Mr Keating-Roberts (Director of Music)
Whilst these times may be uncertain and restrictive, one intriguing trend we have begun to see in response to social distancing laws are the ever-inventive ways that many global communities are reaching out to each other, particularly musically.
Once the start of the lockdown began in Italy, immediately videos were shared across social media of neighbours singing with each other across streets and balconies. This trend happened across the world as people reached out to each other to find connection and continue to develop this idea with ever more creative ways to enjoy powerful shared experiences through expressive art.
The need to reach out and connect, especially through music, is something fundamental to being human. Even through the consternation of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are witness an insight into what is at the core of humanity itself.
This is evident in the physiological and psychological stress we experience when we are isolated, which increases our drive to connect with others. Simply put, the social brain needs to be fed and, if forced into isolation, will adapt to find ways to connect.
What is interesting is that simply messaging each other or making phone calls doesn’t seem to do the trick. Even face-to-face video conferencing hasn’t been enough for many. We need to connect in a way that the social brain will resonate with on an emotional level.
This is where music comes in. We are all familiar with the phrase “music is food for the soul”, but it is also true that “music is food for the brain”.
From lullabies sung from a parent to their infant, to mass jam sessions online, we can all turn to song to maintain our sanity, our hope, and our empathy toward one another. The Music Department are connecting with talented students virtually, producing uplifting performances for the BGS Community.
We have also been delighted to reconnect with past students during these turbulent times, including BGS alumna Sarah Lee (2017), who is currently studying a BSc Music at Coventry University. She has produced and released her own song on Spotify and Apple Music, called Strawberry Mojito. The song is an upbeat instrumental with no sung lyrics, yet it has voice edit, which makes it all the better to sing along too! During the Bank Holiday weekend, let your hair down, enjoy Sarah’s song and share with the #BGSCommunity. Listen on Spotify here or Apple Music here.
We are also aware that many of our students are experiencing a void by not sharing the routine of rehearsing and performing together. To that end we are pleased to share with you performances we have been working on from our BGS Senior String Quartet and Bel Canto. A difficult task to do through iPad recordings and playing or singing to a backing track to keep in time. The girls have managed this exceptionally well and we hope you are as pleased with the results as we are.
BGS String Quartet
BGS Bel Canto Stars
Meanwhile our Year 3 Junior School musicians have been busy preparing and recording tuned glass performances in support of our keyworkers and NHS. The staff of the Music Department have also contributed to this endeavour of showing support to our keyworkers and NHS, with performances of their own to lift spirits and show our appreciation. It was my turn last week and this week it is the turn of Mr Atkins (Music Teacher), please enjoy his arrangement of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Mr Atkins (Music Teacher) - Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Music can also be a powerful tool to express our emotions, no more so than our Year 7 girls that have been creating political performance poetry inspired by Shostakovich and the Stalinist regime. Encouraging them to explore and understand the feelings they face during such social restrictions.
These performances only represent a tiny snap shot of music across our community and we love for you to share any ideas or performances you have been working on, any genre or style and any standard. We want to be able to post music that represents all of our community, so share some happiness and joy with us of making music in all its forms.
We will also shortly be releasing the BGS Lip Sync Battle 2020, a music house competition for all to enjoy and have fun with, watch this space for more details!
