World of Strings - performances and workshops
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Nick Penny . . .

World of Strings and Junk Instrument Making workshops

Suitable for Foundation, KS1, KS2 and Special schools 

Over 2000 primary schools visited since 1986

Based nr Peterborough, works mainly in Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire

Fully insured and CRB checked

RIng 01832 2727283 or email for more information,                                                                    

World of Strings performances: Nick demonstrates unusual instruments like the Paraguayan harp, lute, berimbau, ukulele and balalaika, and also unique instruments he designed and made himself from scrap materials. Children help by asking and answering questions, and some get to play in a unique one-stringed harp orchestra. To maintain good eye-contact the maximum recommended audience is usually 150. Foundation and KS 1 shows last 35 minutes, KS2 around 50 minutes.

Junk Instrument Making workshops: Nick has developed a range of instruments which can be easily made from junk materials by different age groups. They introduce fresh and original ideas that are guaranteed to sound good, as well as teaching children about vibrations and sound boxes

Year 5... Half day or whole day sessions with Year 5 are becoming an annual event at many schools as a successful and enjoyable part of their design and science topics. The children all make an instrument and are given many ideas for inventing their own designs as a later part of the project. Nick has written a book of the designs  developed in these workshops. Making Musical Instruments From Junk is published by A&C Black.

Foundation and KS1... Nick often works with Foundation and KS1 children. The different instruments made are entirely suited to each age group. He normally works with one class at a time for about 45 minutes, (sometimes shorter with younger children, longer with older).

Special schools...  performances and workshops are adapted for special schools, and Nick generally works with smaller groups. When the booking is first made Nick will spend time and care discussing the programme and pupil numbers with the coordinating teacher.

Half day sessions... In a half day visit Nick could do two performances, a performance and a workshop, or two workshops.

Whole day sessions... and longer residencies have also been a great success. They offer a mixed programme of shows and practical workshops, and classes are welcome to use the instruments as a resource for drawing from life. If there are 2 or 3 classes in the same year there might be a performance followed by workshops for each class. Or workshops can involve the whole of a smaller school....

                       

             

 

 

Nick takes bookings within about 90 minutes drive of his home near Peterborough. Ring 01832 272783 if you need more information, or email.


Some comments from letters of thanks:"

"We all thoroughly enjoyed your music, your expertise and your inventiveness. The wacky instruments were brilliant and the sound of the harp was beautiful.”  

"The children are going to use the musical instruments they made in the end of term concert…"

"It was a pleasure to have someone who was obviously at ease with the children and knew how to get the best out of them…"

"You communicate with each group so effectively and really hold their attention and interest…"

Some schools visited over the last couple of years

 

Northamptonshire

Abington Vale
Ashton
Billing Brook
Briar Hill
Brigstock
Earl's Barton Junior
Ecton Brook
Fairfields
Green Oaks
Harlestone
Headlands
Higham Ferrers Junior
Highfields
Irthlingborough Infant
Isham
Kingsley
Lings
Millway
Oakway Infant
Oundle Primary
Our Lady's Corby
Park Infant
Park Infants Raunds
Redwell Junior
Rowlett
St John Baptist
St Luke's Lower
St Mary's Middle
 

Northamptonshire cont.

St Patrick's
Sywell
Wayneflete Infant
Whitefriars Infant
Wilby
Wollaston

 



Leicestershire

Birchwood
East Goscote
Imperial Avenue Infant
Long Clawson
Mayflower
Nether Hall
Piper Way
St Mary's fields
Thistly Meadow
Uppingfield
Woodstock

            

 

Cambridgeshire/Peterborough

Acremont
Clayton
Coton
Dogsthorpe Infant
Ely, St Mary's
Fulbridge Infant
Great Paxton
Haslingfield
Heritage Park
Highlees
Honeyhill
Huntingdon Infant
King Edward Junior




 

Lantern
Leighton
Little Paxton (3-day residency)
Longthorpe
Madingley
Milton Infant
Morley Memorial
Priory Infant
Sacred Heart
St Collettes
St John's College (2-day residency)
Thorndown Infant
William Westley
Windmill


 

Nick takes bookings within about 90 minutes drive of his home near Peterborough. Ring 01832 272783 if you need more information, or email.