The hall was alive with the sound of music when a professional musician entertained and inspired pupils at a WNAT school.

Flautist Yu-Wei Lu has performed on baroque and classical flutes throughout the UK and Europe, including at the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, and the Palace of Versailles, but this time it was the children at Gaywood Primary School who made up her audience.

The musician, who is principal flute for both the Oxford Bach Soloists and the Opera Warberg, spoke about the instrument before giving performances to Reception, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2 classes in turn during her visit, which was arranged through the charity Classical Music Rocks.

Eden Bloomfield is Music Lead at Gaywood, and helped organise the event.

“For Key Stage 1, Yu-Wei played a variety of Elizabethan and Georgian pieces, asking children to describe the story that the music portrayed,” she said.

“They thought about which animals the story might be about, and children commented that the songs sounded like they were set in the countryside and could imagine tall trees, and people dancing.”

She continued: “The children loved the performances, especially being invited to dance to the music with Yu-Wei at the end. Children in Key Stage 1 particularly commented on hearing and seeing a flute for the first time, and experiencing music that they hadn’t been exposed to before.

“Yu-Wei brought several different types of flute with her, and the children enjoyed learning about this instrument, and spotting the differences between them.”

Established in 2016, Classical Music Rocks was set up to introduce the genre to primary school pupils across Norfolk and Suffolk, and is sponsored by the Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub, the Postcode Places Trust, and the Norfolk Community Foundation. Events are free of charge, with musicians visiting over 65,000 children in 50 schools since the initiative began.

Miss Bloomfield added: “Events like this are crucial to expose children to music that they may not get the opportunity to otherwise experience. The visit allowed children of all ages, from five to 11, to hear live music, learn about a musical instrument they may never have seen or heard, and see how music can be brought to life.

“These experiences can spark curiosity and creativity, encourage children to ask questions and explore new interests, and help them develop an appreciation for music and the arts.

“Musician visits enrich children’s education, cultural experiences, and their understanding of the world around them.”