Music
Monday, 23 April 2012
On the last day of the spring term every class in school was involved in our music assembly. It was a chance for pupils to listen to each other and hear what they had been learning in their music lessons throughout the term.
After band played us in with “Sweet Child o' Mine”, Year 5 started us off with performances of “Oh When the Saints” and “Tequila” to show that they had been learning to listen to each other and keep in time, even though lots of people were playing different parts.
During last term Year 6 had studied the pop group Abba and their music so that they could play “Honey, Honey” to us. That was followed by a piece of their choice – “What Makes you Beautiful” by One Direction.
Year 7 chose to play “Heart Skips a Beat” by Olly Murs, followed by “Three Little Birds” as they had been studying Bob Marley and reggae music. Andrew was brave enough to start this performance off with a guitar solo.
Year 8 ended the assembly with their choice of “Baby” by Justin Bieber (the boys let the girls choose this time!) and, after a topic on Film Music, performed the James Bond theme.
All pupils took part, not always playing on the same instrument and showed great talent and concentration, being able to work well in whatever group they were in. The music got better and better throughout the assembly and was an enjoyable way to end the term.
Click 'read more' below for videos of the Year 6, 7 and 8 performances.
Year 5 playing "Oh When the Saints" and "Tequila"
Tuesday, 07 June 2011
Stix 'n Trix, our school band, attracted quite a crowd when they played at Bamburgh Fair over the bank holiday weekend. It was a very blustery day, we were certainly glad of our purple band hoodies and our music had to be rescued quite a few times as it blew away! Although it threatened to rain, the weather was kind to us and the pans didn’t get wet!
The fair was extremely busy and seemed to have a constant stream of visitors. As we were performing near the entrance we were the first thing to be seen and heard and some of our parents were pleased to hear the positive comments about their children’s playing. Band members thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were treated to ice creams, hot dogs and burgers to keep them going.
We played some old pieces, some new and we seemed to grow in confidence during the two hours we played. Angus gave us a good, strong bass part and Lucy played really well on the guitar pans – this was her first public performance since joining band and sister Holly was in the audience, making sure she got it right! Jason deserves a special mention as he stepped in at the last minute, playing on the seconds and learning all the parts in the last few days! Jack kept us perfectly together with his reliable beat on the drum kit – changing his rhythms to suit whatever piece we were playing – he must have been exhausted at the end of the two hours! Lauren and Antonia have worked really well together over the last couple of weeks and, as it was Antonia’s first time too, made sure they knew all the tenor parts so that they could lead the band well on melodies. Our brass and woodwind section blended in very well – sometimes taking the lead and sometimes staying in the background. They included Matty, Jack and Nicholas on trumpets, Oswin on cornet, Edmund on French Horn, Andrew on clarinet and, last but certainly not least, Olivia on trombone!
The band were all a credit to themselves, their parents and the school and they are looking forward to playing in Bamburgh Castle on 25th June, alongside the Rothbury Pipe Band and the Northumbrian Ranters.
Well done again Stix 'n Trix!
Monday, 27 September 2010
On the last day of half term, years 5, 6 and 7 all performed on instruments the pieces they had been learning to play in their music lessons. Every person in each class found a way of contributing to their class’s performance – some found it harder than others, some could play more difficult parts, but everyone had to work together and help each other, suggesting ways that they could improve as a class.
It was a good opportunity to show other pupils in school what they could do and also to listen to and appreciate what other classes are capable of.
As pupils came into the hall our school band played “Happy Ending” by Mika, followed by year 5 who played “Clocks” by Coldplay. They have made excellent progress this year and play on a variety of instruments, everyone knowing what to play and how to make the best sound out of their instruments.
Year 6 then performed Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”, voted the most relaxing piece of music ever because the harmonies make you feel peaceful and calm and the speed slows down your heartbeat and relaxes you. In the music you can hear a simple part being played on some instruments, then other parts are gradually added until there are 7 different tunes being played which go together. Lots of other people have used this chord sequence and year 6 put together a performance of Canon in D followed by “Altogether Now” by a 1970’s group called The Farm.
In year 7’s music lessons we have been listening to pieces of music which have different sections, like intros, verses, choruses, bridges and outros. Chord sequences don’t always stay the same so we have to recognise different sections and know when to change the chords according to what the tune is doing. That means we have to develop a good memory and think carefully – our brains are active all the time and we need to concentrate. To give a good performance we have to work really well as a group, not just individuals. “All the small things” by Blink 182 and “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz show this.
Band consists of some very talented musicians in school and they performed the theme from James Bond, followed by “All the small things”. Watch out for them at the Seahouses Festival on Sunday 21st June.
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
St. Michael’s First school in Alnwick held a Caribbean week to give their Key Stage 2 children a taste of what life is like in the Caribbean Islands. As part of that week they asked our band, Stix ‘n Trix to perform to the whole school and to give workshops for the rest of the day to all their key stage 2 children.
We started off the day, after unloading instruments from Mrs Davison’s horse box and setting up in the hall, by giving the whole school a concert which included the steel band playing traditional Caribbean music, such as “Island in the sun” and “Mambo”. Then Abbie introduced other instruments and the band played their favourites that they had been practising in school – “James Bond”, “Batman” and others. The small children in the audience were swaying along to the music and their smiles told us that they were enjoying themselves.
Our pupils then held half hour workshops for groups of key stage 2 children to show them good techniques of playing steel pans and taught them to play a range of pieces. Their teachers were very complimentary about our performances and thanked us for providing their pupils with a valuable experience.
Back to school at the end of an exhausting day, and all band wanted to do was play some more!
Friday, 07 May 2010
Hands up those of you who remember Dana winning the Eurovision Song Contest! (Now you’re showing your age!) Do you realise it was FORTY years ago? Doesn’t seem like it.
Dana appeared at the Methodist Chapel in Seahouses to a packed house on Friday 7th May, supported by her brother, Jerry Brown and a young drummer.
Dana had asked if she could have some children from Seahouses to help her with some of her songs and so we chose our best singers from each year group to join the first school and the Girl’s Brigade. Our pupils were asked to sing a song by ourselves and chose "You are not alone" which they sang beautifully and got a good response from the audience. They also joined in with Dana when she sang "Nothing in my pocket", "Good Morning Jesus" and her encore, "All kinds of everything".
Dana was an extremely good entertainer, made everyone feel at home and wandered amongst the audience, pausing to speak to people and ask them about themselves. She even got Pamela’s dad up to help her with her version of "Ghost riders in the sky". All the children managed to sing into the microphone at least once during the evening and the chapel was packed with lots of proud parents and friends. It was an excellent experience for our pupils and one they will remember for a long time to come. CDs were on sale at the end of the performance and many people asked to buy "the one with the children on" (pity there wasn’t one!)
Well done to everyone involved.
