One of the world’s leading comedy string quartets treated primary schools in Cumbria to a taste of their Playground Proms.
Graffiti Classics, in partnership with Cumbria Music Hub and supported by Arts Council England, took the first-ever Playground Proms to primary schools in Cumbria last week.
After many months of lockdown, it is estimated that more than 1,000 schoolchildren enjoyed the thrill of a fun-filled, educational and diverse musical workshop, inspired by the world-famous BBC Proms, safely in the fresh air of their own playground.
“We quickly devised the Playground Proms in response to the COVID crisis,” said Cathal Ó Dúill, from Graffiti Classics.
“We usually tour our educational workshop indoors in school halls, but moving the show out into the playground was a simple solution to navigating important COVID restrictions. We are so grateful for the support of Cumbria Music Hub and Arts Council England who have made these Playground Proms possible.”
“Graffiti Classics players are experts at making classical music fun for kids and are also experienced in outdoor Prom-style performances and, so we immediately loved their Playground Proms idea and were delighted that it was awarded a Project Grant from Arts Council England,” said Yvonne Hulme from Cumbria Music Hub.
“Our hub has done great work throughout the lockdown to continue delivering music provision in our schools and these Playground Proms will almost be like a celebration for children, now we seem to be slowly winning the fight against COVID. Our hope is that children will be blown away by the Playground Proms and inspired to try a musical instrument for themselves.”
Each Playground Prom will last one hour and will feature music from a diverse range of classical composers such as Beethoven, Bizet as well as Joplin and Strauss. Aimed at the keystage two age group in primary schools, children will be encouraged to explore their own musicality through innovative workshop techniques and musical games.
Graffiti Classics visited two schools a day in the Barrow area last week but the recording of the first prom will be available to school children across the whole county.
In addition to experiencing the prom performance itself in the great outdoors, children will also be encouraged to write their own uplifting words to a well-known classical tune as part of an ongoing Lyric Challenge that will run after the tour.
Entries were filmed and will be shared on Cumbria Music Hub’s website.
