A Musical Adventure at Clifton Green Holiday Club!

We had a fantastic time at our Clifton Green Primary School Holiday Club during the May Half Term, with a full day of music based around Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns.

The day began with breakfast to get everyone energised. We then headed to the magnificent York Minster, where we were treated to a special performance of Carnival of the Animals on the organ. A big thank you to the York Minster Learning Team, who guided us through each section of the piece and helped bring the music to life.

The group enjoyed lying back on bean bags, relaxing and listening to the different sections of the music. We also had the opportunity to get up close to the organ and learn more about how it works. One child commented: “I learnt that the organ makes loads of different sounds and they wear special shoes to play it!”. Before heading back to school, we explored the Quire inside the Minster and saw where the choristers usually sing.

Back at school, we had a delicious lunch of spaghetti bolognese, followed by a big game of tag in the playground!

In the afternoon, we brought Carnival of the Animals to life ourselves — starting with a fun animal-themed game, from ants to elephants! We then used bucket drums, glockenspiels, ocarinas, and boomwhackers to explore rhythms and sounds inspired by the piece.

It was a great day and all the children who attended said they’d love to come to more musical activities in the future!

We believe every child should have access to the joy and benefits of music. That’s why we continue to offer inclusive, community-based music experiences across the region during school holidays across the region.

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