THE teaching of music and performance at a primary school in the area has been given a major boost thanks to support from parents and visiting teachers at the school.

Pupils at Calverley CE Primary School are now enjoying music lessons with a broader range of instruments thanks to the changes at the school.

Fiona Soothill, a parent of a Calverley pupil who has outstanding musical talent, has been working with assistant headteacher Jonathan Hallas.

The Friends of Calverley CE Primary group has provided the school with financial support to bring Ms Soothill into the school on a regular basis.

These regular guest lessons have given pupils a broader variety of instruments available to learn and play - ranging from recorders and keyboards to flutes, clarinets, violins and drums.

It has also breathed new life into the school choir, and also had a noticeable impact on the quality of performances and musical ability by pupils.

In addition to this, the school is also benefitting from an enhanced package of visiting music and singing teaching being delivered by Artforms.

Artforms is the lead partner for the Leeds Music Education Partnership, and provides visiting guest teachers to schools to develop traditional and new instrument skills, help children learn how to read music, and improve singing ability.

Jonathan Hallas, assistant headteacher, said: “Our school benefits from amazing support from parents.

"When the children asked for extra help with music and singing two years ago, we were happy to provide an enhanced music and performance package and were delighted when the Friends group agreed to support Fiona Soothill.

“Over the past two years, many more children have taken an interest in instrument-playing, music, singing and performance.

"As a result, the quality of performances has noticeably improved. There’s more of a sense of joy in music and singing in school now and this has helped boost confidence and concentration levels, both of which are good for learning.”

One of the biggest success stories of the work with visiting music teachers is the rejuvenated school orchestra.

Before the arrival of Ms Soothill at the school, the orchestra had only been open to pupils in Year 5 and 6, but in the two years she has been working with the school it has also been opened up to Years 3 and 4.

The orchestra is now an almost 50-strong collective of children aged seven to 11, playing a wider range of instruments.

In addition to the traditional brass and woodwind instruments, the orchestra also includes piano, ukuleles, and even a cajon - a box-shaped percussion instrument which originates from Peru.

At this school year's Christmas carol service for the whole community in Calverley at St Wilfrid's Church, the orchestra performed to a congregation of more than 250 people, and also played at the Christmas Eve family service, where they were praised by many for the quality of their playing.

Ukulele players from Year 5 were also part of a 500-strong ensemble at The Big Play at Leeds Town Hall last July, and they will be appearing at the event once again this year.

The school's choirs have also seen major improvement since the external music teaching began at the school.

Around 180 children from Reception to Year 2 now have weekly singing lessons with Artforms Music's Nick Eastwood.

Ms Soothill also leads two choirs from the rest of the school, each made up of 25 pupils.

Around 50 pupils from Year 6 performed as part of a 5,000 strong ensemble at the Young Voices concert at Sheffield Arena in January.

Teachers at Calverley do National Curriculum music work in class, and Artforms provides visiting teachers to give specialist lessons for pupils to learn instruments and read music.