Wider opportunities for young musicians
Playing a musical instrument is a very rewarding experience for children and young people and the County Music Service (CMS) currently offers all Key Stage 2 primary children in the county a chance to learn one for free.
The Wider Opportunities programme is available for all children in years three and four and aims to give them a chance to experience music through playing an instrument chosen from a wide selection on offer.
Through the programme, pupils receive weekly group lessons delivered at county schools by staff from the music service working closely with the class teacher. Students learn a wide range of important musical skills through the instrument such as composing, singing, and playing together. The sessions also help them to develop confidence, concentration and listening skills.
Joe Jobling is a pupil from Year 3 at Coten End Primary School in Warwick. For the past term, Joe has been learning to play the trumpet through the Wider Opportunities programme and has really enjoyed his experience.
Talking about the scheme, eight-year-old Joe said: “In the lessons I play the trumpet and my best friend plays with me on the keyboard. It’s the best way to start playing an instrument as I probably wouldn’t have tried the trumpet without doing this.
“The lessons are really good fun and I like learning with my friends and listening to them. It’s really funny when people get the notes wrong, sometimes when our teacher Mr Grimshaw asks them to play a low note, they play a high note and it makes me laugh.
“I really enjoy getting to try out lots of different styles of music, sometimes it is jazz and we do quieter stuff and classical music, but rock is best. I play the keyboard too and Queen is my favourite band. I want to learn how to play the keyboard bit in Bohemian Rhapsody but I also need to find some of their music for the trumpet to have a go at.
“I’m looking forward to playing more next year, my teacher told me I was really good so he is going to let me do more lessons and I’m excited about this.”
In praise of Joe’s progress Simon Grimshaw, Warwick Area Manager for the CMS said: “Joe has really taken to playing the trumpet, creating a really mature sound for one so young. Where possible the CMS helps nurture young talent and always promotes our motto ‘music for life’.
“For Joe, Wider Opportunities is just the beginning and in September, with a free CMS instrument, he will start group brass lessons. After this there is the opportunity for him to join one of the Central Area Junior brass groups, and in a few years he could be playing regularly with one of our County Performance Groups.”
Councillor Izzi Seccombe, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Families said: “The value of music is great. It helps children to develop self discipline and self esteem, social skills and concentration and above all else enables them to take part in rewarding and fun activities.
“I’m really pleased to see that the Wider Opportunities programme is having such a positive effect on budding musicians like Joe. Of course this wouldn’t be possible without support from schools, parents and our partners whose contributions help us to maintain these valuable services.
Wider Opportunities is free for all children aged 8/9 and aims to give them
the chance to experience music and playing an instrument, currently over 3,000 children in 106 schools take part.
To find out more about what’s on offer from the County Music Service, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/musicforlife or call 01926 742630.