1. ABOUT PROM PRAISE FOR SCHOOLS
WHAT IS PROM PRAISE FOR SCHOOLS?
For 20 years, Prom Praise for Schools (PP4S) has invited schools from all over London, and beyond, to come together in this exceptional interactive, educational event.
Founded by Noël Tredinnick , conductor emeritus of the world renowned All Souls Orchestra , PP4S is a joint project between All Souls Orchestra and the London Diocesan Board for Schools.
PP4S is a Christian Arts project which culminates in an interactive live music experience at the Royal Albert Hall. Schools come together to form a massed choir of more than 2000 primary school children accompanied by the All Souls Orchestra and their dynamic conductor, Michael Andrews. The project features a bible story and music from different Christian traditions along with well-loved classical pieces. It is a child-friendly version of the annual Prom Praise event which fills the Royal Albert Hall each spring.
WHO RUNS PROM PRAISE FOR SCHOOLS?
Organised, presented and administered through All Souls Music in consultation with the London Diocesan Board for Schools.
WHAT IS THE AIM?
PP4S aims to enrich music education through:
arranging for professional musicians to lead workshops at participating schools
giving every pupil the opportunity to perform at the Royal Albert Hall including some solo opportunities
an awe-inspiring, high-quality concert which showcases a range of music
providing music in accessible formats for schools to adopt in Collective Worship for years to come
PP4S aims to enrich RE education through:
a creative multi-media re-telling of a Bible story through music, art, dance and R.E.
providing a lesson plan to enable pupils to explore the story in a cross-curricular way
providing an opportunity for pupils to respond to the story through art
Ensuring the theme of the concert fits with the LDBS RE syllabus for Upper Key Stage 2.
WHO IS THE EVENT FOR?
PP4S is an inclusive event which is suitable for pupils from Year 4 to Year 7.
HOW MANY PUPILS CAN EACH SCHOOL BRING?
PP4S runs every two years so we recommend involving two year groups in the project so that over time every pupil can participate. Many schools choose to involve Y5 and Y6 but the event is also appropriate for pupils in Y4 and Y7. There are multiple bundles available to accommodate a variety of class or choir sizes.
HOW LONG HAS PP4S BEEN RUNNING?
The project launched in 2002, and until the recent pandemic in 2020, was presented biannually. Our last concert was March, 2019 and we are delighted to be back to the RAH in 2024.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ALL SOULS MUSIC?http://www.allsoulsmusic.org/
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LDBS?
http://ldbs.co.uk/
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE?
Please feel free to contact the All Souls Music office with any questions.
Email: PP4S@allsouls.org
2. WHAT IS THE THEME OF THE NEXT PROJECT?
The title of PP4S 2024 is King David – a Hero’s Journey. Through drama and music, we will explore themes of courage, redemption, and servant-hearted leadership in an overview of David’s life. A hero’s story begins long before anyone knows their name…
WHAT IS THE CONTENT OF THE PROJECT?
PP4S is a Christian Arts project that runs through the spring term culminating with a mass event at the Royal Albert Hall.
- Participation in the PP4S interactive concert on the 12th March 2024
- A Teacher’s Resource Pack, which includes six R.E. lessons, a music lesson, songs to learn (with sheet music and videos), and an art challenge
- A two hour after school INSET session in January 2024
- A one-hour workshop in your school led by trained musicians (optional)
- A ninety-minute ‘Big Sing’ at All Souls Church, London (optional)
- Music to learn (in various accessible formats)
- An Art Challenge
- An opportunity to audition your school choir for solo performance
- A souvenir concert programme for each pupil
3. WHAT IF OUR SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE A CHOIR OR MUSIC TEACHER
MY SCHOOL DOESN’T HAVE A CHOIR, WILL THE MUSIC BE TOO CHALLENGING?
The music has been carefully selected and arranged to be suitable for all pupils at KS2. We ask each school to learn 6 songs. Each song is collective worship friendly and we hope it will benefit all your pupils for many years to come.
