Brass & Woodwind Workshops

This term in Music lessons, pupils in years 3 and 4 are learning about woodwind and brass instruments. On 1 February Mrs. Dwyer, our woodwind teacher, came in to demonstrate and talk about a vast array of woodwind instruments, including the flute, piccolo, saxophone, clarinet, recorder and bassoon. She was assisted by children in Year 3 who play woodwind instruments, each of whom performed a short piece for the workshop. Some of our more advanced woodwind players also came along to perform for us.

On 8 February our brass teacher, Mr. McGinity, led a brass workshop for year 4 pupils. As well as learning how to use their lip muscles and tongues to produce a sound, the children heard performances on the trumpet, trombone, euphonium and french horn from Jonathan Adams, Dylan Gunasekera, Oliver Maxwell and Alex Boulton respectively. Mr. McGinity also brought along an instrument he had made from a watering can joined to a length of hose pipe with a trombone mouthpiece attached. The children put their hands around the watering can to feel the vibrations of the air making the sound. They also made suggestions for names for the instrument which included waterhose, flexihose, waterpipe, tubahose, soundcan and the winning suggestion “Trumpahose” from Sarah Butler.