“Music’s magical power to sooth” – Article from the Newbury Weekly News – February 8, 2007
Musicians bring performance to their audience with a special concert for children denied access to mainstream events.
Newbury Weekly News, February 8, 2007
A day of concerts at Prior’s Court School and the Castle School enabled pupils to experience professionally performed classical music in a relaxed environment and participate with great enthusiasm. Performed by musicians from the Orchestra of St. John’s (OSJ). the concerts were organised by conductor John Lubbock as part of the Newbury Spring Festival and funded by the St James’ Place Foundation.
For the autistic pupils at Prior’s Court School, being able to engage with the music by dancing, jumping or relaxing without the difficulties which a large auditorium and audience would bring was a major experience. Pupils varied in their response. While some enjoyed getting as close as possible to the musicians, others were content to relax peacefully.
“Sitting still for the half-hour concert was a very significant achievement for some pupils,” said the head of school Sarah Sherwood. “And seeing others move around the school theatre independently, absorbed, dancing with staff and interacting with the musicians, shows the level to which they were motivated by the music.” For the staff too, being able to observe the pupils enjoying the music, behaving appropriately in a social setting, made it a very special.
The concerts on Friday were provided by Music for Autism, a group of musicians from the OSJ led by conductor John Lubbock. Three half-hour concerts gave half the school the opportunity to enjoy the event in small groups, essential for the autistic pupils at the school. Chairs and bean bags were scattered around the main hall of the school and the quintet played, not from the stage, but as part of the assembled audience of pupils, staff and parents. The music included light, lively dances (a rumba, hornpipe and. others) and some more peaceful, calming pieces. A second concert in May, during the Spring Festival, will enable the rest of the pupils to participate and, weather permitting, include a picnic with pupils from the Castle School.
Prior’s Court School, based in Hermitage, is a co-educational residential and day school for children aged between five and 19, diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum, who have severe learning difficulties. The school is one of the foremost providers of autistic-specific education and care in the country. Its chief executive and principal Robert Hubbard was recently appointed the OBE for his services to special needs education and is a renowned expert in the field.
“We were delighted that, thanks to John Lubbock’s generosity and that of St James’ Place, our pupils were able to enjoy and participate in a wonderful concert and to be part of the community through the Spring Festival,” said Mr Hubbard.
Before moving on to Priors Court for the afternoon performances John Lubbock and the OSJ musicians performed a morning concert for pupils at Castle School, Donnington. The morning went “really well” according to the school’s assistant music coordinator Ali Watkinson, with most of the school attending either the rehearsal, where the school hall was accessible to any pupils and staff who wished to drop in and listen for a short time, or the 45-minute concert, where pupils were seated in a more formal arrangement as they would if they were going to a venue elsewhere. “This enabled all our students who have a wide range of learning disabilities to access and enjoy the event at their own level.” said Mrs Watkinson.
“The five wind musicians from the OSJ played different types of dance music from a waltz to a bolero.” For the final number the five musicians were accompanied by 94 percussionists, with every student joining in for a rousing finale. “Three of our students. Luke Matthews, Richard Smith and Carol Watson are at present working towards their Bronze Arts award, which is an accredited scheme enabling students to gain a qualification just above entry level in any area of the arts that they wish to explore. One section of this award focuses on attending a performance and meeting performers. These students hosted the event brilliantly and worked hard setting up the hall interviewing the musicians and serving food and drinks.”