The Big Sing scheduled for January or February 2024 is designed to support this scenario also. An opportunity for a fun outing to All Souls Church to join with a few other schools in learning the songs, interacting with the story and building the confidence within you and your students to be ready for 12 March 2024 at the Royal Albert Hall!
WHERE WILL BE MY SCHOOL BE SEATED IN THE HALL?
The schools will fill the traditional choir loft, seating on stage, in the STALLS area of the audience and into the LOGGIA boxes particularly reserved for children with special needs. The orchestra will be in the Arena.
WE HEARD YOU!
We always appreciate feedback and the changes we are making to our format have been made in response to the helpful comments we received after the last event from schools who attended in 2019. The aim of PP4S has always been to provide a fantastic music and RE experience for pupils and this new approach gives many more pupils the opportunity to perform at the Royal Albert Hall.
4. ABOUT AUDITIONING
DO WE NEED TO AUDITION TO BE PART OF THE MASSED CHOIR?
No, all participating schools and pupils are automatically included in the massed choir and have the opportunity to perform in the Royal Albert Hall.
WHAT SOLO AND FEATURED CHOIR OPPORTUNITIES WILL THERE BE?
Opportunities for solos or featured choirs will be updated in the summer of 2023.
HOW WOULD THE SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPANTS BE CHOSEN?
We will ask schools to audition for a featured solo by sending a video recording of the current 2023/2024 choir singing a piece. We expect it to be in a 2 part harmony.
Selection is based on the following criteria:
- Quality and pitch
- Stage presence
- Balance
Shortlisted choirs will be judged by our Artist Director who will make the final decision. (Based on the track you submitted).
Please note : we realise that not all schools have access to high quality recording facilities so the quality of your submitted recording will not affect the selection process.
WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT IF MY CHOIR IS SELECTED TO PERFORM A SOLO?
The expectation is that the choir will rehearse the piece independently. Additional support from the All Souls Music team will be available depending on need and we will work closely with you in the run up to the concert.
5. ABOUT MUSICIAN WORKSHOP
The workshops are led by our professional musician team. It is an excellent way to connect cross-curricular subjects and will help prepare your pupils for the concert. When the Orchestra plays it helps them to connect back to the workshop they had (as well as spotting the orchestra members playing who might have taken their workshop!)
Success criteria
- I can recall sounds in term of rhythm and pitch.
- I can listen to music and identify high and low pitch, loud and soft (ff and p) dynamic and texture (ostinato rhythm)
- I can work with others
- I can work together to create and perform a short piece of music that uses pitch, rhythm and ostinato that describes the Israelites in slavery
Links to curricular aims
- ‘perform, listen to, review and evaluate music… including the works of the great
composers and musicians’ - ‘to create and compose music on their own and with others’
- ‘understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch..dynamics..texture…’
Links to attainment targets (KS2)
- ‘play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts’
- ‘Improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the inter-related dimensions of music’
- ‘Listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory’
- ‘Appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians’
*Please note that we are only able to offer visits based on their location within M25 area and may not be able to serve those who apply for further afield. Contact the office if you have any questions relating to this but all Schools that have registered their interest will be contacted by Anna shortly.*
6. ABOUT THE BIG SING
We are aware that some schools do not have the resources or support to be able to put in a lot of time teachings songs, engaging with the story and themes, or hosting a workshop in the school. So this year we are offering an extra opportunity to come together before the concert day to help you with these things.
The aim of the Big Sing is to give schools the chance to sing together in a large space, led by our musical team helping the children to get to grips with learning the songs. We’ll also enjoy an introduction to the theme of the concert.
A fantastic outing for children, this event will be particularly beneficial to schools who have limited time to engage with the materials in the Teachers’ Resource Pack. .
The Big Sing events will be scheduled in January or February 2024. An opportunity which we hope will build the confidence within you and your students to be ready for 12 March 2024 at the Royal Albert Hall!
7. ABOUT THE ART CHALLENGE
Throughout history, many artists have been inspired by the events that are recorded in the Bible.
The Art Challenge is an opportunity for pupils to respond to the story and the music by producing their own artwork. They should focus on one part of the story and use any medium or materials that are available.
