The third in a series of articles looking at the work of Creative Partnerships around the country, this issue focuses on the different ways that music and rhythm are introduced into all areas of the curriculum.
Next month, singer Carmel McCourt will perform at legendary jazz club, Ronnie Scott?s. Her audience will be soul lovers, fans of the unique brand of music that rocketed the singer and her jazz trio to fame in the ?80s and ?90s with top twenty hits such as ?Bad Day? and ?More More More?. Last summer, however, Carmel McCourt had a very different audience, says Rowan Atkins. She worked with teachers from five primary schools in Salford to create an easy-to-use teaching pack designed to deliver music education for 6?8 year olds. The project, developed in partnership with Creative Partnerships Manchester Salford and Greater Manchester Music Action Zone (GMMAZ), aimed to provide a fun way for children to learn the basics of music, based on the National Curriculum.
?It came to me in a flash?, Carmel explains. ?I?d been working with schools doing a project on health and singing and suddenly had an idea to develop a music resource for primary teachers. I was aware of the lack of music provision in some schools, the difficulties experienced by teachers with little or no musical knowledge and the time pressures involved in fitting music into the curriculum. Coming from a family of teachers I also knew that any kind of music teaching aid had to have a ?wow? factor. Pupils get bored with ?oranges and lemons?, and teachers want something that?s going to grab their attention.?
Her big idea began to take shape as she and fellow composer and performer Carol Donaldson took the concept to Creative Partnerships Manchester Salford and GMMAZ. Both Carmel and Carol are established musicians with extensive experience of working in primary education. In addition to her work as a vocalist and keyboard player, Carmel runs two youth soul choirs and teaches teenagers with special educational needs. Convinced of the benefits that music and song can bring when used as a learning tool for other aspects of the curriculum, Creative Partnerships Manchester Salford and GMMAZ helped Carol and Carmel realise their idea.
The first trials of ?Musipac? took place early in the summer term 2004. They were aimed at children from Years 2 and 3 and centred on the theme of ?friendship?. Carol and Carmel observed as teachers from one Salford school delivered each of the six-week lesson plans they had developed using the Musipac teaching resource and linked CD. Melody, rhythm, pulse, musical form, creative writing, musical mood, performance and composition were all covered. Carmel notes, ?In each of the schools we visited before the project began, it was clear that teachers trusted Creative Partnerships Manchester Salford. They were genuinely excited in the Musipac trials. Like so many artists I have lots and lots of ideas. This project gave me an organised infrastructure to make those concepts happen. Without Creative Partnerships, a lot of the more creative and unique ideas wouldn?t actually find a path.?
Piloted within a further four schools, Musipac was constantly adjusted according to teachers? comments. Feedback showed that teachers enjoyed using the packs and found them simple and helpful. Pupils also responded well. Over 147 children gained in musical experience through the project and in the lessons observed by Carmel and Carol, pupils consistently showed high levels of engagement. A final version of Musipac, incorporating all responses from teachers was produced in July 2004 and Carmel and Carol are now in talks with a publishing firm interested in distributing the pack. A Musipac website is also being developed as a marketing tool.
The results of the project don?t end there. Youth music organisation, GMMAZ have continued their work with Creative Partnerships Manchester Salford. ?Moving On? is their current project, looking at how music can be used to integrate young people from Pupil Referral Units back into mainstream education. This project has seen Creative Partnerships Manchester Salford broker new partnerships between GMMAZ and Manchester Music Service. The initial pilot project will utilise the music service?s expertise in the curriculum and the diversity of musical styles that are a feature of GMMAZ work ? resulting in a skill share between peripatetic music teachers and GMMAZ musicians.
?It?s the partnerships that make it happen?, explains Carmel. ?If you?re an artist working in education and you?re supported by Creative Partnerships you know you are going to do it and get it done.?
Greater Manchester Music Action Zone (GMMAZ), t: 0161 834 2723; w: http://www.gmmaz.org.uk
Carmel McCourt,
e : carmelmccourt@amserve.com
t: 0161 224 5672