It’s instrumental in helping the young

Nov 17 2008 by Andrew Baldwin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

The Government aim is that every primary school child that wants to, should have the opportunity of learning a musical instrument. In Huddersfield we’re already doing all we can to reach that target. ANDREW BALDWIN reports

JUST a short time ago many of them had never picked up a musical instrument.

But next month children from a Huddersfield school will perform in an orchestral concert at the town hall.

Fifty children from St Joseph’s Junior School in Dalton will play at the venue during the Christmas event.

They may not know it but they are the products of a Government pledge that: “Over time, every primary school child that wants to should have the opportunity of learning a musical instrument.”

Nearly £4,000 worth of musical instruments have been supplied to St Joseph’s through the parents’ association at Kirklees Music School’s Huddersfield centre.

Teacher Simeon Yates, head of the music centre, goes into the classroom to give lessons to the youngsters of Years 5 and 6.

Children don’t usually like things that are good for them, but what’s happening in Dalton seems to be hitting the right note.

Simeon says: “Some of the pupils would never have had the chance to play without this scheme. They have been introduced to music and playing instruments with some really good results.”

Experts tell us that as well as being enjoyable to listen to, learning music – be it through playing an instrument or singing – has a whole host of benefits.

It can boost intelligence and develop reading and listening skills, help build discipline and self-confidence and enhance social development through playing or singing in groups.

It is also a means of self-expression, which is particularly valuable to children who find it difficult to communicate.

In addition, learning an instrument helps improve motor skills and reading notes while playing helps foster hand-eye co-ordination.

They know a thing or two about this in Venezuela, where 300,000 children have been through the El Sistema musical training programme.

The pioneering teaching method has been credited with transforming lives and has led to the creation of dozens of young people’s orchestras.

Some of the South American children came to London last year and gave an acclaimed concert at the Proms.

We’re not at that stage yet in Britain, but politicians here are waking up to the fact that music can make a difference.

A scheme was tested in 13 areas, including Huddersfield, and grew into a programme called Wider Opportunities.

Twelve months ago the Government launched a national campaign to make primary schools come alive with the sound of music.

Music Manifesto involves a £332m investment in choirs, orchestras, instruments, performance and free music lessons.

Backing for the scheme came from musical heavyweight brothers Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Julian Lloyd Webber and pop star Jamelia.

Cabinet minister Ed Balls said: “Every child from all backgrounds should have the chance to perform, play an instrument or sing and I want every school to become a musical school.”

Cash is being made available over three years to raise the standard of music education for children.

This includes £82m a year for the next three years for councils to spend on music education, £40m to buy musical instruments and £40m for the Sing Up programme to provide a national song bank and training to put singing back into the classroom.

All this is music to the ears for people like Simeon Yates, whose specialism is in the field of woodwind instruments.

He puts in an hour a week with the children at St Joseph’s and they also spend an evening a week on extra lessons at the music centre base in Moldgreen.

It’s an example of the power of music that the pupils are enthusiastic enough to want to do this.

The children will be at Huddersfield Town Hall on December 18, when they take part in the Christmas concert staged by Kirklees Music School’s Huddersfield centre.

It will be a proud moment for family and friends who will watch on and see the progress they have made in such a short time.

Guests on the night will be the choir from All Saints’ Catholic College at Bradley Bar, bronze medal winners in the youth section at the World Choir Games held in Graz, Austria.

The 36 singers are another example of what can be done, having won their award just 10 months after forming a choir from scratch.

Their success came against choirs who had worked together for many years and who were a great deal older.

A survey last year on music in schools spelled out its importance.

The survey’s author, Prof Susan Hallam of London University’s Institute of Education, said: “Children get a lot of enjoyment out of learning music.

“But as well as that, it can stimulate them intellectually, it can help them with team work, playing an instrument can help with physical co-ordination and they can use music to express their feelings.”