Children tune up for music making fun
More than 1,000 children are making music in Warwickshire next week as part of a part of a programme that encourages them to try an instrument.
The Wider Opportunities programme aims to develop the musical skills of children in primary schools and to introduce them to a range of instruments.
Teams of specialist teachers from Warwickshire County Council’s County Music Service have been working in 48 schools across the county with children in years 3 and 4 (aged 7-9).
The programme is expected to be available to all children at Key Stage 2 (seven to 11-year-olds) within the next two years.
Wider Opportunities includes class based musical skills followed by instrumental ‘awareness’ sessions.
A particular feature of the programme is to emphasis the fun that can be had by learning an instrument in groups.
To that end around 1,000 children from different schools are coming together to share their music making in workshops across the county in the middle of June.
County Music Service manager Jeremy Dibb said: ‘Wider Opportunities gives every child the opportunity to learn a musical instrument if they want to. They have the chance to develop the necessary musical skills and to try out a range of instruments.
“There is clear evidence of the benefits of learning an instrument on a child’s concentration skills, self awareness, self discipline and social skills.
“Learning an instrument in a group is a positive experience that the children can take with them for life. It is very exciting to see how positive pupils, parents and schools have been to the programme which is expanding every year.”