Learning » Music
Christmas 2020 is like no other we’ve ever had. A year we will never forget. For music-makers, it has been a hard year. Primrose Lane just isn’t the same without music running through its very core. After spending so long apart and perhaps feeling disjointed or lonely, it is such a joy to be able to celebrate Christmas together as a school family. We have enjoyed coming together to prepare this Virtual Christmas Concert for you!
It is such a shame that we cannot invite you all into school to enjoy live performances this Christmas time. School traditions such as the nativity, church service and the Christmas concert will be sorely missed this year but we hope that these videos, which can be enjoyed again and again and shared far and wide, will bring you some Christmas cheer!
At the start of December, we got the green light – we could sing again! Without delay, we began to pull together some Christmas items of poetry and music. Corny though it sounds, the sound of children’s singing ringing through the school has brought a unique, much-needed kind of joy to all of us. To add to the festive spirit, some of these recordings took place on Christmas Party Day so pupils are wearing their party clothes!
In three short weeks, your remarkable children have worked so hard on the recordings you are about to enjoy – we are so proud of each and every one of them. Thanks must go to all the staff who helped to prepare the children with particular mention to Mrs Heley and Mr Harrington for preparing our instrumentalists. Most of all thank you to your wonderful children for their poetry, songs and music!
It gives us great pleasure to share with you these festive performances and we wish you a very Merry Christmas!
We are excited to bring you our EYFS performances. Little Donkey and Jingle Bells is Reception and Nursery working together and Twinkle Twinkle has Nursery using their big singing voices by themselves. The children loved getting to perform and we hope you love getting to watch!
Here are our Year 1 children singing so enthusiastically, brimming with excitement for Christmas! They will sing Three Wise Men followed by Christmas Time is Here. Enjoy!
Three Wise MenChristmas Time is HereHere are our Year 2 pupils retelling the age-old story of the first Christmas. Well done to all the children for reading and speaking so well. The Christmas Story is celebrated by an enthusiastic rendition of Born in a Barn! We are really proud of all our little performers. Enjoy!
The Christmas StoryBorn in a Barn
Year 3 are performing a poem called The Little Christmas Carollers by L A Franc. This will be followed by a beautiful French Carol called Etoile de Noël all about a beautiful Christmas star shining all over the world. We end with a Christmas favourite, Away in a Manger. We are so proud of how our Year 3s have learned these songs and words in such a short period of time. These performances will be a real treat - what wonderful children! Enjoy...
The Little Christmas CarollersEtoile de NoëlAway in a MangerYear 4 are going to perform a poem called The First Christmas by Marian Swinger followed by a French Carol called Etoile de Noël all about a Christmas star shining all over the world. We finish with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – but not as you’ve ever heard it before! Listen out for the cheeky extra bits! Year 4 sing so well in French and we are so proud of these wonderful performances! Enjoy...
The First ChristmasÉtoile de NoëlRudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerYear 5 have taken on the challenge of performing ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’, often referred to as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. This epic poem is full of Christmas magic and the children perform it beautifully! This will be followed by a stunning rendition of Silent Night. After learning about the Christmas Truce on Christmas Eve, 1914, Year 5 children asked if they could sing Silent Night and learn verse 1 in German. This is followed by something totally different – a French carol called Oh là là , il fait froid. This song tells of a snowman who is too cold so he puts on his gloves, coat, scarf and hat. Then he’s too hot – takes them all off – and then is too cold! These performances will certainly put a smile on your faces. Enjoy…
Twas the Night Before ChristmasStille NachtOh là là , il fait froid!Year 6 are going to perform a poignant Christmas poem called Christmas Bells by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This poem is all about resilience and holding on to Goodness – a fitting messing in 2020. This is followed by something totally different – a French carol called Oh là là , il fait froid. This song tells of a snowman who is too cold so he puts on his gloves, coat, scarf and hat. Then he’s too hot – takes them all off – and then is too cold! Year 6 children finish with a beautiful piece called Song for Christmas Time; this festive song shows off their beautiful voices perfectly. We are so impressed with these performances! Enjoy…
Christmas BellsOh là là , il fait froid!Song of Christmas Time
Our musicians have worked really hard to prepare some pieces for you in time for this Virtual Concert. We are delighted with the result and know that the following perfomances are sure impress and raise a smile!
