Making music at Whyteleafe School

Young musicians from seven schools across the area joined forces to create one orchestra at an event hoste­d by Whyteleafe School.

The children learnt four different pieces during the course of the Tandridge Area Big Orchestra Day earlier this month when they spent time working in different sections before coming together to make music.
Parents and carers were invited into the school to watch the young musicians perform the pieces they had rehearsed.
“This was an excellent opportunity for the children to experience playing in a large orchestra as this doesn’t happen very often,” said Emma Skipper, Inclusion and Music Leader at Whyteleafe School.
Music teachers from Surrey Arts peripatetic service led the sessions during the course of the morning of June 7 at Whyteleafe, a member of the Surrey-based GLF Schools multi-academy trust. The school hosted a similar event last year.
“It was a lovely day which ended with the whole orchestra and the children all played extremely well. Having the chance to play in such a large group develops their music and also helps them see the benefits of practice,” said Mrs Skipper.
“They put in a lot of hard work and we are all very proud of them,” she added.
The whole orchestra played orignal pieces Who Cares? by Nick Drewe, Guadagnando Slancio!, also by Nick Drewe; Carnival Suite, by John K Miles. The string section tackled Short and Sweet by DR Bellwood and the wind and percussion sections also performed a Galliard, a type of Renaissance music from the 16th century.