We select a handful of attractions that offer Music trips for schools, from visits to see musicals, to percussion sessions.
Encouraging creativity in pupils is equally as important as providing them with academic skills. Finding ways to motivate children to pick up an instrument, however, can be challenging and therefore the idea of combining the subject of Music with a school trip allows children to explore it outside the classroom and truly be inspired by what they see.
atilda the Musical
Matilda the Musical playing at London’s Cambridge Theatre, not only includes music that the children can sing along to, but links in with English too as the show is inspired by the popular children’s book by Roald Dahl. The show is beginning its first UK tour in March, so teachers should look out for dates in theatres near them for a potential school visit. The show also offers discounted ticket rates for educational groups and workshops and there is also a downloadable resource to prepare KS3 students for the show with follow-up ideas for classroom work.
Pictured: Educational session with Wicked.
Wicked
is another show which has a musically-themed educational offering. Not only do the themes in the show teach children valuable lessons about friendship and acceptance, but workshops are available delivered by past and present cast members and can involve activities such as learning songs from the show and developing understanding of musical theatre.
The Horniman Museum
in London’s Forest Hill is home to one of the UK’s most comprehensive collections of worldwide musical instruments. During a visit, pupils can view more than 8,000 objects made to produce sounds along with ancient artefacts. For Secondary students there is a gamelan workshops where students can create a musical ensemble, featuring bronze gongs, cymbals, other metallophones and drums.
The Beatles Story
The Beatles Story the world’s largest permanent exhibition devoted to the life and times of one of the world’s most famous band. The museum includes a replica of the Cavern Club where the band started and takes visitors through from their childhood days, to the early days of the band, to their later life as solo artists. Downloadable resources include content based on the British Invasion exhibition with activities suitable for KS3 and KS4 pupils.
Pictured: The Beatles Story.
The Royal Albert Hall
venue is another option for school groups in search of a music themed trip as it organises special tours, performances and workshops aimed specifically at Secondary schools. An interesting session for KS4 is the events management workshop, a hands-on day where Year 10 and Year 11 students can learn about non-performance careers in the arts industry and how such venues operate. Students will focus on the Royal Albert Hall’s programming, show and marketing and press departments, taking part in workshops led by members of staff and exploring areas of the hall. Students will learn in mixed groups, including those from other schools, and will be presented with a range of different challenges.
The Royal Festival Hall
Southbank Centre in London is now offering a musical workshop for visiting school groups. The new workshop involves school groups playing instruments from the Javanese gamelan – a percussion orchestra from Indonesia – which is displayed at the centre. This ties in with the Music curriculum as well as enables pupils to learn more about another culture. The sessions are available for school groups of up to 20. The sessions last roughly two hours and explore the traditional Javanese repertoire. The workshops can be tailored to suit your group and can include composition and performing with a tutor.
