Lorraine has 18 years experience working pt-time at junior schools in Hackney.

She took up the place at London Fields Junior school because she had the chance to start a new music department and have her own room. The Head was keen for the school to have a flourishing music culture but all they had was one dusty drum and an out of tune piano!

So Lorraine took on the role of Music Co-Ordinator and built a flourishing dept:-

Three recorder groups - all pupils learnt to read the music and by age 11 they played all notes in both registers.

Choir - the weekly choir had many singers and especially loved singing gospel and pop tunes

Class music - Lorraine developed her own programme to fit in with teachers, projects and followed the National Curriculum for Key Stage Two.

BUT THE MOST SURPRISING AND SUCCESSFUL PROJECT WAS STARTING THE SAMBA BAND

This was surprising because Lorraine is not "a percussionist" and started the Samba Band after attending adult education percussion lessons at the local College.

The Samba Band were finalists in the Music For Youth Festival organised by the Associated Board. They performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank - twice, and the BBC Proms Out and About Season 2004.

See the article below in the Times Educational Supplement about how Lorraine started the Samba Band and take a bit of her inspiration to start your own!

TES SAMBA article

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Lorraine with the Samba Band outside the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

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