An Orchestral Experience

Lesson: Music

Class: Year 3 Year: 2025 - 2026

Our juniors visited the Philharmonic for the Citizens of Earth – ‘Music for What Matters’ Concert.  It was a wonderful experience! The children had an opportunity to think about the core themes presented, whilst listening to some iconic classical music and gaining an understanding of how instruments can be used to mimic nature. 

We began with references to Summer with music from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and could hear that the music referenced birdsong.  A beautiful, light piece of music which feels full of the promise of the warmer weather.

We then considered the colour blue and the oceans of the world, which cover 70% of the Earth's surface.  We listened to the Hebrides Overture by Mendelssohn thinking about the various movements of the water and the many creatures who inhabit them.

Next was The Flight of the Bumblebee, a speedy number that most definitely makes you think about the dash of the bee, from flower to flower, in the pursuit of nectar for the making of honey. 

Red deserts were next and we learned that about 20% of the Earth’s surface is desert, and surprisingly, only 20% of our deserts are covered in sand!  To feel the heat of the desert and consider the hardy insects that live there we heard Arabian Dance from The Nutcracker.

Polar ice caps, inspired by the colour white, followed along with the warning that they are melting at the rate of 9% every 10 years – a reminder to care for our planet and a reference to the essential work of sustainability.  This was a fun and memorable bit, as we all got up and did a penguin dance!  

Finally, we considered the colour green and the importance of the rainforests, which produce 20% of the world’s oxygen.  It was in this part of the concert that the children sang the song Roar, which they had learned in school.

This was a wonderful, vibrant and inspiring journey, told through music, pictures and storytelling, to remind us of the wonders of our planet and our ultimate role in keeping it safe for future generations to enjoy.