Page 377 - Guildhall Coverage Book 2020-21

who are outside of school, which makes him realize that his music is something that can be long-
term and not just something that’s going to happen until 18 and then stop.
What’s the next step for him?
We’re hoping that our next step is going to be for him to take part in Peterborough Youth
Orchestra. I think their youngest is nine, but they go all the way up to the 18-year-olds. He seems
to relate to children across all the ages, and I guess it just comes back to music being something
they all have in common and that they are all passionate about.
What would you say to parents who are considering it?
We’re constantly trying to sell it to people because we just completely believe in it. We just try and
tell them how wonderful they are, how accommodating they are, about the level of expertise they
bring in as well – not only with their own teachers but the musicians they have coming up from the
Guildhall. The students coming from there, you know… they aspire! You don’t get that in school or
other places. They really do bring in some expertise that wouldn’t be accessible in any other way.
And going down to the opera in London recently, as well, that provides them with more than just a
music lesson. They’re actually giving them such a wide breadth of different experiences. We’re just
keen to stress that for us as a family it’s been absolutely amazing. You know, they’re supportive,

they’re friendly, they’re helpful, it’s pitched at the right level… Olivia just thinks everybody should go
along to PCYM because you get so much out of it. The whole thing is done in such a fun way, I
don’t think they actually realise that they are learning!

The teachers’ view: why is music important?

Rachel Moorhouse, SLE and Music Coordinator at William
Law Church of England Primary School:

‘I often get asked about it because it’s under pressure in the curriculum at the moment, but there is
a lot of research out there showing that music can help educate a child in a variety of different
ways, right across the curriculum. It’s a way of expressing ourselves, it’s a way of gaining
confidence, it’s a way of creating a whole human being – and we have to give them the opportunity