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The Yehudi Menuhin School has an established history of partnerships with
Surrey Arts and local schools. The school continues to work with many Surrey primary and secondary schools to share resources and expertise, supplementing existing music education provision.
The School is exploring ways in which mutually beneficial partnerships can be set up with local Specialist Performing Arts Colleges. The opening of a 300-seat concert hall at the School in Spring 2006 has transformed the facilities available for outreach and partnership work. Concerts, masterclasses, conferences and workshops are being planned, as well as residencies by the London Mozart Players and the Schubert Ensemble which will connect the School more closely with the music profession. Their players will work regularly with the staff and pupils of the school, and with teachers and pupils from local maintained and independent schools.
PROJECTS
'The Right to Music'
Yehudi Menuhin famously said, 'everyone has the right to music'. Taking his words as inspiration, the Yehudi Menuhin School and the London Mozart Players have launched an exciting new outreach initiative titled 'The Right to Music', aiming to bring classical music to many of the smaller communities of Surrey by means of concerts and workshops.
The project which ran throughout 2007 involved 27 YMS pupils, 4 London Mozart Players instrumentalists, 18 schools, 3 adult day centres, one centre for adults with learning difficulties, 1 community centre, 2 arts venues, 3 churches and a professional composer. The nine public concerts and 27 composing workshops and 17 other informal performances offered opportunities to some 3529 people aged between 4 and 90+! The project was funded by the Arts Council of England, with support from Elmbridge and Mole Valley Councils and the RC Sherriff trust.
CURRENT PROJECTS
‘A Chance to Play’
This programme was initiated by Yehudi Menuhin and has continued successfully
since his death. Yehudi Menuhin was keen to bring music to deprived areas
and the first group that he taught was filmed for the BBC documentary Menuhin’s Children. Today, two members of staff work each week in
two local schools with groups of twelve children who would otherwise have
no opportunity to learn a musical instrument. They are given initial violin
lessons and work towards a public performance. Because of a strong link
with the London Chamber Orchestra, performances have taken place as part
of LCO concerts in St John’s Smith Square.
Jack in the Music Box
This exciting and innovative programme of music and movement for local children between one and four years takes place every Tuesday and Wednesday morning at the School during term-time. A FREE trial session is available and pupils can join at any time during the term. For further details, telephone: 01483 203165 or 01483 423622 or e mail sarah@yehudimenuhinschool.co.uk
Instrumental Teachers’
Training Days
Annual training days for teachers of piano
and stringed instruments at the School are aimed at exploring current issues
as well as providing advice, support and inspiration. In the past, these have usually been attended by about 120 teachers from the South East.
Chamber Music Days
Advanced string or wind players from local schools are regularly invited to spend
a day with pupils at the School being coached by members of staff. A recent project involving pupils from the Menuhin School, Surrey Arts and the Schubert Ensemble culminated in a chamber concert in The Menuhin Hall as part of the Stoke d'Abernon Festival.
Composition Showcase
The School presents a very successful series of composition workshops
for Surrey pupils taking GCSE and A Level Music. Participants are guided
through the initial stages of composition to the rehearsal and recording
of their work, some of which is included in public concerts.
Visits to Primary Schools
Each year a group of younger pupils visit
eight Surrey primary schools for a one-hour workshop with the aim of encouraging
children to listen to music, to learn about string instruments and try
them out. It is hoped to inspire them to take up an instrument
themselves. Music is specially arranged to enable the primary school
children to join in singing with the pupils of the Menuhin School.
Children with Special
Needs
The School has developed a relationship with Pond Meadow Special Needs
School in Guildford and with Great Ormond Street Hospital School and visits
both regularly. Menuhin School pupils perform a short
concert at each school and where it is possible encourage participation.
Schools’ Concert
A Schools’ Concert has been given annually for several years in
the Dorking Halls for around 600 children from across Surrey. The varied
programme, which includes solo and orchestral items, group singing and
a musical quiz, is designed to help children learn and listen to music.
The School continues this tradition of the Schools’ Concert
with events held in The Menuhin Hall.
Outreach Concerts
Visits to homes for the elderly have been a feature
of concert programming for many years, with groups of the School’s pupils giving concerts of up to one hour in length and afterwards
talking to the residents. The four annual outreach concerts take place in
the Summer term.
Surrey Music Hub
Local specialist schools and colleges with Music and Performing Arts status are invited to meet and plan collaborative projects with YMS by sharing expertise and resources.
Side by Side Workshops
In April 2008, 30 local secondary pupils join YMS pupils in a series of drumming and singing workshops, exploring non-Western cultures. Over time, it is hoped to include experience of African drumming, Samba, Steel Pans, Kodo and Gamelan.
For more information about our Outreach programme please contact:
Keith Willis, Director of Partnership Projects 01932 584409
keith@yehudimenuhinschool.co.uk
Sarah Collett Partnership Project Administrator 01932 584407
sarah@yehudimenuhinschool.co.uk
