Singing workshops
I work as a freelance schools singing workshop leader and am currently offering a Tudor Music programme to Key Stage 2 children throughout Darlington and County Durham. This involves teaching Tudor songs and rounds to large groups (sometimes up to 150!) and also working with smaller volunteer groups on more complex part songs.
The scheme fits in well with the Key Stage 2 curriculum requirement to study Tudors and Stuarts and children really enjoy learning about and performing music from this period.
Working with Years 4 and 5 at Staindrop Primary School as part of a Tudor music programme
STAINDROP PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR
I am delighted to direct this primary school choir which consists of KS2 pupils. The children gave their first performance at the school carol concert held in St Mary's Church, Staindrop. It was a triumph for the choir! We made big plans for music-making from that year onwards as a result.
EASTER SERVICE
The Staindrop Primary School Choir lead the school Easter service at St Mary's Church, Staindrop on Monday 29 April at 6.30pm. We sang 'The Easter Story' by Jan Holdstock. It was a success and very fun and rewarding for all involved.
Sing Up! Workshops
I have been running a number of workshops across County Durham as part of the Government’s National Sing Up! campaign. This started in Teesdale in January 2008 and the aim is to engage with as many primary school age children as possible, especially in those schools where music provision is poor.
There is no doubt that most children enjoy singing and Sing Up! seeks to put music back in to the curriculum where very often it is sidelined when time/resources are not available.
The Teesdale SingUp! choir (directed by me) is now established and the first performances of a new work called ‘The lost legion of the ninth’, specially written by Duncan Brown and David Napthine for the SingUp! programme were given at the end of July 2008 in Barnard Castle, Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland. Since then, The Teesdale choir has performed in the Witham Hall, Barnard Castle as well as at Elvet Methodist Church in Durham where we joined with SingUp! choirs from Newcastle and Durham. The children sang a varied programme of music, including Running on Rails, a set of songs describing the building of the Settle-Carlisle Railway.
The final performance of the SingUp! programme was at The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle on Saturday 27 June at 1pm and was a tremendous success!
You can find out more information about SingUp! from the official government website: www.singup.org
Jane working with Teesdale Choir as part of the SingUp project
