Schools are back and so is music!
September 2021
Sunderland secondary schools will be alive with the sound of music again in an event aimed to help relaunch music in schools.
Music Week 2021, organised and funded by Sunderland Music Hub, is taking place this month to inspire young people just starting secondary school to take up an instrument, learn to sing and get involved in other music activities in their new school.
Run by individual music departments in secondary schools across the city in the first week of the new academic year, Music Week events will range from performances by the school's music teachers, to student demonstrations and opportunities for Year 7 students to try out different instruments.
The events are aimed at re-introducing music to students who will have missed out on the usual music-making transition activities due to covid-19 restrictions.
Lizzie Nixon, Music Hub Manager, Sunderland Music Hub said: "I'm delighted that we're supporting this event taking place in thirteen secondary schools across the city. Music plays such a crucial role in the lives of children and young people. Studies show that singing or learning an instrument has positive impacts on children's confidence, wellbeing and ability to form friendships and after such a challenging period, we want to help children and young people to access the range of brilliant musical opportunities their schools have on offer. Sunderland is such a talented musical city and we want to make sure that all children and young people have the opportunity to experience the joy of music.
Music teachers are relishing the opportunity to enthuse students to learn an instrument or to sing, while also giving out information about extra-curricular music in their school and other Sunderland-wide music ensembles.
Ben Thornley, Head of Music at Oxclose Academy said:
"As with many things, I believe that the pandemic has exposed the extent to which music is taken for granted. The assumption from those without any involvement in music is that music will always just somehow be there. But then it wasn't any more. In a school context that means no carols at Christmas, no shows in the summer, and no diversity in the students' hourly lessons. For many students, the last 18 months of learning has either taken place at home or behind a desk in a single classroom, which has resulted in a lack of interaction, communication, creativity and a decrease in confidence.
Music Week aims to reintroduce students to the creativity of music whilst providing opportunities to try something new and make friends. The music curriculum provides many transferrable skills such as problem solving, teamwork, creative thinking and emotional development which is why it's vital that opportunities to get involved with music are encouraged in schools."
