Listen Up! projects build musical skills in large numbers of primary-age children with no necessary background knowledge in music. The projects also give every participating child the opportunity to perform as part of Aurora Orchestra. Participants build skills alongside Aurora players and a Da Capo leader over a term, leading up to a final performance for several schools and all of Aurora Orchestra.
The project is built around two pieces commissioned by Aurora Orchestra and the Da Capo Foundation: ‘Boom Town’ by Chris Willis and Steet Party by John Ashton Thomas. These works combine virtuosic parts for Aurora’s players with voice and percussion parts for up to 600 children. A vital part of Listen Up!’s success is that these pieces are scored for both full ensemble and flexible combinations of only 3 players. This means that we are able to bring live music and a wide range of instruments to the skills-building sessions over the project.
Ivona, Year 5, Chapel End Junior School, Waltham Forest
Listen Up! projects are making a huge impact on participating schools. Many children take up instruments as a direct result of the project and schools are able to work with Da Capo teachers on a regular basis after the final performance to enable skills-building to continue.
Every project includes training for Aurora players in working with young people and for classroom teachers to use Da Capo teaching methods on a daily basis in the classroom.
Teachers and headteachers have praised the level of live music, leadership, and clarity of the project.
“They were SO engaged and children with behaviour problems were focused. Every child and adult benefited from the sessions and children who are quite shy or have English as an alternative language were able to take part in something spectacular”
Teacher, Chapel End Junior School
