YOUNG musicians at Chulmleigh Academy Trust have found a way to keep playing together in lockdown, whilst dedicating their performance to key workers and supporting a children’s charity, The Teenage Cancer Trust.

Their performance of the timeless classic “Lean On Me”, by Bill Withers, is dedicated to the NHS and key workers who have kept us all going through this difficult time, also raising funds for The Teenage Cancer Trust - a charity which is very close to the heart of everyone at Chulmleigh College.

Donations would be welcome via this link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chulmleighacademyleanonme .

Vocalists from the College’s Year 7 Choir and Chulmleigh Music Academy (CMAc), Teachers Rock® Youth Choir, and instrumentalists from the College Orchestra recorded their individual parts in isolation and submitted them for a collaborative virtual music video.

The College hopes everyone enjoys listening to the recording from more than 40 College musicians and watching the brilliant animated video from Year 8 pupil Cassie Colman Mee.

To view the video follow the link: https://youtu.be/pF5PIbivTVU .

The young musicians, from Years 5 to 11 learnt the song at home before listening to the guide track on headphones, whilst recording on a separate device.

This was quite a different experience from music at school, more akin to a recording studio, and was quite a challenge of timing and pitch.

Pupils said they found it very strange to be singing out loud entirely by themselves at home!

College Music staff joined in too, and there is even an unforgettable solo cameo role for enthusiastic Deputy Head Teacher, Mr Neil Payne.

The project was a very poignant way of bringing pupils together whilst they were at home during the pandemic.

Being socially isolated for such a long time has been very difficult for everyone, and the pupils enjoyed working together on a project again, even if has been created individually.

Head of Music, James Cookson, is delighted with the final piece.

He said: “It was a real boost listening to each track as it came in, to hear some of my pupils again, even if I haven’t been able to see them.

“We have all missed our regular rehearsals and concerts and look forward to resuming when the time is right.”

The College’s Music Department worked with Teachers Rock® founder Debbie Kent and accompanist John Bangham who prepared the bespoke arrangement and guide tracks.

The post-production process involved mixing and mastering each individual part to create a full balanced virtual ensemble, which, with each part having been recorded in isolation on different devices, was a lengthy task.

Pupil comments:

Lucy Kelly, Year 9: "When recording ‘Lean On Me’ on my trombone, it felt very different to playing together with others as I was playing on my own, in the dining room. Although it felt strange, I enjoyed doing it as it meant that a sense of normality was brought back, through playing orchestra pieces, just like we would normally do at school. I’m looking forward to hearing what the final outcome will be as I haven’t yet heard the orchestral parts and the singers together."

Abi Bushell, Year 6: “I have really missed singing as part of a choir during lockdown so it was really exciting to take part in this project. It was very strange singing with my headphones on, and without my friends beside me. It took a few attempts to master the technique of listening to the track on one device and recording it on another, but I got there in the end and I am proud of my recording. I can’t wait to hear the finished version with all our individual tracks combined.”

Oliver Evans, Year 9: “It took me a few sessions to learn the piece entirely, and to learn when to start and stop playing. Even so, it took more than a few tries to play it without any mistakes!”

Charlie Lenarduzzi, Year 10: “Recording ‘Lean on Me’ was great because it gave me the chance to perform with others whilst in lockdown.”