BBC Ten Pieces Announced

Ten Pieces is an ambitious new initiative for primary schools, which aims to inspire a generation of children to get creative with classical music. The ten pieces will act as a gateway to children learning more about classical music and inspire them to use the music as a stimulus for their own creativity. Led by BBC Learning, the BBC Orchestras and the BBC Singers, Ten Pieces begins in October with a week of special screenings for schools in cinemas across the UK of a film introducing the ten pieces of classical music. During the autumn term, children will be asked to respond creatively to the music through their own compositions, dance, digital art or animation.

Ten Pieces aims to inspire a generation of children to get creative with classical music.

The ten pieces of classical music are:

• John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 (1st movement)
• Britten: ‘Storm’ Interlude from ‘Peter Grimes’
• Grieg: In the Hall of the Mountain King from ‘Peer Gynt’
• Handel: Zadok the Priest
• Holst: Mars from ‘The Planets’
• Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4 (3rd movement)
• Mussorgsky: A Night on the Bare Mountain
• Stravinsky: The Firebird – suite (1911) (Finale)
• Anna Meredith: Connect It

We can today reveal six extraordinary musicians who will be ambassadors of Ten Pieces helping to inspire children and the wider public with their passion for classical music; Alison Balsom, Nicola Benedetti, Catrin Finch, Julian Joseph, Cerys Matthews and Laura Mvula.

Roger Wright, Controller, BBC Radio 3 and Director, BBC Proms, says: “Ten Pieces marks the biggest commitment the BBC has ever made to music education in this country and it’s a great example of the kind of groundbreaking initiative we can achieve through harnessing the knowledge and passion of the musicians, learning teams and classical music experts across the BBC. We hope that the project will inspire a generation of children to learn more about classical music.”

Schools can sign up now to take part in the project via bbc.co.uk/tenpieces.

You can also find out which films are being screened and where here: http://www.bbctenpieces.co.uk/events

Sign up for the latest information through the Ten Pieces newsletter: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5t3vS7Bk966KKlJrGns66RP/ten-pieces-newsletter-request

Curious Minds are proud to be one of the Champions of  the BBC Ten Pieces programme. We will be working with Music Education Hubs and others across the North West to ensure children and young people and schools have access and are aware of the programme and opportunities. You can find out who else is registered as a Ten Pieces champion here: Find a Champion