Need

Tower Hamlets has the highest rate of child poverty in London. 79% of children in the Borough come from extremely low income families, many of whom are out of work. Many primary school children and their families in Tower Hamlets do not have access to musical activities. This project will fill a significant need for skills, resources and materials to give children in the Borough the chance to experience live instrumental music and participate in high quality musical activities.

Solution

Children from 8 primary schools in Tower Hamlets will participate in 3 days of creative workshops with CLS musicians and experience live orchestral performances in March and May 2012. Children aged 2-8 and their families will have access to 2 fun and interactive concerts in the summer holidays. Teachers and nursery school staff will be empowered to lead more musical activities in the future through attending hands on training sessions. A musical resource box will be provided in each school.

Aims

To create active and engaging musical opportunities for primary school children in Tower Hamlets.

Activities

» 3 days of participatory music workshops in 8 primary schools (4 in March, 4 in May) led by a specialist workshop leader & a trio of CLS musicians.
» 2 live concert days for participating schools (1 in March, 1 in May) with an orchestra of 12 musicians and a presenter.

Success will be: up to 360 children each attending themed music workshop sessions including an introduction to professional musicians.

To develop skills & confidence of teachers in Tower Hamlets to lead more musical activities.

Activities

» 2 training sessions for teachers of Key Stage One and nursery school staff (1 in March, 1 in May).
» Each session will demonstrate effective hands-on musical activities for young children which participants can use in their own classrooms.
» Participants will be provided with musical resources to use in their classrooms.
» Each session will accommodate up to 30 teachers or nursery school staff.

Success will be: providing up to 60 teachers with the tools and resources needed to enhance their music class sessions.

To encourage schools & teachers in Tower Hamlets to use material from workshops in their own lessons

Activities

» A music resource box will be provided for each school containing song lyrics, activity sheets, a selection of percussion instruments and puppets.

Success will be providing practical materials and percussion instruments for incorporating into Key Stage 1 creative music work.

To provide high quality orchestral performances which are engaging & accessible for young children.

Activities

» 2 specially themed orchestral concerts at the start of the summer to be held at the Idea Store in Whitechapel.
» Concerts will be presented by a music animateur who will introduce the instruments and pieces, and encourage children and their parents join in.
» Performances and preceding activities will be free to attend.
» The concerts will be marketed to families in Tower Hamlets through local organisations to ensure maximum participation from our target audiences.

Success will be delivery of participatory animal themed orchestral performances for over 300 children and their families led by presenter Claire Bloor.

Impact

By filling a significant gap in the provision of musical activities for young children in Tower Hamlets the project will develop the musical knowledge, skills and aspirations of a whole new generation of music lovers and inspire teachers to lead more musical activities. Feedback from children, teachers and parents will be monitored carefully and used to demonstrate the project’s impact.

Risk

By working in partnership with two organisations with local knowledge and connections, Tower Hamlets Arts and Music Education Service and Spitalfields Music, we will ensure that the project reaches those who will benefit most from participation and that all activities are well attended.

Reporting

Written evaluation will take place throughout the project and a final report will be produced by CLS and made accessible via our website.

Budget - Project Cost: £24,595

Location

Tower Hamlets is located east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. The borough is one of the most deprived in the country, but there are a few small pockets of wealthy areas. Levels of unemployment are high, and it has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the UK - the percentage of pupils on free school meals is the highest in England and Wales.

Beneficiaries

Hundreds of children, parents and teachers in one of the country’s most deprived areas will have their first ever encounter with live classical music, professional musicians and instruments.

Why Us?

CLS musicians spend over 100 days a year making music with a wide range of groups of all ages and backgrounds and are fully trained and supported to undertake this important work with confidence, passion and expertise. Our community and outreach programme was one of the first programmes to be established by a UK orchestra (1988) and is widely recognised as a leader in the field.

Read more about the Charity running this project.

People

Gillian Hunter - CLS Education Manager

Gillian is experienced at delivering music education projects to primary school children. She is our Child Protection Officer & First Aider.

Dominic Wheeler – Conductor

Dominic has worked with CLS for several years, including conducting many of our successful Crash Bang Wallop! Family Concerts at Cadogan Hall.

James Redwood – Workshop Leader

James is an experienced music workshop leader, including with children’s special needs projects. Presenter of CLS Crash Bang Wallop! Family Concerts.

Claire Bloor – Animateur

An experienced musician & workshop leader, Clair presents CLS' successful Lullaby Series for Early Years children & families across Suffolk each year.