Music helps West Norfolk pupils get back into the swing of schooling

School halls across West Norfolk will soon be alive with the sound of music when students who have kept up their instrumental learning remotely get the chance to show the progress they have made over the past few months.

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At schools within the West Norfolk Academies Trust, music is a key part of the curriculum, with teachers on the lookout for talented youngsters and encouraging them to take up instruments at an early age, and during lockdown, remote lessons provided a welcome relief from the usual screen time curriculum.
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“Many parents have contacted the schools to say how much their children enjoyed their lessons during the latest lockdown and also appreciated an activity that does not involve a computer screen,” said Rob Galliard, director of Primary Music for the trust, which runs 11 primary and secondary schools across the borough.

“We think music is hugely important, which is why we encourage it so much in our schools. Pupils who are learning instrumental music were chosen by their teachers, after being assessed over the course of a term to see who had the aptitude and attitude for playing an instrument.  

“Whether they pursue it is up to them, but we think it’s really important that they are at least given a meaningful chance to try learning and playing. Without this scheme, none of the pupils would have had a chance to get involved in what is such a useful activity, acquiring a new life skill and expanding their learning horizons.”

Mr Galliard said he hoped school musicians would soon be able to play together once again, to show their classmates and families just how much they had learned.  

“We are hoping to bring the children from all the schools together for a one-off workshop at the end of the summer term and involve them in weekly band and orchestra rehearsals from September,” he added.