Current projects

Stories that Sing – The Tudors

2007/08

Children’s Music Workshop’s largest annual project, Stories that Sing, is a year long programme of singing, composing and performing with primary school children which, this year, will be inspired by the Tudors

The project begins with an interactive story-telling performance at The Tower of London where children will be told stories of prominent Tudors as introduction to wider themes of the 16th century. The children will then work with CMW musicians over six weeks to compose songs to be shared with other participating schools just before half–term.

In the spring term, CMW musicians will specifically develop singing and performing skills with the children, not only aiming to build the classes’ basic music skills i.e. pitch, rhythm, tempo but also to grow their confidence in performing.

Finally in the summer term the children will compose more songs on the theme of the 16th century, exploring aspects of London and how London has developed into a great city. They will also learn new songs especially commissioned for this project. All the schools will come together to perform their individual class songs and sing together in what will be a fantastic musical event!

National Portrait Gallery

September 2007

One-day creative composition and lyric writing workshops. Pupils are introduced by gallery staff to a portrait and invited to establish what they think about it, the sitter, the artist, the period, the style, the intention etc. a composer brainstorms musical and literary ideas with participants which then form the basis of a composition performed in the gallery where the original portrait hangs.

Opera Project – Hamlet

Spring 2008

A one-term East London project for 700 Year 5 & 6 children, using an abridged, interactive performance of Ambroise Thomas’ operatic version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, to inspire the creation and performance of children’s own ‘Tower’ Hamlet operas. The project involves INSET for teachers, attendance at professional performances of the opera, in-school composition workshops and performances.

A partnership project with Central St. Martin’s Stage Design Course and the Cochrane Theatre.

Vocal Connections

2007-2008

CMW are part of a hub of music providers looking to establish a programme of singing activity in Burton–upon–Trent that includes singing in schools, transition projects, singing with young–people–at–risk and community choirs.

Partners on this project include: MusicLeader (West Midlands), Staffordshire Performing Arts, East Staffordshire Borough Council Arts Team, Make Some Noise (Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent YMAZ), Barnardos, Ex-Cathedra, and Project Wired.

Funded as a ‘Super Singing Community’ by Youth Music.

Bess of Hardwick

2007-2008

2008 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of Bess of Hardwick. To mark this anniversary, Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, The National Trust, Children’s Music Workshop and sinfonia ViVA are working together to deliver a creative writing and music project, which will involve the commission of a major new oratorio alongside a large scale education project involving approximately 180 students from six primary and secondary schools in Derby City and Derbyshire.