hour sessions with children from years four, five and six where they got to listen to pieces of music, play rhythm games and compose an accompaniment to a piece played in the afternoon concert.
Year 6 pupil Tiana Deakes, aged 11, said: "We played clapping games to get us warmed up and then had a go at guessing what music was being played.
"That was my favourite bit but some people got to have a go at playing an instrument as well."
Jamie Whelan, who is in Year 5, enjoyed finding out about the violin.
The 10-year-old said: "The best part of the morning was listening to different music and talking about how it made us feel.
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"We learnt music isn't just noise, it has got feelings as well."
The project, called MusicQuest, was funded through a grant from educational charity, The Prince's Foundation for Children and the Arts.
A total of 17 schools met at the Victoria Hall, in Hanley, for a performance from the orchestra, which is one of a number taking place around the country.
As well as experiencing listening to live musicians, the children were able to play their own part in the performance.
Julia O'Riordan, who helped lead the workshop sessions, said: "From a physical point, our learning ability is easier when we are younger, but it is also important for projects like this to get young people connected to classical music and give them a sense of ownership.
"It also helps to develop concentration and co-ordination.
"It is more fun and the children get more out of the concert when it has been built-up at school. The children were wonderful.
"They picked things up really quickly."
The school's music co-ordinator, Sarah Cumbo, said: "Some children leave school having never watched a performance in a theatre or listened to an orchestra play live.
"The project is working to readdress this balance and encourage in children a life-long love of the arts."
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