Jingle Bells played on the piano by Phoebe who is in Year 4.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas played on the recorder by Elizabeth in Year 4.
Away in a Manger performed on the clarinet by Rosie, April, Toby, Cameron and Nell from Years 5 and 6.
Jingle Bells played on the piano by Charlotte in Year 5.
Last Christmas performed by Heidi and Honour in Year 5 on the xylophones.
Marcy, Lucy, Phoebe and Jess, who are in Year 6, are playing Silent Night on their flutes.
Once in Royal David's City played on the Alto Saxophone by Hannah in Year 6.
Jingle Bells played on the flute by Chloe, Riley, Maddison, Bella, Hettie and Izzy who are all in Year 5.
Silent Night played on the xylophone by George, Lucas, Dylan, Taylor, Kodee and Reggie who are all in Year 6.
All is Found (from Fozen 2) is played by Freya, Florence and Ellie on their flutes.
Rudolph Rag is played by Thomas on his oboe. Thomas is in Year 5.
We are extremely proud that Primrose Lane is one of only 8 primary schools in Leeds to be awarded Music Champion School status. This is a great achievement which acknowledges the value our school places upon music as well as the high levels of musical ability and engagement of our children, plus many years of sustained music provision.
Music develops a wide range of skills as well as promoting creativity, teamwork, confidence and a sense of community. At Primrose Lane, music is an integral part of school life and we are very proud of the range and quality of music making in our school. When we're not blighted by arrangements due to coronavirus, every child from Reception through to Year 6 has a weekly class music lesson (delivered, in KS2 by a specialist music teacher), in which the key skills of singing, performing, composing and listening are developed.
In addition to this, we have weekly whole school singing sessions and regular song sharing assemblies. We also provide the opportunity for any child in school to perform for the rest of the school in our live music spot. We have achieved the Gold Sing Up Award and both children and staff enjoy singing with and for each other. Each year we stage several musical performances for parents including a Harvest Festival, KS1 Nativity, Christmas Carol Service, KS2 Spring Concert and the KS2 Production.
As part of our music provision, every child in Year 2 and Year 3 learns to play the recorder and from Year 4 they have the option of having woodwind or percussion lessons. There are lots of opportunities for instrumentalists to perform for an audience and they can also take ABRSM exams. We also have a school choir who perform to a very high standard.
We are always keen to take part in musical activities outside school; many of our children have attended a range of different workshops run by Leeds ArtForms and we have a number of children who have performed in Leeds Town Hall in various concerts.
We have a wide range of percussion instruments which are used in class music lessons and a purpose built room for instrumental lessons.
Music Update
Despite not being able to sing in school, music is still going on. In Key Stage 2, we have been listening and appraising music and even learning to sign (not sing) along to the song. Songs and rhymes have been used to learn new information (eg French numbers to 20) and for mindfulness activities although we aren’t singing along.
One real highlight so far has been our peripatetic music lessons. For a few weeks now, our percussion and woodwind lessons have been running really smoothly and safely. All the safety planning has been effective and our music lessons have got off to a wonderful start. Both Mr Harrison (our percussion teacher) and Mrs Healey (our woodwind teacher) have enjoyed teaching our pupils and are impressed by their progress already!
The good news for Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils is that we have some availability. If you would like your child to have percussion lessons or woodwind (which included flute, oboe, saxophone and clarinet), please do let the office know. Instruments are available to hire so don’t worry about not having the kit! Pupils can start their music lessons after half term. It would be really wonderful to have even more music makers at Primrose Lane. Learning a musical instrument has many benefits:
- Learning to play an instrument stimulates the brain, improving functions like memory and reasoning skills, which are essential for maths and science;
- Music helps to keep you calm and relaxed;
- Learning an instrument improves your patience and builds confidence;
- Learning an instrument improves self-discipline and time management.
- Most importantly, playing an instrument is FUN!
If you have any questions around music lessons, please contact the school office.
In music lessons, we have been learning more about body percussion and pattern. We learned a pattern and then came up with one together. These are the 'instructions' we used and links to the songs:
Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
Think by Aretha Franklin
Enjoy trying these at home. Choose a song and make up your own rythmn pattern. I would LOVE to see them!
