A Musical Soiree by The Winterton Federation written by Carole Shiels Trustee

Winterton Junior School is one of twenty-one member schools who have benefited from receiving funding from the Jean Freedman Music Foundation which aims to preserve and promote in schools. The funding that they have previously received from the Music Federation ensured that all children in Year 4 at that time were able to receive whole class instrument teaching as they learned to play the Ukelele.

As one of the Trustees of the Music Foundation, I had the pleasure of attending their Musical Soiree at All Saints Church in Winterton on Monday 17th July 2023.

The children of The Winterton Federation have previously taken part in a wide variety of singing ensembles in school and in the wider community and this event was not the first time they had performed a musical soiree in the church. 

The event was well attended by families and the local community and you could feel the excitement and an air of expectation of what was to come before the event started-there was a real buzz in the church!

The audience was treated to a wide range of musical performances during the evening including songs from the KS1 singers, the KS2 singers and the staff choir! The pleasure and enthusiasm for singing was clear to see on their faces as they performed their repertoires and the audience were keen to participate, as requested, during the KS1 performance of ‘Have you ever, ever, ever…’ I thought it was really lovely to see the staff singing together as a staff choir and being positive role models for the children, demonstrating that music really can be an inclusive experience for all.

In addition to the singing ensembles, the audience and I were treated to performances by children on the cello, the guitar, the piano, the flute, the violins and the ukelele. Their tuition on these instruments may have varied from less than a year to a few years but they all did extremely well indeed and had clearly made progress from their individual starting points. Some children performed set pieces, others took on extracts from musicals or other known tunes and a few even performed their own impressive compositions! 

All children who took part in the soiree demonstrated self-confidence, perseverance and a love for performing which was a joy to witness.

A member of staff from the Winterton Federation has previously told Trustees of the Jean Freedman Music Foundation that they aim to give their children varied musical experiences and that a positive impact of the funding that they have received from the Music Foundation is that children have benefited from having an exciting music experience and are now able to enjoy the excitement of ensemble playing and gaining the skills and knowledge needed to progress in music. She went onto say that learning in this type of environment has given their children more confidence and self-esteem. After attending their Musical Soiree and thoroughly enjoying all performances, I could not agree more!

Winterton Federation clearly promotes an inclusive musical culture and the children and staff engaged enthusiastically with the opportunity to play and sing, to perform and create music, and have their music heard by their families and the local community.

Excellent music education opens opportunities. It gives children and young people an opportunity to express themselves, to explore their creativity, to work hard at something, persevere and shine. These experiences and achievements stay with them and shape their lives. That is why the Jean Freedman Music Foundation loves supporting schools as we believe that music is an essential part of a broad and ambitious curriculum for all pupils. We want all children and young people to realise their full musical potential and that they too can achieve incredible things if given a chance. We have the same high ambitions for children with special educational needs and disabilities as for every child. We want to see more children and young people supported to navigate the many exciting opportunities available to progress with music including opportunities beyond their core school provision. We are proud of our Music Foundation and the positive impact the funding has already made in Winterton and the other twenty member schools. Equally, we recognise the vital importance of every child having access to the instruments and equipment they need to make progress with music, and as a result of recent feedback and requests from staff in schools, we have just notified our member schools that we have purchased some musical instruments for member schools to loan on a half termly basis. Music touches hearts and minds, it celebrates and challenges, and it connects us and moves us. In the same way that schools teach children literacy and numeracy to prepare them for adult life, we try to support schools in their vision to give their pupils the musical tools they need for a lifetime of music-making and enjoyment. We want these children and young people to be supported with high-quality opportunities to progress as far as their interests lie.

Mrs C Shiels

Trustee