THE UNIVERSITY of Oxford has paired with a local primary school to help deliver music lessons to its pupils.

St Frideswide’s Primary School, on Cricket Road, in Cowley, announced the collaboration with the university’s faculty of music earlier this week.

Students from the university will provide music lessons to the primary school children.

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The music lessons will be delivered remotely to children who are learning at home or at school.

The programme involves six primary teachers from St Frideswide Primary School, working with 12 third year music students to teach children age five to eleven.

Artur, who is in year four, said he is enjoying the lessons from the university students.

He said: “We are doing some quite complicated things which I never thought we’d be able to do, but the teachers are explaining it really well and I am really enjoying it.”

The initiative with St Frideswide is part of the university’s music education programme.

This gives students the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills fundamental to the planning, provision, and evaluation of effective music learning in school.

The programme is meant to give kids and teachers ‘with little experience of music’ the chance to explore the benefits of music for themselves.

It also allows children to have a broader engagement with the school curriculum.

Joanna, who teaches at the Cowley primary school, said: “It’s great for the children to have the opportunity to work with experienced musicians who are sharing both their love of music and their skills, opening horizons and inspiring our children to want to be musicians themselves.”

St Frideswide is just one of the local schools the university provides music lessons to.

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The university students also work with professional musicians to plan and deliver educational outreach programmes further a field.

Kaitlin who teaches year two at the school said that her pupils were ‘overjoyed’ with the music lessons.

She added: “The children loved their first lesson, they joined in enthusiastically and can’t wait until their next lesson.”

The music lessons have provided entertainment for the children over the lockdown period, but have also helped with their mental health.

Isla, who is in year three, said: “I love music, it helps me feel calm and relaxed.”

Last week the school’s Pacific and Arctic classes started the music lessons with the students.

The children were taught about the importance of dynamic and tempo in music, before practicing their new skills on the drums.

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Headteacher of St Frideswide Primary School, Hannah Forder-Ball said: “This is a fantastic programme, which makes valuable links between the university and local children.

“I am so glad that we’re able to offer this music specialism provision to our children, at a time when their mental health and wellbeing is a big priority.”