Yet, somewhat surprisingly, this term has told a very different story in our music lessons.

Despite the persistent rain and seasonal challenges, our classrooms have been filled with energy, creativity, and, most noticeably, joy. In fact, this has been one of the most musically productive post-Christmas terms we have experienced. Progress has been remarkable, engagement has been high, and the atmosphere has been vibrant and genuinely fun.

So why has this been the case?

Instead of presenting rhythms as abstract mathematical values, we describe them in musical terms: long and short, always in relation to one another. This seemingly simple shift has profound benefits for children’s musical understanding, sight-reading ability, and creative expression.

The aims of the workshop were to support pupils to:

• explore and understand their own singing voice
• internalise a steady beat
• develop early pitch accuracy and rhythmic control
• learn age-appropriate strategies for vocal care

These elements form the core of effective early vocal pedagogy and are widely recognised within music education research as critical to sustainable musical development.

Throughout the season, all of our school choirs gave an incredible account of themselves. The MCA Children’s Choir, EarlyBirds, and City of Sons Boys Choir each rose to the occasion and delivered performances that were nothing short of sensational. Their hard work, dedication, and passion for music were clear to see and hear in every setting they performed in.

1. To strengthen and grow their choir;

2. To encourage more boys to sing and potentially join our contemporary boys choir, City of Sons;

3. Above all, to continue building a stronger, living connection between Mayflower Community Academy and Ford Primary School.

As a music teacher, I believe deeply that connection is as important as technique, and that music – particularly singing – is one of the most powerful tools we have for building it. Here are some reflections on why starting in schools like this is vital, how singing drives connection, and how this can grow - into families, across staff and into the wider community.

Across the school, something special was happening in every corner - and from start to finish, the energy was warm, welcoming and full of pride.

Summer is here, and what better way to celebrate than with an evening full of music, art, food, and fun? The MCA Summer Festival of Music and Art is coming to Mayflower Academy, Ham Drive, Plymouth, on Saturday 12th July, and you and your family are warmly invited — completely FREE!

Here’s why you need to save the date:

A Musical Line-Up Bursting with Talent

The stage will come alive with performances beginning at 5:45 PM, featuring a fantastic mix of community and school choirs, plus incredible soloists.

• North Prospect Community Choir — Plymouth’s friendliest choir is sure to fill the evening with joy and community spirit.
• Blokes Who Sing, fresh from releasing their first single, will bring their brilliant energy and harmonies.
• Mayflower Community Academy’s Choir La will showcase the amazing voices of their young singers with a performance full of pride and talent.
• City of Sons, a youth male voice choir, will share their powerful sound and skill.
• Ford Primary School Choir will join in with their enthusiasm and charm.
• And there’ll be a range of sensational soloists adding even more sparkle to this wonderful program.

From seasoned adult choirs to the youngest performers, this event will celebrate the best of Plymouth’s musical community.

🏃‍♂️ ProActive Sports & Games

From 6 PM, ProActive will be running sports and games — perfect for kids to burn off energy and for families to join in some friendly competition. Expect fun, teamwork, and a few giggles along the way!

🎨 Children’s Art Gallery

Come and admire a stunning display of local children’s creative work. The gallery will be packed with color and imagination, showcasing the incredible artistic talent of our young people.

🐝 Six Bees: Bee Experience

Get up close with nature thanks to the fascinating Six Bees Experience. Learn about these amazing pollinators, their role in the environment, and how we can help protect them. It’s hands-on, educational, and perfect for curious minds of all ages!

✂️ Arts & Crafts Activities

If you love getting creative, don’t miss the arts and crafts activities available throughout the evening. Try your hand at something new, make a keepsake to take home, and celebrate creativity in a fun, relaxed way.

📚 MCA Learning Workshops & Bookshop

Drop into the MCA learning workshops to see what’s on offer, or pick up a good read from the on-site bookshop. It’s a great chance to connect with what’s happening at Mayflower Community Academy and learn about future opportunities.

🍔 Hot Food & Refreshments

No festival is complete without tasty food, and there will be plenty on offer to keep you well fed and refreshed while you enjoy the festivities.

🎟️ Community Raffle

Don’t miss the community raffle! With brilliant prizes up for grabs, it’s a fun way to support local projects and maybe take home something special.

🌼 Come and Celebrate!

With gates opening at 5 PM, this is the perfect evening to bring together family, friends, and neighbours to celebrate music, art, sport and the community spirit that makes Plymouth shine.

For more details, follow our Instagram pages:

@madeinmayflowermusic, @northprospectchoir, @blokeswhosing, @cityofsons.ymvc

At Mayflower Community Academy, we place a strong emphasis on vocal health as part of our music education. This isn’t just about producing better singers; it’s about teaching children to care for a vital tool they’ll use throughout their lives. From their very first music lessons in our foundation classes, we introduce our students to practices that prioritise vocal care. 

For musicians, getting beyond the initial discomfort of watching themselves perform can open the door to self-improvement and refinement. Yes, it requires pushing past self-doubt and facing one’s anxieties head-on. But in doing so, artists gain the opportunity to identify areas for improvement, refine their technique, and ultimately create better work in the future. Self-reflection, when practiced with kindness and intention, becomes an invaluable part of the creative process.

Imagine it: the first day back after a six-week break, Monday morning, 8:30 a.m. What’s the last thing you’d expect to be doing? Probably communal singing - but that’s exactly what we did.

Over the summer holidays, I was tasked with creating and leading a 15-minute workshop on getting 130 reluctant, self-proclaimed "non-singers" to sing together… as a choir.  No small feat. As I stood in front of the room and saw the initial groans ripple across the staff - who were from both Mayflower and Ford - I knew I was about to face one of my toughest ‘gigs’ to date. But despite the palpable discomfort in the room, I held onto my belief in the power of singing. Once they got into it, I was certain they’d not only enjoy themselves but also gain real value from the experience.

Here's what we discovered:

Orff arrangements are musical pieces structured for performance using the Orff Schulwerk approach, an innovative method of music education developed by composer Carl Orff and his collaborator Gunild Keetman. These arrangements typically involve a variety of percussion instruments, such as glockenspiels, drums, and other pitched and unpitched percussion instruments. The key feature of Orff arrangements is their simplicity and accessibility. Designed with children and beginners in mind, they often feature straightforward, repetitive patterns that are easy to learn and play, making them ideal for young musicians.