On Saturday the 18th of June 2011, pupils from St Peter’s Primary School in West Dunbartonshire, will give a unique performance of some newly written Scottish and Indian themed Singing Games as a guest school at this year’s Glasgow Mela Festival, held in Kelvingrove Park Glasgow. Specially invited by organiser Harminder Berman, after an impressive West Dunbartonshire Commonwealth Games Handover event performance, the lucky pupils will perform as part of an international line-up of performers and live artists from around the world.

Last year, the Glasgow MELA festival attracted crowds of more than 25,000 music and art lovers and has been a favourite on the cultural calendar for almost 20 years. Due to this success, organisers have now extended the event to run over two days to include both Saturday and Sunday.

Traditionally meaning ‘to meet’, the Mela has grown into a massive outdoor extravaganza of music, dance and entertainment and the best part – entry is free! Now in it’s 21st year, the festival assembles a fantastic mix of cultural music, dance, interactive arts, food and sports as well as street theatre, cultural exhibits and a kids zone, appealing to visitors from all walks of life.

West Dunbartonshire’s Singing Motivator, who has been rehearsing with the pupils added, ‘This will be a fantastic performance opportunity for these West Dunbartonshire Primary School pupils and a first for any school in the authority. It’s an exiting event and a brilliant chance for pupils from this authority to sing and perform on an international platform with artists from around the globe.’

The West Dunbartonshire pupils will take to the stage for their exiting performance at 1.30pm on the 18th of June 2011, as part of the Saturday afternoon’s impressive line-up.

Further information on this great free family event can be found at: www.glasgowlife.org.uk

For further information please contact:

Tommy Regan Music Motivator

tregan@ea.w-dunbarton.sch.uk Office: 01389 761936 Mob: 07906957738

Music and Me: Innovative new scheme uses music to develop emotional literacy in nursery children

http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=845

East Lothian Council announces that ‘Music and Me’ is a new scheme, piloted at Wallyford and Whitecraig Primaries, which seeks to develop early literacy and emotional literacy skills in nursery children.  The successful pilot has led to the development of a resource pack, which is about to be rolled out to all East Lothian nurseries, and training for staff who want to use ‘Music and Me’ will be taking place in Autumn 2011.

Visit the Glow Group by logging onto Glow and visiting:

https://portal.glowscotland.org.uk/establishments/midlothiancouncileducation/Drumming%20for%20Excellence/default.aspx

Guitarmeet was so successful we have planned a follow-up on Monday 23 May at 18:30. Sign up here: http://bit.ly/cpdmeet32

With High Smith, University of the West of Scotland

http://bit.ly/cpdmeet32

This week is music week for the pupils at Smithton Primary school and all the children will be taking part in workshops and performances featuring traditional and contemporary music and song as well as Samba sounds and foot tapping and hand clapping rhythms from around the world.

http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2011/March/2011-03-25-01.htm

The music week starts on Monday with a guitar and drum session led by Martin O’Parka.  Martin will be demonstrating how contemporary sounds can be produced on guitars and drums while using computers and giving the children the chance to try their hands at creating their own tunes.

Drumming is being used to enhance the learning experience for pupils of all ages. The DfE programme uses percussion creatively as a teaching tool to combine rhythm and recall to deliver memorable lessons which engage pupils on many different levels.

http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/news/article/50/drumming_for_excellence_at_bonnyrigg_primary_school

The project is funded by Creative Scotland through the Youth Music Initiative and is managed by Midlothian Council’s Arts and Creativity Team.  The funding has allowed the Drumming for Excellence (DfE) programme to be implemented in all Midlothian Primary Schools.

400 pupils from across West Dunbartonshire will perform at the Mitchell Theatre this week in aid of a leading children’s charity.

The unique musical experience, Class Acts, will be on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 March and will see pupils from 17 primaries and 5 secondary schools singing and playing a variety of music to suit all tastes with all the proceeds from both nights going to ChildLine in Scotland – the NSPCC’s 24-hour helpline service for children and young people.

http://www.wdcweb.info/council-and-democracy/news/west-dunbartonshire-pupils-perform-for-childline/