Education ViVA

Chenderit Cluster Project with Northamptonshire Music & Performing Arts Service
Chenderit Cluster of 11 Schools, South Northamptonshire
May - July 2011

Following the success of the Connected to Music project in Daventry we were asked to create a project designed to inspire young musicians in South Northamptonshire, as part of a project specifically designed to work with gifted and talented students from a cluster of primary schools linked to Chenderit Secondary School.

"I have gained a great rapport with the small group of children involved from our school – also a greater insight into their musical strengths and weaknesses." - Teacher, Chacombe Primary School

The project involved 11 schools who each worked with a sinfonia ViVA team led by workshop leader and composer Tim Steiner. The 10 participating primary schools; Culworth C of E Primary, Farthinghoe Primary, Middleton Cheney Primary, Chipping Warden Primary, Boddington C of E Primary, Greatworth Primary, Kings Sutton Primary, St Mary's Catholic Primary, Chacombe C of E (Aided) Primary and St Loys C of E Primary Schools; are all feeder schools to Chenderit Secondary School which hosted the final sharing session.

"I enjoyed mixing with children from other schools." - Participant, Chacombe Primary School

The project began with a session for the lead teachers from each of the schools to get to know Tim Steiner and the ViVA team, and to introduce the material which would provide the heart of the project. Following this session, the teachers were encouraged to start work with their students prior to the workshop session which Tim and the ViVA team led in each of the 10 primary schools during May and June. The sessions were based on the Ritual Fire Dance and an erupting volcano and during the sessions the young musicians worked in small instrumental teams to learn some material, before bringing it all together at the end of the session. For some sessions a group of young musicians and staff from Chenderit Secondary School joined the ViVA team, to further cement the relationships between the schools.

"Good to work with lots of people. We liked the hand actions." - Participant, Greatworth Primary School

The ViVA team introduced a song and left the teachers and young people with the task of rehearsing all the different elements as well as writing their own school rap themed around the volcano, which they could perform at the final sharing.

The ViVA team led an open session in partnership with the music centre staff at the Middleton Cheney Music Centre, which all the participants we met in each of the schools were invited to attend, as well as anyone who already attended the music centre. Following an inspiring morning, the participants gave an informal performance to friends and family towards the end of the session, to showcase their achievements.

"Fantastic experience for all our children." - Teacher, Greatworth Primary School

The final part of the project was a massed workshop and sharing for all 10 primary schools who came together at Chenderit Secondary School for a morning workshop to bring all the different elements together, followed by a sharing for friends, family and teachers during the afternoon. The 177 participants and 22 school and music service staff were joined by an enhanced team of six sinfonia ViVA musicians, all led by Tim Steiner.

"We enjoyed listening to the large variety of instruments and playing as part of an orchestra." - Participant, Chacombe Primary School

The performance of the Ritual Fire Dance instrumental, raps and song was greeted really warmly by the audience of around 150 and it is very much hoped that we will be able to build upon the excellent relationships established during the course of this project in future.

"Thanks – all the children loved it and learnt so much about being part of an orchestra!" -Teacher, Chacombe Primary School

Supported by The project was supported by Chenderit School, Orchestras Live, Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service, South Northamptonshire Council and Arts Council England.

Images from the project...