More Music, Lancashire Music Service and Chris and Helen (Ridgewood School Musical Hands) brought the SEN schools around the county together to sing, beatbox and dance together. The event took place on 8^th February at Holly Grove school in Burnley.

Here is a video from the 2023 event.

 

It all started with teacher’s Chris and Helen from the Ridgewood project Musical Hands who recorded the material and signing for students.

Then over the coming months through the SEN Teachers Network, the songs were shared and sang both in workshops and independently by schools.

Months later and after lots of singing, the schools finally came together to sing with a band made of Emma Williams singing, Ashley Murphy beatboxing, Chris bridges on piano and Ben Rapp on Trumpet. This felt like a real collaboration between the organisations and the schools. This gave the pupils the opportunity to explore their voice with a contemporary band and to hear and experience live music as part of the day.

When we asked the teachers what they thought they said:

“It was a great event – my staff and students really enjoyed it.”

“The venue worked really well and it was lovely seeing everything coming together.”

“It really was a great day all my children and staff loved it! The rest of the school have asked if they can attend the next one.”

Future plans are to expand this event and involve more schools with this great opportunity –  schools will have a free activity which engages many students using their voice.