CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LAUNCHES MUSIC-MAKING RESOURCES FOR PRIMARY AGED CHILDREN

The CBSO is launching a series of free filmed resources to support the musical development of children aged 5-10 in a fun and engaging way.

Lucy Galliard, Director of Learning & Engagement, CBSO, said: “The CBSO is delighted to launch a new series of activities for children and families, enabling them to experience and connect with the wealth and variety of orchestral music performed by the CBSO. Supporting children’s musical interests and development is an intrinsic element of the CBSO’s work, and these resources provide children with a fun, participatory and creative way to engage with music, all devised and presented by the dynamic and enthusiastic musicians of the CBSO!”

MusicBox

11am each Thursday, launching on Thursday 28 January

cbso.co.uk/musicbox

Created by CBSO violinist Georgia Hannant, MusicBox is a series of ten short videos designed to encourage children to sing, think about and participate in music. Each session will begin with songs taught in Solfa – a method of learning and reading music which uses seven note names for a scale (‘Do’, ‘Re’, ‘Mi’, ‘Fa’, ‘So’, ‘La’ and ‘Ti’), with a hand signal for each syllable. Children will experience a short piece of music designed to encourage creative activity, or simply relax and listen, and worksheets are provided with follow-up activities for the children to do in their own time or together with family. The sessions aim to cater for a variety of musical levels and abilities, from complete beginners to budding instrumentalists.

Race Through Space

11am each Monday, launching on Monday 1 February

cbso.co.uk/space

CBSO violinists Charlotte Skinner and Bryony Morrison present a series of short videos taking young astronauts aged 4-7 on a musical adventure through space. Over six weeks they’ll explore orchestral repertoire and different elements of music in order to design a musical spaceship built from the interrelated dimensions of music featured in the Key Stage 1 curriculum. Accompanied by well-known pieces of music, each week they will look at one of six musical building blocks and encourage children to create that part of the spaceship in preparation for blast-off!

The Wizard of Oz –  CBSO Story Corner

2pm each day, from Monday 1 to Friday 5 February

cbso.co.uk/storycorner

As part of national storytelling week, every day from Monday 1 to Friday 5 February 2021 the CBSO will release a series of short films telling the story of The Wizard of Oz – narrated by violinist Jane Wright and accompanied by music from the full orchestra. Designed for primary aged children, the well-known story was adapted by Jane and the films are designed to engage children with storytelling, while also enabling them to experience the varied sound worlds created by a full symphony orchestra. The full story will be released on Saturday 6 February at 9am.

The CBSO’s digital work has been made possible thanks to generous support from David and Sandra Burbidge, Jamie and Alison Justham, Chris and Jane Loughran, John Osborn, and Arts Council England’s Culture Recovery Fund.

We are also grateful to the Clive & Sylvia Richards Charity, principal funder of the CBSO’s work with young people.