WESTDENE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Bankside
Westdene
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 5GN

Headteacher: Debbie Crossingham B Ed Hons MA Ed Telephone: 01273 294900

e.mail:

January 2017

Dear Parents / Carer,

Music Ensembles Membership for Spring Term 2017

Please find information below for all music ensembles we are offering this term. We have introduced a new system for signing up to join music ensembles. If your child would like to participate in an ensemble please sign them up using your Parentpay account (a 50p administration charge will be applied)

**By making a payment on Parent Pay you have secured your child’s place, you will not receive a confirmation email. If Parent Pay will not accept your payment, this means the ensemble is full**

Day / Ensemble / Time / Year group / No. of places / Cost for term
Monday / Percussion Ensemble / 8.15 – 9.00am / 4 - 6 / 25 / £27.10
Tuesday / Junior Choir / 12.30 – 1.00pm / 2 & 3 / 80 / 50p
Tuesday / Samba Band / 3.15 – 4.00pm / 5 & 6 / No Limit / 50p
Wednesday / Senior Choir / 3.15 – 4.00pm / 4 - 6 / No limit / 50p
Thursday / Orchestra* / 8.00 – 8.40am / 2 - 6 / No limit / 50p
Thursday / Boys Choir / 3.15 – 4.00pm / 3 - 6 / No limit / 50p
Friday / Rhythm Masters / 8.15 – 9.00am / 2 & 3 / 35 / £50.50

*Children must have been learning their instrument for at least 2 terms to join orchestra. No keyboards or drums sorry! Please contact Mrs Bright or check the orchestra pages of the school website (www.westdeneprimary.co.uk), if you have any queries.

Rhythm Masters for Years 2 & 3

This well established group has extended its membership level to include children from year 2. Led by Ollie Heath a very experienced percussion expert; the children play a variety of drums, use junk percussion (buckets & broom handles etc.), learn “STOMP” style body percussion patterns & use vocal looping to create compositions. Rhythm Masters meets in the Small Hall.

Percussion Ensemble for Years 4 - 6

This ensemble introduces children in years 4 – 6 to a variety of percussion instruments and is the ensemble children progress to from Rhythm Masters. The group is led by percussion specialist Gary Holmes from Brighton & Hove Music Service & comprises of cajons (Peruvian drums), darbukas (middle eastern drums), djembe drums & cowbells! Percussion Ensemble meets in the Small Hall.

To find out more about our ensembles visit the music pages of the school website where you will find many examples of previous performances, videos, photos & audio clips for all ensembles listed above.

How to apply

To apply for membership of any music ensemble please sign your child up using your Parentpay account. Places for all ensembles will be released on Parentpay at 9am on Wednesday 4th January and will close at 12pm on Wed. 11th January.

ALL ensembles will start week beginning Mon. 16th January our choirs, orchestra, percussion ensemble & rhythm masters will be preparing for performances in our spring concerts in March. Samba Band will perform in the Brighton Festival Children’s Parade on Saturday 6th May.

Pick up arrangements for ensembles meeting after school (finish time 4pm)

If you would like your child to walk home by themselves, please email the school office to request a “Walk to / from School authorisation form”. This form MUST be completed and received in school before the first rehearsal of term.

If your child attends After School Club on the day their ensemble meets, please inform After School Club which ensemble your child is attending and a member of the team will collect them from their rehearsal at 4pm.

All other children are to be collected from the main entrance to school (by the school office) at 4pm. For your child’s safety please do not arrange to meet them anywhere else, thank you.

Please be aware we aim to make all our music ensembles as inclusive as possible, children are expected to act appropriately during all rehearsals and under no circumstances behave in a disruptive manner. Any child who does not do this will be asked to leave their ensemble & any fees paid will not be refunded.

Do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries and thank you for your continuing support,

Emma Bright

Music Co-ordinator