P7/S1 Christmas Concert Information

Tickets are now on sale, available directly from the Usher Hall box office or website.

These are priced from £6 - £10.

 Pupils who are performing do not need to pay for their tickets.

The concert will start at 7.00pm, and finish by 9.30pm.

P7/S1 choir will perform in the second half of the concert, and will be seated throughout the first half in the upper circle. We therefore do not expect any pupils to be picked up at interval!

Pupils must arrive at 6.30pm on the evening of the concert at the backstage doors. (They will know where this is from the rehearsals that day).

A member of JGHS staff will be allocated to each primary, and will take them to the upper circle where they will be seated throughout the first half. They will not be allocated a dressing room, and therefore can leave coats etc in the upper circle when they come down during interval to be seated. Pupils should not to bring any valuables. Although staff will be seated with the choir during the first half, coats may be unattended during the second half.

Pupils can be picked up at the backstage doors after the concert – JGHS staff will supervise the exit of all performers and ensure that all children are safely picked up.

Deirdre O'Brien, Performing Arts Faculty Leader, James Gillespie's High School

JGHS Christmas Concert P7 Choir

Christmas Concert        Thursday 18^th December 2014   7.00 – 9.30pm                

Usher Hall                                         Tickets on sale from Monday 20^th October 2014

On Wednesday 8th October we were grateful to Miss Rachel Millar and Mr Richard Dearsley from James Gillespie's High School who came to Sciennes to rehearse Primary Seven pupils from Sciennes, Preston Street and Royal Mile for the annual JGHS Christmas Concert. Tickets have now gone on sale priced £6, £8 and £10 and it is always a particular highlight in the festive calendar.

 

Music Opportunities at James Gillespie's High School

Today Miss Millar, a music teacher from James Gillespies High School, came to our P4-7 Assembly to tell us about all the exciting musical opportunities that are offered at the High School.  Cameron, an S3 pupil who is a member of the pipe band, told us all about what is involved in playing with the band.  The pipe band won fourth place in a competition last year and have played at lots of venues and events including at Murrayfield. Cameron piped everyone into the Hall and played us a tune.

Miss Millar was impressed by the number of Sciennes pupils who already play an instrument and she explained how children who play instruments in our school will be able to join bands at Gillespie's in the future.  She told us that if you don't yet play an instrument in S1, you can audition for a range of instruments.  She shared exciting news that Sciennes children can go to a free lesson with the pipe band at 3.45pm on Thursday 30th October at the High School (details will be emailed next week) to find out if they might like to take up a block of lessons.

 

Everyone was very impressed by the huge range of music opportunities available at James Gillespie's.

P7/S1 and S2/S3 Choirs

Miss Millar's enthusiasm was infectious and lots of pupils showed interest in the free taster chanter, pipes and drumming workshops on offer next week for P5-7 pupils. Those pupils who take up the taster session will be able to continue taking lessons for £10 for four weeks. Information to follow.

Here is a clip of Harry Potter Marimba percussion Miss Millar wants to share:

BBC Ten Pieces at the Filmhouse

P6 and P7 pupils at Sciennes have been given an exciting opportunity to attend a free screening of BBC's "Ten Pieces"on Tuesday 7th October at the Filmhouse. The film is designed to engage primary pupils with classical music and creativity through story telling which features high quality musical performance and visuals. Details available soon on WisePay.

Grateful thanks to Lucy Vaughan, Principal Officer Creative Learning (Performing Arts), and Frances Baker, Drama Development Officer, from City of Edinburgh's Arts and Creative Learning Team, for providing this opportunity for our pupils.

Sounds Like Friday, Sounds Like Saturday 2014-2015

Sounds Like Friday and Sounds Like Saturday are the Arts and Creative Learning key Youth Music Initiative projects.  The funding is provided on an annual basis from Creative Scotland. These projects offer free music tuition and resources to all P5, P6 and P7 classes in Edinburgh Primary Schools.  Last year the projects were offered in 11 centres across the city. On Friday afternoons, tuition is offered in singing, guitar, pipes and drums. The Saturday centre at Broughton High School offers brass, woodwind, percussion and strings as well.

Application forms will shortly be arriving at school to be distributed to all P5 – P7 pupils to take home to parents/carers. Please look out for these if you are interested in applying for these fantastic opportunities

Further information about the project including term dates is available at http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/soundslike.

Sciennes Believe•Achieve Song

In the year of 1892

Our school first opened its doors

And the girls and boys from all around

They arrived in hordes and hordes

CHORUS

Aim high – let your ambitions fly

Always be the best you can be

Believe. Achieve in all you do

And happy you will be

From slates and chalks and inks and nibs

To whiteboards, computers and pens.

You never know what your future will bring

But friends will still be friends.

CHORUS

Our school it is a happy one

For kids and adults too

And so it will continue

As each person begins anew

Words by Mrs Ford

Music by Mrs McVicker