Scottish Opera's Carmen Unwrapped

Thank you very much to Audrey Blake and our friends at Scottish Opera for a lovely  opportunity for nine of our classes (P5, P6 and P7) to visit the Festival Theatre on Wednesday 4th November for Carmen Unwrapped. Fantastic orchestra, beautiful singing and wonderful story telling, with a fascinating behind the scenes exploration of all that is involved in staging an opera production. Bravo!

Drum Tribe Djembe Drums

Our Music Improvement Group identified a need to acquire more musical instruments. Thank you to Shaun and Gilbert from South African Drum Tribe for offering us the chance to purchase heavily discounted djembe drums, handcrafted in Ghana. We now have fifteen drums for use in school and aim to purchase more new instruments this year.

Carmen Unwrapped Wed 4th November

Our friends at Scottish Opera have very kindly offered P5-P7 pupils a wonderful opportunity to attend their ‘Carmen Unwrapped’ session on Wednesday 4^th November. The children will walk to the Festival Theatre so should wear comfortable shoes and a waterproof jacket. The session is free and runs from 1pm to 2pm. P5-P7 pupils will be able to have an early lunch at 11.45am and will leave school at 12.30pm, returning at 2.30pm.

Carmen Unwrapped involves singers, backstage crew and The Orchestra of Scottish Opera. The children will hear highlights from the music and be introduced to the principal characters from the opera, the plot and some key scenes. They will also find out about the props, costumes, lighting and direction, as well as some of the theatrical secrets behind the production.


Many children might already recognise 'Habanera' from the Pixar film 'Up'.

ABC Creative Music

Last session, our Music Improvement Group researched online resources which could be used progressively throughout school as part of an updated programme for Music. We are delighted to have been given an opportunity to pilot online resources from ABC Creative Music until the end of the year.

Thank you to Tom Bancroft at ABC Creative Music for providing a fun CPD session for staff on Friday 30th October 2015. Tom has also offered free workshops for pupils to help us trial the resources in class.

Magnificent Music Showcase

On Wednesday 13th May, Sciennes Parent Council arranged an opportunity to showcase the wealth of musical talents of our many music groups: School Orchestra,  School P6/7 Choir, School Violin/Viola and School Woodwind as well as After School Clubs (co-ordinated by parent members of the Parent Council Fiona Denvir and Bethan McEwan) in A Capella, Fiddle, Guitar, Spanish Guitar and Recorder. It was an extraordinary evening at Marchmont St Giles - attended by a huge turnout of families - which was a wonderful celebration for our pupils, in recognition of their accomplishments. Thank you to Mrs Samanda Campbell, Class Teacher and School Orchestra Leader for her superb organisation.

 An Evening of Music, initiated by Sciennes Parent Council and organised by Mrs Samanda Campbell.

 Beautiful clarsach playing.

 Mr Rob Ironside, James Gillespie's High School Music Teacher, tutors Woodwind at school.

 Dr Robert Fraser, James Gillespie's High School Music Teacher, tutors Violin and Viola at school.

 P6/7 Choir, led by Class Teacher Miss Kathryn Dougal.

 Mrs Samanda Campbell, Class Teacher,  capably leads the 50 strong orchestra at Sciennes.

 Mrs Ruth McVicker, Class Teacher, is our wonderful pianist.

 

 

 

 

 Pupil Support Assistant Mrs Linda Carson and parent Mrs Sarah Davis lead A Capella Kids groups, pictured with Mrs Claire Ford, Class Teacher.

 Ms Caroyn Anstruther, Depute Headteacher.

 Mrs Sarah Sheehan, Pupil Support Assistant.

 Mrs Aileen Nimmo, Convener of the Events and Fundraising Group, Sciennes Parent Council.

 

Mrs Alison Noble, Head Teacher.

 

 Mrs Samanda Campbell

 

 Ann Hughes is our After School Club Fiddle tutor.

 Miss Kathryn Dougal, Class Teacher,  leads our School P6/7 Choir.

 Karel Karaf, After School Club Spanish Guitar teacher.

 Ian Gordon leads the Guitar After School Club.

 Pupil Support Assistant Mrs Linda Carson and parent Mrs Sarah Davis lead A Capella Kids After School Club.

 

 Lisa Norman leads the After School Club Recorder group

House Captain Jessica presents Mrs Campbell with flowers.

 

 

Mrs Claire Ford and Mrs Ruth McVicker composed the Sciennes School Song "Believe*Achieve" for our 120th Anniversary, sung here by Sciennes School Choir.