It's Sunday 17 July and we as a family are dashing out of the door to make the final rehearsal and concert for a project our 15-year-old daughter has been working on for many months. The heatwave is upon us and as we arrive at the church in Scunthorpe the author of the book The Boy Who Grew Dragons, Andy Shepherd, is chatting to Susan Hollingsworth, the well-known choral director and music educator. I recognise Shepherd's face from promotion material about her books and the penny drops: these songs our daughter has been rehearsing for months are based on Shepherd's famous book that sits on the shelves in the primary school I work at; it's a book adored by our pupils and studied in guided reading. As parents and grandparents are ushered to parking spaces by volunteers, all with their SCJC badges on, there's a wonderful feeling of community and goodness. The church is brimming with excitement as the sun shimmers through its windows.
As the room becomes silent, children arrive through the back door. All in their dotty waist coats, they walk immaculately into position. Some children are tiny (just three years old), yet their discipline is remarkable. As the singing begins, I am utterly mesmerised. ‘We grow dragons, dragons that flicker and frost and fill the sky with fire.’ The chorister's interpretation is quite something, led by Daniel Fields (musical director).
SCJC performing the world premiere of The Dragon Songs © COURTESY SCJC/FRIDAY AFTERNOONS
The timbre changes as they speak, then they Shh! The story of the book is brought to life in song. As the songs progress, the audience is treated to creative choreography by the choir, a parachute routine for one song and a clapping game in another. The accompanists – or should I say ‘collaborative pianists’ – James Longden, Lynn Robinson, and Caroline Clemmow create their own magic performing the demanding piano scores with beautiful phrasing and immaculate articulation. I can see tears trickling down parents faces (and yes, I confess, mine too), not only is this musically wonderful, but it is also a manifestation of the power of community in action.
The young and older work together musically and practically. There are volunteers caring for choristers, and the Friday Afternoons project run by Britten Pears Arts co-ordinates and provides this wonderful new resource for schools and choirs. Composer Joanna Lee (a young mother herself) has created a musical wonder in her score, along with artful imaginative words by Andy Shepherd. SCJC Music team spent week after week rehearsing the songs. And there you have it, music community magic – in Scunthorpe. As Hollingsworth says in her closing remarks, this is ‘levelling up’ in action.
These special musical projects happen around the UK but it's not always possible to give them the credit and promotion they deserve. This article hopefully will go some way to bringing the magic of The Dragon Songs (music by Joanna Lee and words by Andy Shepherd) to wherever you are. The Dragon Songs resources are provided free of charge by Britten Pears’ Friday Afternoons project, so your school choir and the surrounding community can also enjoy the magic. Whether a music specialist or non-specialist, there is something here for you.
The resources
There are 12 songs altogether, but if you are a non-music specialist, then the two most accessible are a beautiful round called ‘Dragon Fruit Dragon’ and the last song, ‘Magic’. Others can also be easily approached if just singing the melody line without the harmony. Many are incredibly short and digital performance tracks can be accessed by children at home.
All 12 songs are currently available from Friday Afternoons, along with full resources including music, performance MP3 tracks (featuring SCJC choir), and backing tracks of the accompaniment. Composer Emily Barden is preparing teaching resources to help in the learning and delivery. It's a challenging piano part so digital backing tracks are particularly welcome.
The 12 songs are:
- We Grow Dragons
- A Twinkle
- Dragon Fruit Dragon
- RSVP
- Soaring
- Lolli and her Dragon
- Stuck in the Mud
- Keep Your Eyes Wide Open
- We Stick Together
- Up and Down
- I Am Drago
- Magic
- The lyrics of ‘Magic’ are particularly powerful:
- The world is full of magic, Hiding out of sight.
- All it takes I wonder, To let our minds take flight.
- Let your daydreams take you, Somewhere bold and bright.
- Let the magic blossom, Like a flower in the light.
Sincerely, these songs should be enjoyed by children everywhere so the magic of music can blossom, through the inspiration of these songs.
Scunthorpe Cooperative Junior Choir
The choir is an open access choir for children aged three to 19 years and is split into three choirs: Little Choir (3–5), Middle Choir (5–8), and Main Choir (9–19). The longest continuous running youth choir in the UK, SCJC turns 100 in 2023. Surviving through World War 2 and, most recently, the pandemic, thousands of people have passed through their doors. With no audition necessary, children receive superb music educational training, from Kodály musicianship to part singing choral scores by Benjamin Britten. www.scunthorpecoopjuniorchoir.org.uk
Andy Shepherd, author
‘These songs were written and composed with a lot of love and laughter. It was so much fun writing the lyrics and pulling out themes and characters from The Boy Who Grew Dragons books, and then to hear Joanna's beautiful music was magical. It was an incredible and emotional experience to hear them sung live by this amazing choir who have all worked so hard to bring them to life.
'Joanna and I wanted to create songs to make you move, to make you smile, and to make your imagination soar. I can't thank the choir and music team enough for everything they've done. My dragons have taken me on some wonderful adventures since the books first flew out into the world – the fifth book is even called The Boy Who Sang With Dragons. Little did I know that one day they really would be singing.
'I've seen with my own children how important music is in schools; the confidence and sense of community it can give. I'm absolutely thrilled to know these songs are freely available to anyone who would like to bring some magic and music into their school.’
Daniel Fields, musical director, SCJC
‘On behalf of all of the choristers, staff, and chaperones at Scunthorpe Cooperative Junior Choir, I can honestly say the world premieres of The Dragon Songs was the most special afternoon; filled with joy at the wonder of youth music. SCJC has a long and distinguished reputation as one of the country's leading youth choirs and, as we head towards our centenary celebrations in 2023, we do so having re-affirmed why open access youth choral music is so important.
‘It has been an absolute pleasure to work with such wonderful, creative people in Joanna Lee and Andy Shepherd, and my heartfelt thanks go to our superb music team: James Longden, Lynn Robinson, Caroline Clemmow, Susan Hollingworth BEM, Kathleen Watson, Jenny Trattles and Jean Leong. Do look out for this fantastic new set of pieces on the Friday Afternoons website and try them with your young people – they will love them!’
Joanna Lee, composer
‘The concert was truly inspirational, not only because Scunthorpe Cooperative Junior Choir gave a stunning performance of my songs, but also demonstrating what musical heights children can achieve given the right access and support.
‘SCJC is achieving remarkable things – a choir that is open to all children, no matter their musical experience or social background, yet create singing, musicianship, commitment, and enjoyment that is of the highest quality. I believe every child deserves this musical access. The outcome is incredible.’
