Learn and Participate
The organisation behind the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, firmly believes in its responsibility to reach beyond the competition to engage locally through its Learning and Participation programme.
Sam Glazer at a Hastings International Piano School
SCHOOLS PROGRAMME
Last week Hastings International Piano launched its 2024 schools programme, with three days of high-quality musical experiences for primary school pupils (Key Stage 2). At Christ Church CE Academy, Silverdale Primary Academy, and St Leonards CEP Academy, groups of 9-11 year olds took part in workshops led by Sam Glazer, and a previous Hastings International Piano competitor Gabriele Sutkute.
The students composed their own original music, using keyboard instruments to write their song, which they then rehearsed and performed with Gabriele at a special showcase school assembly. More than 100 children took part in the workshops and another 600 experienced the completed performances.
Sarah Kowitz, Chair of the Trustees for Hastings International Piano, says:“We believe that there is no better way to engage children and young people in music than by involving them in the activity itself. The gradual sidelining of creative subjects in the national curriculum, and wholesale cuts in arts funding, have left many children unable to access music at all.” Hastings International Piano is attempting to fill this gap, not only by bringing the best young pianists to Hastings, but also by developing the passion and musical talent of children and young people who live in the town by involving them directly in co-creating their own music.
TEACHING REMARKS
Andrew Marsh, Music Subject Lead for the Silverdale Primary Academy, talks about the
“inclusive and inspiring” workshop that Sam and Gabrielle delivered to theYear 5 group: “They made the whole experience fun, exciting, and creative for all the children. They demonstrated wonderful motivational strategies for those finding the process challenging, and kept all of us smiling with their positivity and humour.” He added: “We would definitely welcome Hastings International Piano back again soon.”
Later in the year, Hastings International Piano plan to deliver a legacy project with children who showed particular interest and aptitude. They will be invited to take free weekly group keyboard lessons for a period of 30 weeks, and will be invited to a piano finalists’ concert. Plans are also afoot for a primary school workshop project specifically designed for SEND children.
FUNDING
At least ten local and national organisations have had a part in funding this unique opportunity for local schoolchildren at a time when state schools nationally are punishingly restricted in the amount of music and arts teaching that they can offer. The lack of state funding has led schools nationally to cut their music and art budgets and this is, of course, a different much bigger story.
Is music education really destined to become accessible to only a privileged few? Organisations like Hastings International Piano and the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Kowitz Family Foundation do a wonderful job, and we are fortunate that they promote music locally. But nationally there are fewer and fewer music teaching jobs in primary or secondary schools, which are struggling sometimes even to provide the most basic facilities.
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