THE music department provided many opportunities for Wolverley students to showcase their many musical talents and, throughout the year, the music suite echoed with different sounds. Depending on the time of year, anyone passing by the department would be regaled with the sound of rocks bands, singing groups, soloists, instrumentalists, junk and samba drumming, carol singers, Pyramid Concert choirs …. you name it!

Our carol service once again packed out St John the Baptist Church and it was particularly heart-warming to see so many members of the local community enjoying the service, which is a beautiful celebration of an important time in the church’s year and a key part of our school’s Church of England status.

The first major concert of the year was a showcase for our new sixth form level 3 BTEC music performance course. As part of their coursework, the students performed solos on February 21. However, for their rehearsal preparations they also played at The Shrubbery, a care home for the elderly, where Dan Woolley’s selection of songs from the shows went down particularly well. Phone calls have been coming in asking for repeat visits.

On March 6, we held a concert to showcase the work of those students who take instrumental lessons at the school. This gave some pupils their first ever experience of playing in front of an audience and hopefully will have helped develop their confidence as performers. There were lots of wobbly legs before the concert began but once on stage, butterflies were forgotten in the adrenaline rush of performing, leading to a truly memorable concert. There were really impressive performances from our more experienced musicians and some of our year sevens showed great potential. The new year seven singing group also made their first appearance.

Both concerts were held in the school chapel and raised over £200 towards Macmillan Cancer Care, in honour of Rachael Atkinson, a Wolverley music student who died from cancer last year.

Year seven and GCSE music students experienced the sights and sounds of an Indonesian Gamelan orchestra on May 4. The workshop provided by Inspireworks gave students the opportunity to learn about the meaning of music in Bali, about the instruments, structure of the music and the playing techniques. Students also learned more about different aspects of Indonesian culture.

A visit by Jeff Rich, the drummer from Status Quo, offered a first-hand insight into the music industry for our year eight students and drummers. They learned about the development of the drum as a musical instrument and Jeff also regaled them with stories of his background and somewhat colourful history! The year group was then split into two and all the students were given an instrument to shake, rattle and bash. The finale was delivered by our own talented drummers who got to “have-a-go.”

As part of Personal Challenge Week, year nine welcomed the Latin beats of Brazilian Samba band, Glamba. Students took part in workshops led by band leaders Nick and Karen Ledbury who taught them to perform Brazilian rhythms and developed a vibrant performance of a traditional Samba piece. Students learned about Samba instruments and Brazilian culture and even managed to throw in parts of the school’s own Junk Orchestra for good measure!

The last slice of our music budget was spent on our gifted key stage three singers who were involved in a workshop with Black Voices, an African a cappella gospel group based in Birmingham. This group regularly performs all over the world and we were fortunate to be able to book them. They worked with our key stage three singers who sang their hearts out over two performances which were recorded, leaving us with a permanent reminder of a very special event.

A major part of our year is spent working towards our Pyramid Concert, this year held at Kidderminster Town Hall on March 19. The theme was the movies and featured songs from films including Ghostbusters, The Blues Brothers, Jungle Book and Shrek. Our soul band also performed songs from Kung Fu Fighting, Pinball Wizard and Car Wash. Max, the arts technician worked hard putting together backing tracks and recording the primary schools in our recording studio. Gemma Linford and Sheena Howard rehearsed all of the students involved at St Catherine’s Primary School.

A new experience for us was the visit to Rock the Cathedral at Gloucester Cathedral on March 16. The year 11 students who participated jumped up and down to rock bands, participated in prayer workshops and met students from Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Another performance for our BTEC music sixth form band and singing group of over 30 students was showcased in the Wyre Forest Youth Makes Music concert on April 27 at the Town Hall.

The summer term began with Wolverley’s Got Talent, this year presented by Norse god, Thor Odinson. This is always popular and tickets are snapped up early. This year we had a large number of auditions which were reduced to the final nine acts. It was wonderful to see new acts such as talented magician Liesl McNally from year seven, alongside music and dance performances from a number of students who were taking to the Wolverley stage for the first time. The winners were year seven girl band Forever as One with second place going to year 10 dancers and third place being awarded to Carrie-Ann Clarke in year eight.

The annual Specialism Week saw music influence teaching and learning across the school, with all departments using music as a focus for their lessons. Opening Minds lessons turned into a ‘School of Rock’ with students designing promotional materials for a band while in history students were taken back to World War Two and listened to popular songs of the time. In geography the bling of a rapper prompted discussions about diamond mining and English delved into song lyrics to explore anti-love poetry. The music department organised a number of break time concerts and impromptu performances by the Junk Orchestra.

There have been a number of trips throughout the year but a new one for us was when year 12 level three BTEC students visited Artrix in Bromsgrove. Students were given a tour of the facilities, led a question and answer session with the centre director and picked up hints and tips for organising an event from technicians. The visit will form part of a case study and inform the planning and management of a music event in September. The visit also provides a link with practitioners working with the arts. Mr Sullum, our Tanzanian visitor, also came with us.

The final concert of the year, Summer Sensation, took place on July 18 in Sebright Hall. The evening was a celebration of art, dance, music and drama and celebrated the talents of a vast amount of students across all of the arts at Wolverley.

  • Taken from Wolverley Whispers school magazine