Withycombe pupils gearing up for London trip

SCORES of pupils from Withycombe Primary School are preparing themselves for a musical trip of a lifetime. Musicians, part of the Withycombe Stomp band, will visit the Royal Albert Hall in London next Tuesday, November 10, to play in the 2009 School Proms

SCORES of pupils from Withycombe Primary School are preparing themselves for a musical trip of a lifetime.

Musicians, part of the Withycombe Stomp band, will visit the Royal Albert Hall in London next Tuesday, November 10, to play in the 2009 School Proms.

Gill Chalkley, a year six teacher and music leader at the school, said 47 children would be going to the venue.

She said: "They are really looking forward to it. This is the first year we have been invited to the proms. It is a massive thing."

The stomp group was formed as a result of music lessons based around a unit exploring musical rhythm and pulse, using a number of junk items to create different sounds and patterns.

Items include broom sticks, telephones, old pickle tubs, water bottles and waste bins.

Each year's new stomp group have to try and think of a different music approach. This year they have adopted an African drumming theme

Gill said: "It will be a once in a life time experience for everyone. The children are proud to represent their school and Exmouth.

"Since stomp has been seen and heard in school, a drumming fever has struck all the children at Withycombe."

Exmouth Town Council has donated �749 to Withycombe Primary for help with transport costs to get to the Royal Albert Hall.

To mark the occasion, The Shack, in Exmouth, has printed t-shirts, sweatshirts and a number of banners for the school coach.