During the week before half term, children from Year 4 to Year 7 enjoyed a week of workshops, learning about the 3 manual, Henry Willis built organ that belongs to King Edward’s Witley. The children are currently exploring instruments of the orchestra and choral music in academic lessons, and the opportunity to see and explore a real pipe organ was extremely exciting. They were allowed to see inside and even play the instrument.
Children were shown demonstrations and the functions of the instrument by the Assistant Director of Music Mr Frazer and the Graduate Organist Mr Hawkes, both of whom play regularly for both King Edward’s and Barrow Hills. Mr Hawkes gave detailed tours inside the organ and showed the children all the different styles of pipes and sounds that it offers.
They then had the chance to play the instrument and understand how someone could move onto this instrument from learning how to play the piano. Pianists in the group saw this as an exciting new possibilty.
Following over six hours of workshops, one including a special visit from Mr Oldroyd, Mr Frazer commented, “We wanted to give children at Barrow Hills the chance to play such a unique instrument and show them that learning to play the organ really is a possibility. To see young minds excited and open to the opportunity is so positive and I hope that they consider learning this in time. They could become the organists of the future.”
