The Southend Jazz Festival and Rhythm Connections have joined forces to bring the Festival into local primary schools highlighting Black history and its links to Jazz.
Each year group have a different workshop with clear progression from one year to the next. We provide medium term plans a knowledge organiser and suggested curriculum links so you can write the sessions into your music scheme, demonstrate progression and continue to work from the theme’s in your classes.
What are the sessions?
Year 3 - AFRICAN DRUMMING - Learning about the master drummer we link different drumming elements to create a piece with children leading each section as the master drummer.
Year 4 - BOOMWHACKERS - The pentatonic scale is prolific in African music. This boomwhacker workshop explores this scale and introduces other African music traditions including improvised melody and playing cycles.
Year 5 - IMPROVISING - This session is about learning how to improvise with rhythm (a fundamental in African and Jazz music) A variety of techniques are introduced and the music develops in real time as the children learn new skills. You can link this to African music or to the Jazz history of America.
Year 6 - COMPOUND TIME - This is another key element in both Jazz and African music and sees the children take part in an advanced African drumming session learning a 6/8 piece.
Resources
How do we take part?
Simply contact the Southend Jazz Festival and express your interest.
What do Rhythm Connections need on the day?
A school hall is the ideal place for the workshop as we are setting up for a number of workshops.
A timetable from you: Our facilitators require a 15 minute morning break and 30 minutes for lunch. Other than that please fill up the day with 30-40 minutes sessions with 30-33 children in each session. As part of the festival we are looking to see as many children as possible and spread the workshops over different year groups.
Beyond that a car parking space near to the venue is appreciated and aaccess to tea and coffee.
School Feedback……….
This experience was amazing for the children - Charlotte Cowling 3C Thorpedene 5/10/23
The class was completely engaged throughout the session and absolutely loved it! - Luisa Gale - Ashingdon Primary 4/10/23
Repetition to embed knowledge of pentatonic scale was excellent! The children were clearly engaged and all got a chance to shine!! - S Kittle 4K Thorpedene 5/10/23
All children were engaged and loved the expierience of using the instruments - Megan Steff - Ashingdon primary 4/10/23
Excellent control of a very excited class and held their focus very well, thank you - Megan Grootaers 3G Thorpedene 5/10/23
We've worked a lot with Rhythm Connections and their sessions are always engaging, inclusive and fun. Workshops are adapted to the need of the group with lots of learning and progression. The rest of the school certainly heard us in action!!
Andrew Withams - Head of Service, Music on Sea,
Southend Music Service and Music Education Hub 04/10/23