What is Dunedin Consort’s School Workshop Programme?
Every year we take our music outside the concert hall and into the community, offering inspiring, participatory workshops to children from deprived areas, where access to first-class music-making really does have the power to transform lives.
Since 2018 our education programme has expanded fourfold, allowing us to extend our reach around 1,500 children across Scotland. This work continues, and over a two-month period we work closely with schools, children, teachers and parents to explore the invaluable, and often intangible, ability that music has to bring people together, to ignite creative sparks and to inspire the next generation.
The workshops are based around the key pillars of foundational music making:
- Listening — to inspire and learn
- Composing — to explore creativity and discover the foundations of music
- Performing — to increase confidence and broaden social skills
At the end of the programme, participating classes perform for their peers and parents in a 30-minute interactive school concert, alongside world-class musicians from Dunedin Consort and a soprano soloist. The programme culminates in our Children’s Messiah performances in across Scotland, where participating schools come together, for free, to enjoy Handel’s Messiah in a specially-crafted performance for children.
‘I wish I had had something so inspiring during my time at primary school. It was such a fantastic experience from start to finish, the children and I are still humming the tune of their song.’
‘What an experience for our children! They became more confident in their singing and enjoyed every minute of their workshops from Dunedin Consort. Having the team perform in school for us was just incredible and inspiring, and taking our children to Handel’s Messiah was also a real highlight. We can’t wait to have you in our school again soon.’
‘It was lovely to see certain children shine and come to life through music in a way that they wouldn’t necessarily do in class. I could tell that for some of them the experience was awe-inspiring and revelatory – the power of art.’
‘I’d rate it a 10 out of ten, actually no, infinity out of 10!’
CPD
Are you a primary school teacher or music facilitator who would like to incorporate music into the classroom, or do more singing with your class – maybe even run a choir – but have little or no experience with music? Dunedin Consort is offering FREE CPD twilight sessions, all about demystify teaching music and singing!
The focus will cover some of the following topics:
– Singing for beginners
– Singing games and ideas for the classroom
– Top tips on how to teach songs to your class and leading a young choir
When and where?
EDINBURGH (Midlothian)| Tuesday 17 June 2025, 4-5.30pm – St Luke’s Primary School, Stone Avenue, Mayfield, EH22 5PB
– This session will be lead by Emily Mitchell
How do I sign up?
To sign up, please fill out our online application on the button above.
If you have any further questions, please contact learning@dunedin-consort.org.uk
Learn more
If you are interested in learning more about our education programme, please contact schools@dunedin-consort.org.uk.
This programme is generously supported by Baillie Gifford, William Syson Foundation, Rowena Goffin Trust, Walter Scott Giving Group, as well as individual donors.
