Andrew Jameson working with Roydon School
Introduction and overview

The brief from the Roydon School was in three parts: 1: to use music as a creative and fun means of teaching the maths curriculum; 2: to reinforce and enhance the existing music teaching in the school; 3: to create a permanent outside sound garden for the children to explore sounds and music in their own time whilst at school.

For me this was an opportunity to explore my interest in the maths that is within music and share this with the children of Year 5 at Roydon. It was also a chance to develop and realise ideas for instrument-making using reclaimed materials. … a way of working together with the children to create an exciting outside musical learning space, which would also, I hoped, be a legacy to inspire future children at the school.

I think what we have achieved over the 11 months of working together is fantastic. I’m so proud of how well it has turned out and also how much the children have so obviously gained from it. I too have learned a great deal and also been frequently surprised …. I certainly hadn’t expected us to produce a piece of original music generated from an exercise with times-tables…. and for the children then to play this music on the instruments we have made together is a dream come true.

Ultimately what is most important is that whilst we were busy
learning/exploring maths and using it to make instruments and write
music, we were also all enjoying ourselves.

What’s also interesting is that the children’s recent maths SATs tests results show an improvement across the class of two-thirds of a grade.

I wonder if there’s any connection?

The Sound Garden

You can roam through the sound garden, play on the instruments and download lots of information and lesson ideas.

Click here to enter the Sound Garden. (opens in new window)

Artists’ project diary

To find out how Andrew and the staff and pupils of Roydon School carried out their project, read Andrew’s project diary. It shows all the sessions he undertook and what was achieved in each session.

Click here to read the Diary. (opens in new window)

Teacher’s project outlines

To read about how the teachers approached the project, and what aims they had for developing numeracy in their pupils, read Carol Slasberg’s project outlines.

Click here to read the Project Outlines. (opens in new window)