THE LITTLE BIG CHOIR, AFTER SCHOOL GROUP
St Francis Xavier’s RC Primary, Hereford
The Little Big Choir is an after school choir, led by singer Roger Langford. It has been supported by New Roots since 2005 and runs in term time, catering for an average of 15 pupils. For four of the pupils who have moved to Hereford from India within the last few months, the choir is an opportunity to work in a small group and practise language skills in a non-academic way.
During the sessions, the children work on a wide and varied repertoire, which includes harmony and part singing. Singing also enables the children to learn to listen to one another, to take turn, to focus, concentrate and raise their expectations of themselves while developing confidence and group skills. The Little Big Choir sings in front of live audiences in assembly and at local events and festivals.
EARLY YEARS MUSIC PROGRAMME
Wide range of venues in Herefordshire and across the New Roots zone
Regular sessions take place in nursery schools, pre-school groups and Mums and Tots groups, d3elivering in partnership with individual voluntary organisations as well the the EYDCP, the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership. The sessions are designed to use music and movement as an essential part of a child’s development and stimulating the mind and body. The workshop leaders use a combination of singing, movement and percussion with resulting improvements in musical skills (pulse, rhythm, duration, tempo, mood, dynamics and pitch), developments in social skills (friendship, social interaction, discipline, through turn-taking, co-operation and sharing) and physical skills (gross and fine motor skills, coordination, special awareness, hand/eye coordination, language, memory, speech and numeracy). Each programme of workshops includes a training element which aims to equip the group leader(s) with the necessary skill to ensure continuity of musical activities within the group.
BAND BUILDING
The Y-Zone, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire
These band building sessions are delivered in partnership with the Youth Service in Ross-on-Wye, South Herefordshire. New and emerging bands can come and use the rehearsal space and the studio with expert support from rock musicians. Each band gets one to one support with developing new material and song writing as well as instrument coaching. An average of four bands rehearse on a weekly basis at the band building sessions. The young musicians are working towards the possibility of live gigs and a recording.
THE SUPERSONICS
Leominster, Herefordshire
A dozen young musicians, from experienced instrumentalists to complete beginners, meet on a weekly basis in Leominster, North Herefordshire to develop their composition and improvisational skills. The project has been very successful in giving young people the confidence to create and perform their own music. The quality of the music created during the project has improved with time and the audiences at their performances have increased accordingly. Under the tuition of local composer Andrew Morris, the group continues to develop and delivers a live performance each term.
MUSIC IN PRUs
St David’s Centre, The Aconbury Centre and the Priory, Herefordshire
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New Roots delivers music making in Herefordshire’s three Pupil Referral Unit, including hip hop, rap, scratch, soul singing and African drumming. These sessions aim to work for several weeks with the same group of pupils to develop communication and group skills as well as boost confidence in young people who don’t have a positive experience of learning.
HIP HOP, RAP and SCRATCH
SHYPP, Herefordshire
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New Roots works in partnership with SHYPP (Supported Housing for Young People Project) to provide music making opportunities to its residents. runs three foyers in Herefordshire and supports homeless young people by providing emergency and medium term accommodation in supported housing projects, outreach support to young people and lone parents, a ‘Nightstop’ emergency accommodation project and education in schools.
The SHYPP’s young residents are taking part in a long term hip hop, drumming and writing project with fortnightly sessions taking place in Hereford.
B SOUND TRANSITION PROJECTS
Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin
The B Sound transition project is aimed at Year 6 and 7 age-groups to encourage them to participate in music-making, help them to gain confidence and self esteem, as well as enabling the year 6 pupils to familiarise themselves with their new school – making the transition from Primary to Secondary a far less daunting prospect.
The project is designed to engage all learners regardless of musical ability. Every student participates in a showcase at the end of the week for friends, family and invited guests.
Each week-long transition project includes approx. 20 participants from Year 6 of the feeder Primary Schools and approx. 10 pupils from Year 7 of the school.
So far transition music projects have taken place at: Phoenix/Captain Webb Extended School in Dawley, Bridgnorth Endowed School, Charlton School in Wellington and Sutherland School in Trench (Telford).
A typical B Sound music week will consist of band-building, singing and performance techniques, learning songs and introduction to different musical instruments, rehearsing songs and performing in the impressive end-of-project showcase performance.
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