In a change to previous years, this year we decided to locate NKETS Music Week in the first term rather than in February. We had a great programme of events lined up for the children, aided greatly by the efforts of parents.
The tradition of parents coming into the classroom and sharing their musical talents with the children continued, and we welcomed Tim Rogers (Finnian 2nd), Eoghan Corry (Siofra 4th) and Aine O'Reilly (Caoimhe 2nd, Oisin 5th) over the course of the week. Tim played fiddle, mandolin and banjo as well as singing, Aine played the keyboard and Eoghan sang a selection of ballads.
We also have benefitted from parents arranging for friends and relations to come into the school and this year we received a visit from Siobhan Larkin, whose nephew Malachy is in 2nd class. Siobhan has studied the use of voice and movement in tribal societies and did a chanting workshop with classes from 2nd to 6th.
Ross Breen, a friend of our new Third class teacher Cathy, came into third class and entertained the children with some of his own songs. Ross has already released his first CD and the children were very excited to hear live someone whom they had previously heard on recording.
Last year we welcomed three young musicians from Comhaltas Ceoltoiri: Una and Roisin O'Flaherty and Elaine Clarke, who are all students in Maynooth University. We twisted their arms again this year and they played and sang to the whole school on Tuesday. They were a big hit in February and the children gave them a great reception again this Music Week. Thanks to Adrienne for tracking the girls down and getting them to agree to come to NKETS.
We've kept a few items from years past including the Junior and Senior Talent Shows (1st-3rd) and (4th-6th) respectively. The range of talent on show was very impressive and we had singing, dancing, a wide variety of instruments played, as well as a few poems. The audience was suitably appreciative and the children who plucked up their courage and got up to perform were extremely pleased with themselves.
Just so the little people didn't feel left out, we had our inaugural Infant disco on Thursday morning. There's nothing quite like a blast of the Macarena shortly after breakfast to set you up for a quiet day's work! Junior Infants and First class had their discos on Thursday morning and Senior Infants had theirs on Friday.
Later in the day on Thursday, we connected a computer, the data projector and the sound system to show some music DVDs to classes from First to Sixth. Clips shown included the Beatles' rooftop concert, U2 and Queen performing at Live Aid and ABBA in their heyday.
We also used the school intercom in the morning to play a selection of World Music which was prepared for us by Paula Carroll (Dylan 2nd, Jean-Louise 1st). On a few occasions during the week we used the intercom as NKETS FM and got the whole school involved in listening to the same piece of music at the same time.
That's just a flavour of what went on, supplemented by the work of the teachers in the classroom. Music Week is now established as a firm favourite in the school calendar and we look forward to many more in the years to come. And remember, if you didn't make it in this year, give it a thought for this time next year.