By Cath Sewell (Director of Theatr Clwyd Music Trust)

There are days that come along that remind me how lucky I am to work in music education. Our First Experience concerts featuring musicians from BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) in April were two of them

The four concerts were a culmination of two terms of musical learning for children from Flintshire primary and specialist schools who’ve been taking part in our First Experiences programme. This important programme, with the support of funding from the National Music Service of Wales has allowed us to deliver weekly lessons for year 3 classes in nearly all of Flintshire’s primary schools.

We brought together 1600 pupils from over 60 schools, a significant logistical exercise and, just to make things more exciting, they weren’t just watching the show – they were going to join in. We’ve been teaching a range of different instruments in schools, so we had pupils playing violins, cellos, xylophones, brass instruments and recorders alongside groups who’d focussed on singing.

The plan was all 1600 kids would perform arrangements of Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite with the BBC NOW ensemble and then sing an arrangement of “Let your Sprit Fly “to end the concert.

I was slightly apprehensive about how we’d bring together a cohesive groups of over 400 beginner instrumentalists for each concert but our team, BBC NOW and our young musicians rose to the challenge. A huge amount of work was put in for the weeks leading up to the concert, meaning they not only started and stopped together but played in time and in tune. The levels of concentration were amazing!

I need to mention the singing – oh the singing! There is nothing like singing together to reinforce a shared sense of connection. The standard was fantastic with young people also learning the lyrics in Makaton, a form of sign language. More than one of the VIP guests who came to support us admitted having a little cry when we reached this part of the concert.

It’s a challenging time for the education sector but I know that for the teachers, council representatives, and the other decision- makers who were lucky enough to attend these concerts, we demonstrate the huge value of music and live performance as part of the curriculum.

‘Such opportunities a more important than ever. If we are to enrich pupil's lives with the arts as the new curriculum for Wales promotes, then having the experience of live music and theatre is so important. Budget cuts will mean many schools will not be able to provide such opportunities and for many pupils its only through school that they get the exposure to the arts.’

Venerable Edward Morgan Primary School, Shotton

Programmes such as First Experiences and events like these concerts are about so much more than developing musical skills. They enable children and young people to develop confidence, empathy, creativity, teamwork skills and resilience. We should aim to make sure every child and young person has the opportunity to have music and the arts as a vital part of their education and their lives.

‘This was one of the more rewarding things I have done with my pupils. The new curriculum asks for real life purpose to learning. This is exactly that. That morning in our assembly time we had discussed ambition - one pupil had said, I have just found my ambition, maybe one day I can do what they are doing.’

Ysgol Rhos Helyg

P.S: Special thanks to the Theatr Clwyd Music Associate Team and First Experiences Coordinator, Susie Jones, Cameron Biles-Liddel and BBC NOW, the team at William Aston Hall and our presenter Iwan Garmon.