Fostering Community Collaboration Through Music: A Partnership with Lynch Hill Primary School

Fostering Community Collaboration Through Music: A Partnership with Lynch Hill Primary School

Continuing our theme of community collaboration through music, I’m excited to share the incredible opportunity Cippenham School had to work with Lynch Hill Primary School on the event Choir Takes Singing Assembly. This initiative began at Cippenham School, where our Junior Choir would lead assemblies for Key Stage 1 and 2 children, using call-and-response warm-ups, weekly singing assembly songs, and showcasing the pieces they were rehearsing in choir club.

The original concept for Choir Takes Singing Assembly came from our headteacher, who wanted to give our choir more performance opportunities. Her vision was to build the choir’s confidence and raise awareness of what the choir club had to offer. And it did just that! Not only did it motivate the choir members to perform in front of their peers, but it also inspired many other students to join the choir.

But the magic didn’t stop there. This model had the potential for even greater growth with a chance to connect and collaborate with other schools. And that’s exactly what happened when we took the Choir Takes Singing Assembly beyond our school walls.

Choir Takes Singing Assembly at Lynch Hill Primary School

Earlier this year, Jane Njunge, the Key Stage 1 Music Lead at Lynch Hill, and I began brainstorming ways to work together on a collective singing project that would inspire students across both schools. We quickly agreed that Choir Takes Singing Assembly would be the perfect model to achieve this, and the results were nothing short of remarkable.

We planned a session where Cippenham Junior Choir and Lynch Hill Key Stage 1 students would perform songs they sing regularly, and then come together to sing 2-3 collaborative songs, with the Junior Choir leading and Key Stage 1 children joining in for the chorus. It was a beautiful display of music, action participation, and the shared joy of performing. The excitement to listen to each other’s performances was palpable.

For both Jane and I, it was also an invaluable opportunity to observe different approaches to singing assemblies and warm-ups, which helped us identify what we were doing well and where we could improve.

The Benefits of Collaboration

This collaboration between our schools brought about several key benefits:

Validation of Musical Growth: It was wonderful for Cippenham Junior Choir to receive validation from another school community, affirming their progress and performance. Similarly, Lynch Hill’s Key Stage 1 students were celebrated for their musical achievements.

Sharing Best Practices: The event allowed us to share good music practices, inspiring both teachers and students. It was a fulfilling experience for everyone involved.

An Enjoyable Experience: Both the children and staff had an incredible time participating in singing and warm-up games. The positive energy was contagious!

 Real-World Application: The event showed Cippenham students how their choir performances can impact others, teaching them the importance of sharing music with the broader community.

Encouraging Smaller-Scale Singing Events: This collaboration is a reminder of the power of smaller, local events that can have a huge impact on both school communities and the proof was in the pudding as we are set to organise another choir takes singing assembly for this academic year. 

Conclusion

This collaboration was truly an unforgettable experience. The teachers and students at Lynch Hill Primary School created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and the Cippenham Junior Choir performed with such passion and energy that filled us all with such joy. 

By embracing cross-school collaboration, Jane and I were able to create a meaningful learning experience for the students, while also growing professionally. This was a journey that went far beyond the classroom and left a lasting impact on everyone involved.

Written by Cara Pennington  

Subject Leader of Music  

Cippenham School