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Our museums and galleries house fascinating collections, from living bugs to The Beatles, fine art to photography, the Titanic to ancient Egypt.
Find Your Talent
Young double bass players
The Key Stage Music Programme was devised to develop and test a new approach to the Key Stage 3 Music curriculum, building on existing learning initiatives and live professional musical experiences.
It sought to deliver a model which could be rolled out to all Find Your Talent pathfinder secondary schools in Year Two (2009-10) and consolidated in Year Three (2010-11).
In the first year, the programme began work with four schools – Kirkby Sports College and All Saints RC School in Knowsley, Notre Dame Catholic College for the Arts in Liverpool and St Augustine’s in St Helens. Students engaged in a wide range of music-making activities linked to the curriculum as well as attending a series of dynamic live concerts at Philharmonic Hall. (Projects still on-going.)
Year 8 pupils from Kirkby Sports College are taking part in an African music project themed around the subject of slavery. The project is tracing the influence of African music across a variety of genres; from traditional to contemporary forms. These sessions are being led by African artists with live and interactive performances in the school, and composition workshops where children will create their own music using text from original slave songs. As part of this programme it is also hoped that pupils will attend the Soweto Gospel Choir concert at Philharmonic Hall, and will potentially visit the International Slavery Museum to participate in a workshop led by the their learning team.
Notre Dame’s Key Stage 3 music project has been designed to link in with both Liverpool’s Year of the Environment and the theme of the school’s annual Arts Festival. Pupils will explore a fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions combining Balinese gamelan with a string quartet from the RLPO. The project will be delivered as a collaboration between the school’s composer in residence John McHugh, musicians from the RLPO and teaching staff at Notre Dame. We will be working with the MAT group (More Able and Talented - roughly 25 students) to create and perform a piece that will work as part of a larger multi-arts performance, based on the theme Welcome to our World which explores the link between spirituality and the arts.. This group will also perform as part of a special national Find Your Talent event at the Clore Ballroom on 10th July for National Shine Week.
All Saints RC High School identified three key areas which required support and development for their KS 3 programme. Firstly they wanted the project to develop and support singing in the school through the formation of a Gospel Choir. They also wanted to support the development of future singing leaders through workshops in choral direction and for pupils to attend the Soweto Gospel Choir concert at Philharmonic Hall. The Phil also supported band development in the school and are offering masterclasses with Philharmonic players for their classical instrumentalists.
In St Augustine’s in St Helens the project is geared towards promoting instrumental uptake within the school and the support and progression of existing players. The project includes masterclasses, ensemble visits, composition workshops and orchestral play days. The intention is to create a network of music teachers and coordinators in St Helens as feeder primaries and neighbouring schools will be invited to participate. We are also hoping to support progression routes in to and out of KS 3 by supporting and involving pupils from KS 2 and GCSE. A group of young people from the school will be performing at the St Helens Festival on 5th and 6th July.
This Key Stage Three Live Music Programme is already having a huge impact. For the participating young people it has:
For the organistions and agencies involved it has:
I liked the school concert. I thought it was very lively and very fun. The best instrument was the flute because I like the sound of it, and because I am learning to play one now.
KS 3 pupil from St Benedict’s College, LiverpoolI think the concert was excellent and I would definitely go again!
Cara Wain, St Benedict’s CollegeI enjoyed the schools concert. Its music was lively bright and a good experience. The big screens with film of the desert and factories really brought the music to life. I also like the end piece from Austin Powers.
KS 3 pupil from St Benedict’s College, LiverpoolI thought it was really good because it was my first time seeing the orchestra. I really enjoyed the Austin Powers song at the end, some people even started to dance!
KS 3 pupilI was looking forward to seeing the concert. It was very funny and I had loads of fun. It was a great day out! We were all very excited and it was better than I expected. It was good seeing all the different instruments. I like the sound of the flute and when they played on their own.
KS 3 pupil St Benedict’s CollegeFor more information on the Find Your Talent KS3 music project, please contact Sarah Tan, Education Officer, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic on 0151 210 2899, sarah.tan@liverpoolphil.com