Tonight was my borough's Recorder Festival. I took a group of 15 children there last year for the first time. It's something I took part in myself every year for 11 years of my young life (7-18). It's been quite hard getting them together this year: the year 4's were particularly flaky (or their parents were) but to my joy, all 18 children arrived on time. They played really well, including our solo which they danced a Tudor dance to before playing a 3-part harmony version of Branle des Sabots. I really do love my borough for things like this- they offer excitement, focus and an outlet for what I do. It's a great incentive and I am blessed to teach in my borough which has such a good name for music. My recorder group started off this year with around 38 children and there are currently about 25 children in it, so I have lost some but still a good core. My best recorder player in Year 6 (woe is me- she is leaving!) has a younger sister who joined the group at the start of the year but decided to 'quit' (urgh, can't stand the way they use that term!) which I thought was a GREAT shame because she has potential (she plays the piano and is my percussion player in orchestra) but I asked her to play the tambour drum for our solo so she came along (and ended up playing percussion parts for other pieces). I gave her my spare recorder to play, seen as she was sitting there and yipppeeee, I have persuaded her to come back to the club after half-term holiday! You have no idea how happy I am (and her Mum who is very musical!). One other funny event of the evening was, I had to take a stream of children to visit the toilet and I was waiting outside for them and one of the Mums came. She sent her twin boys into the loo together and appararently, they like to go to the loo together, one on either side of the bowl, so she told me! I found this hilarious! Apparently, one pees on the other one sometimes! Still really funny!!!!
The day was also proud for me because one of my recorder classes (year 3) who have been learning the recorder, very well all year, gave a performance to Nursery and reception (3-5 years old). They played 7 recorder pieces and sang and danced 2 songs. They did absolutely magnificently and were so hyped about it. Definitely something I want to repeat with other year groups! The other year 3 class is performing the same pieces to Year 1 and the afternoon nursery lot tomorrow afternoon so I look with alacrity towards this! (this is definitely part of my 52 weeks of happy!)
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| And it's when I see these photos that I realise I rock up to school in creased item most days. Peter pan collar checked shirt- Topshop via Charity shop, skirt- Monsoon, boots - Primark, amethyst earrings and pendant- presents, cardie- F&F |
Tonight was my borough's Recorder Festival. I took a group of 15 children there last year for the first time. It's something I took part in myself every year for 11 years of my young life (7-18). It's been quite hard getting them together this year: the year 4's were particularly flaky (or their parents were) but to my joy, all 18 children arrived on time. They played really well, including our solo which they danced a Tudor dance to before playing a 3-part harmony version of Branle des Sabots. I really do love my borough for things like this- they offer excitement, focus and an outlet for what I do. It's a great incentive and I am blessed to teach in my borough which has such a good name for music. My recorder group started off this year with around 38 children and there are currently about 25 children in it, so I have lost some but still a good core. My best recorder player in Year 6 (woe is me- she is leaving!) has a younger sister who joined the group at the start of the year but decided to 'quit' (urgh, can't stand the way they use that term!) which I thought was a GREAT shame because she has potential (she plays the piano and is my percussion player in orchestra) but I asked her to play the tambour drum for our solo so she came along (and ended up playing percussion parts for other pieces). I gave her my spare recorder to play, seen as she was sitting there and yipppeeee, I have persuaded her to come back to the club after half-term holiday! You have no idea how happy I am (and her Mum who is very musical!). One other funny event of the evening was, I had to take a stream of children to visit the toilet and I was waiting outside for them and one of the Mums came. She sent her twin boys into the loo together and appararently, they like to go to the loo together, one on either side of the bowl, so she told me! I found this hilarious! Apparently, one pees on the other one sometimes! Still really funny!!!!
The day was also proud for me because one of my recorder classes (year 3) who have been learning the recorder, very well all year, gave a performance to Nursery and reception (3-5 years old). They played 7 recorder pieces and sang and danced 2 songs. They did absolutely magnificently and were so hyped about it. Definitely something I want to repeat with other year groups! The other year 3 class is performing the same pieces to Year 1 and the afternoon nursery lot tomorrow afternoon so I look with alacrity towards this! (this is definitely part of my 52 weeks of happy!)