During the concert at the Royal Albert Hall we project pupils’ work onto the screens to help us to tell the story. At the last event we found that pupils loved seeing their work exhibited in this way!
More details to follow.
Note to Teachers:
In order to be considered for the inclusion at the Royal Albert Hall, your entries must be delivered to us by taking a high- quality photograph of the piece of artwork and send it via email to pp4s@allsouls.org or sent via Dropbox or WeTransfer. Make sure that each child’s name, school and year group are written clearly somewhere on the artwork or email.
Please do not send in any physical artwork. Digital images only.
8. CHALLENGES WITH REGISTRATION
I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE REGISTRATION FORM
If you are having trouble filling out the google form, you may need to open it in another web browser.
If you are really struggling, please feel free to email us or simply print the form off and return it via post to our contact address:
PP4S, St Paul’s Church, Robert Adam Street, London, W1U 3HW
IF I WANT TO AUDITION MY CHOIR FOR A SOLO PART, DO I STILL NEED TO PAY FOR THE REGISTRATION BUNDLE?
Yes, every school is required to pay the registration bundle, because once the piece is sung, you will still require seats! (and the fee also contributes to other elements too).
I REGISTERED MY SCHOOL, BUT WE NOW CAN’T COME, CAN WE HAVE A REFUND?The registration bundle is non- refundable.
9. ON THE DAY ARRANGEMENTS
A full timetable of the day will arrive in January 2024.
In the meantime, here are a few pointers:
MID/LATE-AFTERNOON (Time TBD) – SCHOOLS ARRIVE AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL
SCHOOLS SEATED IN THEIR PERFORMING AREAS FOR A REHEARSAL WITH THE ORCHESTRA (keeping belongs with them)
At the end of the rehearsal, schools will remain in their seats. Please bring a packed cold sandwich dinner they can eat and dispose of afterwards (i.e. bring in a bag that can be put in the rubbish). There is limited room in the seating areas so we will not allow pupils to bring full backpacks and lunchboxes with them. There will be an opportunity for children to visit the toilet facilities.
17:15 – FRONT OF HOUSE DOORS OPEN – all schools to start making their way to their seats if gone for a toilet break. Be aware there will be a lot of people moving around at this point and this is an important time to be aware of safeguarding challenges with audience and children mixing in the hallways. This is a historic building, and not yet able to manage separate toilets for children from audience.
17:30 – ALL SCHOOLS TO BE BACK IN THEIR SEATS
The concert running time will be 18:00 – 20:00. (with a 25 minute Interval)
Please advise parents not to try and visit their children during the interval as it causes overcrowding in the seating areas. Once the concert has finished, do allow up to 30 mins to exit the building due to the heavy traffic of people. You will be sent information on the evacuation process with the final information in January 2024.
9. TEACHERS INSET
Prom Praise for Schools like to invite teachers to an INSET to present the project and answer questions about the theme and processes for that year in question. It will also be an opportunity for our team to explain the music content so that the school can be well rehearsed ready for the concert.
The INSET will cover:
– Introduction to All Souls Orchestra & PP4S
– The Programme outline
– The songs & resources- to give you a taste of them
– Logistics – giving you some idea of what happens in the lead up and on the day
– Any other questions you have
VENUE:
St Paul’s Church, Robert Adam Street, W1U 3HW
(By the way, it doesn’t look like a church!)
Congestion charge applies up to 6.00pm. Parking meters apply until 6.30pm.
Nearest tube stations are Bond Street or Baker Street
Date: Tuesday, 16 January 2023
Time: Start at 4.30pm and end approx 6.00pm (light refreshments provided)
We do ask that you make this a priority to attend.
About Us
For more than 20 years, the PP4S programme, presented by the All Souls Orchestra has been committed to spreading hope and unity through music – empowering educators in cultivating emotional and spiritual intelligence through the use of faith-based story-telling and exuberant, quality current and classical music.
News
Contact
pp4s@allsouls.org
St Paul’s Church
Robert Adam St
London
W1U 3HW
United Kingdom
Prom Praise for Schools 