Pupil Voice

We love to hear your thoughts about music at Queensbridge. Here's what some pupils say about their different musical ensembles, lessons and trips. 

All About Us as Musicians!
Part of pupil voice for us is getting to know what kind of music you hear every day, what you enjoy, what you like to play or sing... all sorts of things. Well done to all of these children who sent in their 'all about me' pictures. It's lovely to hear about your musical lives, and helps us to give you even more opportunities to learn and shine in music at school. If you would like to make and share your own, please email it to music@queensbridge.hackney.sch.uk.
Back at school this week, we have been sharing something musical that we have been doing during lockdown. It's been a joy to hear about the diverse cultural lives of all of the children and adults. What sort of things? Well, I'm glad you asked...

Virtual karaoke
Practising piano, trumpet, violin, flute, saz, guitar, drums (+ drumming on cushions)

Online music lessons with teachers
Listening to favourite songs
Choreographing songs and sharing the dances with friends
Sharing dance via TikTok

Playing drums to Red Hot Chilli Peppers tracks
Listening to Lizzo and learning about her influences such as James Brown
Listening to David Bowie songs after watching labyrinth
Making playlists of favourite songs and dancing or singing along - or listening in the bath!
Playing loud music while playing

Creating a family exercise routine with great tracks

Playing samba music on metal bins with neighbours during the 'clap for carers'

Learning a song while playing guitar

Listening to music that our siblings and parents like

Watching Top of the Pops 2/reminiscing about old hits with our friends (lots of teachers!)

Listening to gospel music and afrobeats

Listening to Vietnamese music

Having time to explore new bands as well as old favourites

Taking part in a concert via Zoom (online)

Playing along to favourite songs by trying to work out melody/harmony notes

These are all musical activities that our Queensbridge community have been taking part in. What about YOU? 

Some thoughts on learning music from our new Year 3 students, September 2019
Everyone was asked to say one thing that they like about music. Then we chose to agree or disagree with some different statements such as 'learning music is easy', 'learning music should be fun', or 'singing is only for babies' and we discussed our opinions. Here are some responses. 

"Music cheers me up"

"I find music lessons relaxing."

"I like getting to try new instruments."

"I love to sing. I am an amazing singer."

"Singing is for everyone."

"i like to join in, but sometimes it's hard if my voice hurts."

"I like music because we get to go on music trips."

"I like music lessons because we play loud music and quiet music."

"Learning music is exciting and interesting."

"Learning music means we can get rich."

"I like it when we play instruments for our show."

"Music is not easy. It takes time to get better at music."

"I like music because I like dancing."

Junior Choir Summer 2019

Members of Junior Choir have been filling in questionnaires about their experience of being in the choir. Here are some lovely and constructive comments to help us to continue singing together and making a great sound. 

What do you enjoy about being in the choir?

"It helps me to sing better"
"We get to sing!"

"It's fun when we learn different songs and after a couple of weeks we sing it altogether. I love it!"

"I like learning new songs."

"It's fun and you make friends. Also you just sing."

"I enjoyed performing What Kind of World Are We Trying To Make. I enjoyed singing about our planet"

"When we do shows"

"It's all about singing and I secretly sing at home."

"It makes me feel in the groove."

"I enjoyed learning Tapestry of Life and doing the plastics assembly.

"We all get to sing together and we get to go somewhere to perform. We always have a good time."

"You get to sing for other people."

"We get to do collaborative projects."

"We sing songs from different countries. I really like Essequibo River."

How do you feel when you are singing with the choir?

"I feel happy because we are all celebrating"

"I feel amazing."

"Warm and welcome"

"Happy, relaxed and good."

"Nervous but brave"

"It calms me down."

"I feel powerful when I sing."
"Happy, calm, relaxed. It feels like i'm living in singing."
"Awkward because there's a lot of people."
"I feel passion becaise it makes me feel who I am."
"Happy and ready."
"Happy and excited."
"Frightened!"
"I feel happy and joyful because you get to sing out loud. I love being here."
"Productive."
"It feels fun and I feel talented."

What would you change about the choir?

"That we can rap"

"Try more harmonies"

"If we get to do solos"

"Some people think it's a competition about who can be the loudest."

"Can we make it more often?"

"Maybe going on more choir trips"

"Change to instruments and singing at the same time."
"Let everyone in the school join, from Reception-Y6."
"Get more people to join."
"I would like to have more space."
"I'm not sure about it taking my PLAYTIME, but other than that I'm fine!"
"I would make it a bigger place and have trips to other schools to sing there."

Can you list any songs we could try?

Suggestions included: Wide Awake by Katie Perry, some songs by Kinderen voor kinderen, Me by Taylor Swift, songs by Beyonce, We Will Rock You, Radio Ga Ga or Under Pressure by Queen, Hey Jude by The Beatles, Lord Kitchener, Seven Years Old, Heal the World, Thank You For The Music by ABBA, This Is Me from The Greatest Showman, Pure Imagination from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, God's Plan by Drake, Old Time Road, Rise, This is Me from The Greatest Showman, Peanut Vendor, Mamma Mia by Abba, Bob Dylan and Katy Perry songs, and definitely Magic Dance by David Bowie, songs by Justin Bieber, Happier by Marshmello and Bastille, Sun Shone Down, Somebody to Love by Queen, Come Along by Asia Monet

Orchestra survey Summer 2019

It's great to get some feedback from the children who have been involved in orchestra this year. Here are a few lovely comments from orchestra members old and new:

What do you enjoy about being in the school orchestra?

"Everything! I really like how we get to make really nice music with our friends and have fun and I like how you let us join in the making of the music."

"I enjoyed playing in the Christmas show because I found it exciting. It was a great experience."

"I enjoy playing new songs and new beats on the drums and interacting with people who play percussion."

"It is very enjoyable because it lets you express your learning in a way that you are happy and calm."

"I enjoy learning new songs, playing instruments with my friends and going to concerts."

"I get to listen to other instruments and I love that we all work as a group."

What have been your favourite pieces or events?

Lots of answers here, including Royal March of the Lion, Awimbawe, Wonderful World, Toxic, Uptown Funk, Rodeo and playing in the Christmas show. The children have especially enjoyed playing in the school concerts and in the Round Chapel. 

What would you change about the orchestra to make it even better?

"Change the time so I don't miss lunchtime", "Not do the harder songs first", "make it more quiet so that you can hear the quieter instruments", "tune instruments up before orchestra starts", "it would be nice if we had more space", "extra rehearsals", "to not play when someone is talking".

What kind of music would you like to learn in Orchestra?

Suggestions included: Billie Eilish, Bellyache, Smoke On the Water, So Am I by Ava Max, Bolero, Greensleeves, pop and classical, funk, jazz something by John Lennon or the Beatles.

We have been thinking about this feedback as a team and are hopefully making some improvements as well as keeping what works well. See you at a performance soon!

Instrumental pupils Summer 2019

Some feedback from a quick chat with some of the instrumentalists after our summer concert:

"I like learning to play something better than I could before."

" It's great having the chance to learn an instrument at school."

"I think i've improved at my instrument."

"I loved playing a solo on my clarinet."

"I would like more solo opportunities."

"I would like some more opportunities to listen to better players."

"I need more time to practise."

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