Extra-Curricular Music Ensemble Groups 2020-21

11th September 2020Mrs C Allison

This year will be different in the way that we are running ensembles at NMS due to COVID19 and the restrictions. There will be 3 ensembles running this term. Unfortunately we are restricted to offering them to one year group at a time. The ensembles will begin the week commencing Monday 14th September 2020. If your child plays one of the instruments below (to whatever standard) and is in the year that the ensemble is for, please encourage them to join the ensemble. The Percussion Ensemble will take total beginner players and drums / percussion are provided.

Taking part in extra-curricular music activities can boost confidence and self-esteem along with further developing instrumental skills and making new friendships:

  • YEAR 6 PUPILS ONLY – Tuesday 3.30pm – 4.30pm: Ceilidh Band (violin, guitar, flute, penny whistle, Northumbrian pipes, bodhran, keyboard, bass)  in Newminster Hall (starting Tuesday 15th September)
  • YEAR 7 PUPILS ONLY – Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30pm: Jazz Band (clarinet, flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, drums, guitar, keyboard (able to use school keyboards), bass) in Newminster Music Room (starting Wednesday 16th September)
  • YEAR 5 PUPILS ONLY – Thursday 3.30pm – 4.30pm: Percussion Ensemble (Percussion and drums provided – beginners welcome) in Newminster Hall (starting Thursday 17th September)

If your child would like to attend one these ensemble groups, they will need to attend the rehearsals starting the week commencing Monday 14th September 2019.

Our ensembles have been funded by the schools and the Music Service and are run by music peripatetic teachers from the Music Partnership North who are DRB checked.

All instrumental tuition with Music Partnership North will take place on line. Steel pan lessons will start later in the term and will be taught in year group bands.

Choir is unable to take place this term however all the pupils at Newminster will be taking part in ‘The Lion King Experience’ during their music lessons and we have plans to develop the project into some kind of performance in Summer 2021.

Sign2Sing Event 2020

16th January 2020Sarah Hall

The students of Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools have been learning to sign and sing songs ready to join the yearly Sign2Sing event on Tuesday 11th February. This will be done as a whole school and will take place in the Chantry School Hall during the school day.

We think this is a terrific initiative which has taught the children a new and valuable skill as well as raising awareness of deaf issues.

SignHealth, which is a national charity, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of deaf people, are behind the event. SignHealth is simply asking for a £1 donation in return for wearing non-school uniform on Tuesday 11th February and taking part in the event. All money raised will go towards helping SignHealth transform the lives of thousands of people living in the UK.

For more information about Sign2Sing please visit www.sign2sing.org.uk

These are the links to the songs we are learning for the event if your child would like to practise at home.
Make Your Own Kind of Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=SFFvxAdZSPk
True Colours
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r25auE4eC2o
Count on Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF9mvzhg0-c
Somewhere Only We Know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GStkveXNMEM

Newminster and Chantry Summer Holiday Themed Showcase

8th January 2020Sarah Hall

Wednesday 10th June and Thursday 11th June 2020

Performances in Chantry hall starting at 6:30pm

We would like to invite pupils from Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools to be involved in a Summer Holiday Themed Showcase which will be performed in the Chantry School hall on Wednesday 10th June and Thursday 11th June 2020 at 6.30 pm.

The Showcase will be a play with added variety performances and will include the choir, vocal groups, various dance troupes, acting and some instrumentalists.

If your child would like to be involved in the singing and acting elements of this performance they will need to attend rehearsals on Monday’s, 3.30-4.30 pm in the Chantry hall which are supervised by Ms Jones, Mrs Wilson and Mrs Mole. Rehearsals will start on Monday 27th January 2020 and no experience is necessary to join this so please encourage your child to take up this opportunity.

We will hold auditions for the other acts needed for the show and more information will be given to the pupils about this in due course.

The Bronze Visual Arts Award pupils, supervised by Mrs Woolley, will design and paint the stage backdrop as part of their project.

Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing your child at the showcase rehearsals.

Home for Christmas

6th January 2020Sarah Hall
Chantry and Newminster choir performed the Christmas musical ‘Home for Christmas’, along with carols, to a packed church full of parents, carers, governors, staff and friends of the schools at St James Church Wednesday 18th December. 
The story of ‘Home for Christmas’
It’s a manic pre-Christmas shopping day and the streets are packed with bargain hunters.  No-one notices homeless Kate falling on the pavement, apart from Nicky and Paul, who help her up. When they offer to help Kate to get home, Nicky and Paul find out that she has no home – except for a cardboard box.
 

Shocked, the children want to help Kate. They go and tell their mother about her, but Mum is just angry to hear that they have been talking to a homeless stranger. As Christmas draws nearer, the children can’t get Kate out of their

minds.  In the end they persuade their mum to help …

 
Parent comments from emails and the CMS and NMS Creative Arts Facebook Page 
 
Absolutely brilliant, heartfelt, emotive production.
 
Amazing performance, thanks everyone.
 
My husband and I had the pleasure of watching this production this afternoon. We were blown away by the talent from everyone involved. Such a heartwarming production. Thank you.
 
What a superb production with a beautiful message.
 
Wonderfully acted with fabulous singing. Some truly beautiful voices.
 
The pupils in this production were a true credit to the middle schools in Morpeth. I am delighted to have seen the performance. Well done everyone!

 

Northern Steel Network Guest tutor workshops 18th & 19th January 2020

6th January 2020Sarah Hall

Workshop Invitation

Northern Steel Network are bringing up London based pan tutor, Delphina James, to deliver a series of workshops on the weekend of the 18th & 19th January. This is a great opportunity for steel pan pupils to further develop their playing and to network with other pannists.

As a guide:
Intermediate level workshops are aimed at players who have about 6 months’ playing experience or more, i.e. primary/middle school/adults. The Advanced workshops are aimed at players who have been playing a number of years and are confident, i.e. high school/adults.

Booking is essential as places are limited. To book onto a workshop contact: louise@northernsteelnetwork.org.uk

Saturday 18th January
Location: Jesmond Park Academy (old Heaton Manor), Newcastle
Workshop 1 – 10.15-11.45am – Intermediate players
Workshop 2 – 1.45-4.15pm – Advanced players

Sunday 19th January
Location: The King Edward VI School, Morpeth
Workshop 3 – 9.30-11.00am – Intermediate players
Workshop 4 – 11.00-12.30am – Intermediate players
Workshop 5 – 1.00-2.30am – Intermediate players
Workshop 6 – 2.30-5.00pm – Advanced players

Prices:
£4.00 for Intermediate session
£5.00 for advanced sessions

 

 

Newminster and Chantry Middle School Choir perform at Wetherspoons for Clic Sargent

13th December 2019Sarah Hall
On Thursday 12th December members of the Newminster and Chantry Middle School Choir performed at Wetherspoons in Morpeth for the Children’s Cancer Charity, Clic Sargent.
The venue was packed with families and customers enjoying a meal or drinks and the choir rose to the occasion performing carols, Christmas songs and pieces from the musical ‘Home for Christmas’ which they will be performing at St James Church on Wednesday 18th December. The Morpeth Mayor attended the event and had her photograph taken with the choir.
Students also enjoyed pizza and chips provided by Wetherspoons after the performance,

A fabulous and very Christmassy evening was had by all.