An extremely interesting musical morning this Sunday in Barga as a school orchestra from London were in the city playing a short concert in the S.S Annunziata in Barga Vecchia.
The orchestra from the Highbury Grove School has been making news recently as they are the physical proof of an ambitious project in a school where many of its pupils are drawn from a catchment area with pockets of social deprivation (70 per cent qualify for free school meals) has over 50 different mother tongues spoken and which has chosen to use music as a universal language for all their students.
Every student is given the opportunity to study a classical musical instrument for a minimum of 3 years as part of their compulsory curriculum.
The instrument and the tuition is at no extra cost to the students or their families. All students on the programme are expected to practice and perform in ensemble and orchestral groups on a regular basis.
According to the Music in Secondary Schools Trust, the programme transforms the lives of children and young people through musical discipline, commitment to learning and improves the skill of working in a team, increases academic attainment and therefore leads to their lives being enriched.