Mayflower Community Academy
Welcome to the Mayflower Community Academy and Nursery Music Journal, a vibrant space dedicated to celebrating the musical journey of our students. At Mayflower, we believe in the transformative power of music education, nurturing creativity, and fostering a lifelong love for the arts. Through engaging lessons, diverse musical experiences, and collaborative performances, our students explore a wide range of musical genres and instruments. This journal showcases their progress, highlights their achievements, and shares the joy of music-making within our community. Join us in celebrating the sounds and stories that make our music program so special.
Over the past nine months, seven of our KS2 pupils have embarked on an exciting musical journey, learning to play the clarinet. Every Wednesday after school, these dedicated students have gathered for group instrumental tuition, showing remarkable commitment by also practising at home.
Our Year 4 students had a fantastic opportunity this month thanks to Theatre Royal Plymouth and Welsh National Opera!They were treated to a special one-off concert featuring famous opera selections.
At the start of this academic year, I embarked on a unique challenge and opportunity that I simply couldn’t refuse. Last June, while attending a youth music festival with my vocal group, organised by my friend and SEND music expert Stuart Penman, I was approached by Fiona Pendriegh, the head of Plymouth Youth Music Service. Fiona had noticed my passion for encouraging children to sing and wondered if this enthusiasm could help get more boys singing in our city. The challenge was set.
Recently, I observed a remarkable improvement in young children’s pitch-matching abilities through the integration of movement in their music lessons. Watching several children, aged 6-9, increase their confidence in pitch matching was a powerful testament to the benefits of dual coding, where they linked musical pitches with physical movement.
This May, the much-anticipated Celebration of Disney Concert took place, bringing together the enchanting melodies of Disney with the harmonious voices of the North Prospect Community Choir (NPCC). Held in the school hall, the event featured memorable performances by the MCA Children's Choir, the Earlybirds, and the NPCC, culminating in a night of music, joy, and community spirit.
On a beautiful spring evening, the walls of St James the Less Church resonated with the harmonious melodies of "A Joyful Noise," our highly anticipated spring concert. Presented by the renowned male voice choir, Blokes Who Sing, and featuring our very own MCA Earlybirds alongside the talented City of Sons, the event was a true celebration of community and music.
This weekend, our MCA Earlybirds performed alongside City of Sons, Blokes Who Sing, and North Prospect Community Choir in the picturesque grounds and private gardens of Westfield, Newton Ferrers.
