Thursday 14 March saw a magical recital of music and poetry delivered by children from Corpus Christi Primary School, Moyross, performing alongside primary teaching students at Mary Immaculate College, as part of an innovative exchange programme.
Cas Amhrán le Chéile (CALC), now in its eighth year, is a four-week programme whereby in the first week MIC B Ed students who have chosen the module Ritual and Liturgy in Education conduct interactive singing workshops with the primary pupils in their school, with each B Ed student undertaking one-to-one work with a primary pupil.
In week two, the primary pupils visit MIC for a further workshop and build upon their ensemble repertoire. This is followed by a public performance in week three, held in Corpus Christi Primary School before parents and teachers. Week four sees the culmination of the project with a public performance before staff and students in Mary Immaculate College.
According to Noirin Ni Riain, CALC Director, the programme is all about bridging barriers and connecting bridges between ages and genders. The benefits of the programme are numerous in that it provides the B Ed students a real and vibrant experience of teaching; their social skills are heightened through the interaction with primary pupils, their self-esteem and confidence is boosted and it provides a crucial outlet to the performative aspect of their primary education degree.
Similarly the benefits for the participating primary pupils are equally as impressive. According to Dr Ni Riain: “The effects of the interaction are enormous ranging from greatly promoting a sense of poise, self-belief and self-reliance on their own innate talents. It offers a wonderful, secure and protected audience experience at this young age.
Probably the greatest transformation that we have observed over the years in these young students has been the realisation that the opportunity to develop their music and voice will also be open to them and this can become a goal to aim for through the next stage of second-level education. This will be a highlight of their primary education.”
CALC 2019 included a mix of song, rap and poetry in numerous genres with songs including the Oscar winning Shallow. Musician and rapper Moley Ó Súilleabháin also performed on the day.
According to Dr Maurice Harmon, Head of Department of Learning, Society and Religious Education (Acting) at Mary Immaculate College: “Today’s performance was the culmination of a very worthwhile project that has allowed the children from Corpus Christi Primary School, Moyross and B Ed students undertaking our Liturgy and Ritual module here at MIC, to engage on a spiritual journey together based on a musical partnership. It has been a privilege for all involved to see the project flourish over the last few months”.
