Welcome to the SSLP’s 2020 Summer Term collaborative experience celebrating #Beethoven250!

250 years ago, the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven was born! In 2020 the world is celebrated his extraordinary life and musical achievement. With his glorious tunes and expansive style, Beethoven transformed music and influenced so many people. These days, neither the world in general nor our music-making would be as it is today without Beethoven.

Beethoven250/4ALL was a collaborative idea which allowed us to perform Beethoven’s most famous music together. Pupils were able to choose the level of engagement to suit them, from learning to play the piece alone to a collaborative recording combining pupils from SSLP schools!

In all, 87 recordings were sent in with 57 making the most of the adapted parts and 40 playing from Beethoven’s original music – 4 flutes, 5 oboes, 11 clarinets, 3 bassoons, 3 saxophones, 2 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 xylophone, 4 pianos, 4 harps, 22 violins, 3 violas, 17 cellos and 2 double basses! The age range spanned 11 years – from aged 7 to 18.

Here is the final recording of the wonderful SSLP Virtual Orchestra…

The Process

Step 1: Listen to the final movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No.6 (The “Pastoral”). The movement has been shortened for this project.

Step 2: From the colour boxes below download and print (if you have a printer) the sheet music for your instrument and experience.

Step 3: Now try working through the levels, or simply choose the level that suits you.

Level 1: Play
Learn to play your part using the Backing Track. Pay attention to the metronome.

Level 2: Record
Use your phone or computer to record you playing with the ORCHESTRAL TRACK in the background. Enjoy listening to the result of your hard work!

Level 3: Share
Play the TRACK WITH METRONOME through headphones, listening with just one ear.
Use your phone or computer to record you playing along, you might find this easier with two devices.
When you are happy that what you played is in time with the backing track, send your recording to your music teacher.

Level 4: SSLP Collaboration!
Send your MP3 or M4a audio recording to Mr Gritton, Director of Music at JAGS, and copy in your school music teacher. It will be mixed in with many other recordings to create a huge end result!

Recordings were submitted at any time until Tuesday 30th June. The end product was uploaded to this page on Wednesday 15th July for downloading.

Downloads