Harmonia was founded in 1999 by Kirsty Body BEd, with the aim of bringing a wide variety of musical activities to people of all ages. Music Fun for Everyone!
Kirsty Body BEd.
Born into a very musical vicarage family in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Kirsty has always been a keen musician. Her first love has always been the bassoon which she started at the tender age of just 8. Her singing was a later development which she now wishes she'd discovered earlier! Kirsty trained as a teacher at Homerton College, Cambridge, where she specialised in music.
After three years as a class teacher (year 5/6), she left to pursue a career as a music specialist. It was then that Harmonia was born, with the founding of the Harmonia Youth Singers and Belleplates in 1999. She has also continued to work in primary schools as a music specialist covering whole school curriculum music, singing assemblies and wider opportunities programmes.
Curriculum Music - KS2 class music since 1996, and for the whole range of primary year groups since 1999. Kirst has devised her own units of work, assessment schemes and musical shows throughout that time. Particularly experienced with the use of ICT in classroom music (video/music projects, composition, audio book projects, and techno music).
Ocarina - mostly taught to year 2. Smartboard scheme devised and implemented. 2008 group were selected as one of ten infant groups to appear at Symphony hall, Birmingham, as finalists in the Music for Youth festival.
Tin Whistle - taught to year 4 and 6, using 2 different methods (numbered and notated). Own schemes used throughout.
Samba - all years from 3-6. Own scheme devised and implemented. Regular appearances at summer village festivals, including leading parades.
Djembe drumming - taught to all ages from year 2 up. Regular adult community drumming circle, plus workshops.
Boomwhackers - whole schools, heads conference and music service staff inset.
Poetry/music workshops - KS1 at Linton School as part of a music/literacy festival.
Class Ensemble - combining orchestral instruments with classroom percussion and singing to produce whole class performances.
INSET - experienced in supervising instrumental staff, training teachers and TAs through class and wider opps sessions, also in role as Leading Teacher (Cambridgeshire).
Sing Up - Led Spaldwick Primary School through Sing Up programme to achieve first Gold Award in the scheme, plus becoming one of the first Platinum Ambassador Schools. Part of the 3 person team to design and produce the Cambridgeshire Song Pack which was issued to all County schools.
CHOA - Kirsty is a regular workshop leader at Cambridge Holiday Orchestra Association courses where she has led Music Games, Djembe Drumming and Belleplates sessions, as well as supporting orchestral rehearsals.