Staffordshire Music Teachers give a jazz concert to the lower school Very much in the spirit of Miles Davis, the County peripatetic music staff broke with the classical tradition in their bi-annual concert in school. Normally the pupils are introduced to the instruments of the orchestra and given a concert of classical music. Imagine our surprise when PA systems, amps, keyboards and guitars arrived. They were excellent! This time it was jazz and the pupils were held in awe. (We were concerned that a small hall key stage 2 play rehearsal would interfere with the concert. It was actually the other way round!!) The "gig" in progress The juniors will receive similar treatment in January and have something special to look forward to. I have a friend who used to play flute for the CBSO (the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra) and served under Simon Rattle. He is now retired (although the whole street where I live is entertained by his flute on a daily basis) but has agreed to play in a school assembly next year. I find music (be it pop or classical) the most powerful art form and think it important that we give our youngsters as much exposure to live music as we can. Although Mrs Stokes, who established the tradition of live music in school, has left our school, I think it is a tradition that should continue. Martin Tibbetts Headteacher Sunday, 15 December 2002