Music

It has been very pleasing to see how well Classes two and three have broadened  their music making over the past six months. From our two Samba groups last year, which allowed years 4 and 5 and the year 6 class to develop their Samba skills we have branched out, so that now Class 2 (years 2 and 3) have had a good grounding in Samba playing whilst Class 3 (years 4, 5 and 6) have had a great beginning to their wind band experience.

This is all thanks to the dedicated hard work of David Dorey and Victoria Worthington, two of the Lincolnshire Music Services excellent team, who visit school every week to help us to extend our musical skills further and further.

The idea is that a whole class can learn together with the guidance of the schools own staff and the music service’s experts in order that they can perform together and enjoy their music making whilst increasing their knowledge and expertise.

Just before Christmas Class Three had the chance to join with many other South Holland schools in a Wider Opportunities concert at the Parish Church in Spalding where they were also lucky enough to hear SLYJO (the South Lincs. Youth Jass Orchestra) perform. Our children performed several pieces including the Shepeau Stow Boogie which we had composed ourselves.

Class two have moved on from Samba playing and are now exploring more World Music themes using authentic West African Djembe drums. The class are thoroughly enjoying their new workshop sessions which have been further enhanced by expert input from Percussionist Tim Brain who has returned to run several exciting sessions for the children.

With recent publicity about the benefits that music can bring to children -not only in their musical development but also in their whole being - it is good that we can to continue to encourage and extend their musical experiences.

Last Tuesday we were extremely lucky to have an amazing Samba Worshop run by Tim Brain, a leading Samba performer and director. He had come hotfoot from a gig in Bridlington the previous evening,stopping briefly for a few hours sleep at his home in South Yorkshire before getting up at 5.30 am  to arrive in time for a prompt start with us at 9.00am.

We fitted so much envigorating playing into an hour and by the end we had learnt two new grooves so that we are nearly ready to perform the Hip Hop Groove next Thursday when we visit Springfields with several other local schools.

We will be sending details of the event home very soon but note the date, Thursday April 3rd, and come along to hear Shepeau Stow’s latest Samba offering!

Since the start of the Autumn Term Classes 3 and 4 have been learning to play different Grooves in our newly formed Samba Band. We have purchased a full set of Samba instruments- a range of different sized Surdos (large drums) two timbras (conical hand drums) tamberims (small triple-headed -stick beaten tambourines) ganzas (various sized shakers)and two note agogo bells.

Christian Jagne in Year 6 is our leader . He directs the music by playing the repanique (a type of snare drum) and by using a special two note whistle.

We are having great fun at Shepeau Stow getting ready for our two Christmas plays -both of which are full of lovely songs!Years four five and six will be performing Tinsel and Tea towels on December 11th and December 12th. This is a wonderful show with nine great new songs which show off the lovely voices of our children and give a few opportunities for you to hear some of our young soloists too.

 Reception and Year One will be acting a traditional Nativity Play ably assisted by Class 2 who are providing all the narration and choral help. This play will also be performed on December 11th and December 12th.

We are just starting a new year of music lessons at Shepeau Stow. We have cello, woodwind, brass and percussion lessons each week. We will soon be having violin lessons (within the next 5 weeks our new violin teacher will be starting.)