As musicians around the globe mark World Music Day this week (June 21), one Derby school is celebrating how it has been prioritising the power of performance throughout the year.
Lees Brook Academy is preparing to welcome former Status Quo drummer Jeff Rich to their school this month for a drumming masterclass with all Year 7 pupils, capping off an academic year which has seen music and performance take centre stage.
The school in Morley Road, Chaddesden, has been making music mainstream, bringing it into classes and the dinner hall and taking it out to care homes and primary schools.
This week, to mark World Music Day, the school’s choir will be visiting Cavendish Primary School and local infant schools to perform, along with instrumentalists and soloists from the school. It has been organised by music teacher Emma Oldfield who is passionate about using music to build links between the school and the wider community.
As well as performing to the primary school pupils, the students will get to listen to the primary children perform for them.
She said: “I’ve been working within the community quite a lot over the past few years, steadily building up the relationships with other businesses and schools within the community year by year. These visits help to inspire and give students an opportunity to be both an audience member and a performer.”
Students in the choir at Lees Brook Academy, and Year 9 Silver Arts Award students, have also visited care homes, including The Gables in Chaddesden and MHA Care Home, where they played instruments, sang and chatted to the residents. The Arts Award qualification is an accredited course and Year 9 music students have been completing it after school as an extra session taught by Miss Oldfield – they have now nearly finished their Silver qualification.
Miss Oldfield said: “The extra-curricular opportunities students get by being involved in these trips and visits is amazing and I know from the pupil feedback this is something that is massively meaningful, and they want to continue to do while they are at Lees Brook Academy.”
As well as taking music outside the school, Miss Oldfield has also brought music professionals into the classroom to deliver workshops, including music production experts Digit Music and Hubbub drumming sessions.
At the end of this month, Jeff Rich will work with all Year 7 students, bringing his industry experience and musical knowhow, having been the drummer with Status Quo for 15 years, and will also perform for the students.
Music has become a focus for the school under the leadership of principal Clare Watson, who started a year ago.
Mrs Watson said music had been extremely important to her growing up. She played in brass bands throughout her life and studied Music at university, before going on to do her postgraduate teaching qualification.
“Music was my route into higher education and has provided me with many fantastic opportunities and opened doors for me, so I am really committed to making sure students at Lees Brook Academy are afforded those opportunities too,” she said.
It is why she is also keen to make music and drama as accessible as possible for students so that everyone gets the opportunity to benefit from it.
“When I first arrived, there was a lovely piano in a small room, and I thought it was hidden away so I got it moved into the main hall and now students play it during breakfast club and at lunchtimes. Sometimes a student will start playing and others gather round and sing along,” said Mrs Watson.
All students who receive free school meals receive funded instrument lessons, but the school also ensures that any students of families who are experiencing financial hardship get the opportunity to have their music lessons, provided through Hot House Music, funded as well.
The school has also arranged for students to watch live performances in the creative industry, such as Sinfonia Viva Pioneers and Run Rebel, and they also have access to the Go See Money tickets which give free tickets to students to watch performances and theatre in their own time. Several students used these to watch Wind in the Willows at Derby Theatre during the Christmas half term.
Mrs Watson said: “We value the power of music here at Lees Brook Academy. I know, personally, the role it can play in inspiring young people. It’s great to be able to share that with other people, particularly primary school students, as part of World Music Day, but for us at Lees Brook Academy, making and sharing music will remain a focus all year, and for years to come.”
ENDS
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Image shows some of the students at Lees Brook Academy during a drumming workshop.
