It comes as no surprise to the Make Music Day team that Ickburgh School in Hackney was one of the first to sign up to the event for 2023. They have taken part in Make Music Day for the last 5 years, and now consider the day to be an embedded part of their school curriculum.

Ickburgh proudly serves young people aged from 3 to 19, with severe learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and autism, and profound and multiple learning difficulties. For their children and young people, music enriches their lives and provides vital opportunities for expression and communication, and on Make Music Day, they celebrate in style!

Music and Performing Arts Co-Ordinator Chris Mackin explains: “We have 20 classes in school – that’s 130 pupils and 160 staff – and Make Music Day is the one day where literally everyone gets involved. Senior Leadership, Kitchen staff, all our teachers and, of course, all our pupils take part.”

Based in one of the more deprived wards in Hackney, London, Chris and his colleagues understand how important music is in the life of their school, and Make Music Day is something they all look forward to each year. “For us,” says Chris, “where words fail, music speaks. On Make Music Day, every single one of our 20 classes perform a song, the Senior Leadership Team get dressed up and perform, and then we all come together to perform the Make Music Day Anthem.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve had to contend with the impact of COVID, which has made putting the day together more challenging. This year, we hope to be able to invite parents and carers to come along too, so expect to have more than 300 people involved. Make Music Day is special to us because our pupils get to experience live music. We’re very excited to be involved again, and fully expect Make Music Day 2023 to be our biggest and best ever!”

Make Music Day Co-Director Rob Guest says, “Speaking to Chris about Ickburgh’s plans for 2023 was inspiring. We’re delighted that Make Music Day has become such an integral part of their calendar, and can’t wait to see what they do this year. Bringing the whole school together like this is just amazing, and demonstrates what a fantastic opportunity Make Music Day is. We hope that other schools are as inspired by Ickburgh’s approach as we are, and use the event to bring their children and wider community together through music.”

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For ideas and inspiration about how your school might take part, visit our Schools page.