The School Music Programme & Morabe Rural Music

Morabe Music: More Music, More Life!

Email: music@morabe.org.uk

By increasing opportunities for music education in rural, state-funded primary schools we are
creating a model to inspire and empower present and future generations—strengthening the
bond between schools and their communities, embedding aspiration and achievement,
widening and deepening participation, and improving the life chances of the young and
marginalised.

Our Mission:
To enable present and future generations from every background to enrich their lives through
music, supporting communities, and raising ambition and achievement.

Our Aims:
It’s time we revalued music education.

Equality: Democratise music education in depth and quality

Community: Strengthen connections within and between communities and schools

Creativity: Increase opportunities to discover and develop creative talent, raising aspiration
and achievement

Morabe Music, was founded at Eyke Primary in 2018 and set out to address the inequalities
in music education. The foundation of the programme is music literacy skills and singing with
a string programme as its focus.

Despite the disruption of the pandemic, the programme has grown to include 100% of all
Eyke Primary school pupils receiving weekly group instrumental lessons, choir and Kodaly
based literacy classes. More than 50% of pupils are also participating in weekly individual
lessons and string ensembles.

Beyond the individual achievements of the children, the programme engages parents who sit
in on weekly lessons and are far more involved in their children’s education, supervising
weekly practice and supporting the programme at performances.

Its connection to the community has helped the programme to grow, drawing in support in
kind and pro bono work. In 2022 we received our first substantial donation to start ‘Mini
Music’ preschool programme and a community choir, both of which embed music into the
wider community. In 2023 our Headteacher, Lucie Fairweather and Founding Music Director,
Maria Dobing undertook a sponsored walk across the country which raised over £9,000
thanks to the generous support of the public and community.

As of 2023, the programme provides the following weekly sessions across the whole school:

Kodaly based music literacy classes. The ambition is that all children will be able to read and write music when they leave school.
Choir rehearsals with a vocal specialist
KS1 Violin and Cello Classes in small groups, not whole class, for a term
KS2 whole class Djembe drumming classes with djembe specialists, Wooden Roots.
Four string ensembles, which are delivered during and after school
Performance and public presentation classes for pupils preparing for exams or recitals.
In partnership with Suffolk Music Therapy, we provide a qualified Music Therapist who supports SEN pupils and pupils with additional needs.
Individual lessons in violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano or singing are given by specialist tutors.
Weekly, pre-school, Mini Music sessions given by a qualified musician and early years music specialist.
Visiting artists performing for the children in the school
Performances by the children at Allonsfield Care Home at Christmas time, at school as part of a Spring Recital and at Snape Maltings during the Summer Recital

Impact is measured by the quality of performances, growth of the programme, engagement
in outside activities such as ABRSM exams, Benedetti Foundation sessions, and Suffolk
County Council Music ensembles, and parent feedback.

Over time, we are building an excellent music programme in a rural state primary school
which we believe can become a model of best practice, demonstrating what can be
achieved, and how much richer all our children’s lives could be with quality music provision
at the heart of education.