The BBC is running a project to encourage adults to read and write. (see www.bbc.co.uk/raw) As part of the project BBC Manchester held a day for adults and children to work together to write a children’s story.  A car and a minibus full of staff, learners and their children or grandchildren went from Working Wonders.

All the adults were divided into three groups while the children were taken to the Philharmonic Studio where they were allowed to choose their percussion instruments.

During the morning, the groups of adults started the story from the title given. Group one created the beginning of the story, group two the middle and group three the ending. The children were coached in what to do with their instrument and when and how to play it.

The afternoon saw us all together in the Orchestral Studio and we, the adults, sat in the circle of seats and the children sat on cushions on the floor.

The gentleman in charge instructed us to make rain noises with one finger tapping on the other hand. The sound effects for the party were made by everyone saying “Rhubarb.” Two people were asked to laugh and two people each struck a triangle to mimic the clink of glasses.

The man narrating the story was cued in and it was really intriguing watching all the work and broken up bits and pieces come together professionally. The rehearsal went very well and then came the run proper. The red light came on - we were on air. The real run went extremely well and the whole day was such a fantastic experience. We were all given a CD of the recording, which I shall treasure.

The recording we made was broadcast on BBC Manchester over Christmas.

More details and pictures of the day are on the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s web page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/philharmonic/learning/raw_intro.shtml

Sylvia Kenyon - Marsh Green Class