As the summer term begins, and with most schools still closed, BBC Ten Pieces has launched a new music initiative to keep children creative during lockdown

The long-running school music programme, which introduces seven- to 14-year-olds to the world of classical music, is now offering ‘Ten Pieces at Home’, a 10-week series whereby a new online film and activity based around a work in the Ten Pieces collection is released each week.

Children can look forward singing a section of Sibelius’s Finlandia alongside the BBC Singers in an online choir, writing a poem with poet Simon Mole that’s inspired by a journey, and learning from BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra players in interactive musical activities. Most poignantly, in week three children can take inspiration from Elgar’s Enigma Variations in ‘Music Memories’, an activity presented by CBBC presenter Naomi Wilkinson and created with Music & Dementia at the BBC.

Participants will be encouraged to draw a picture of someone they love, but can’t see due to lockdown, and then come up with a piece of music that reminds them of that person. They are then encouraged to post or email their pictures and musical choices to their dedicatee, as well as upload them to the Ten Pieces website.

The activity will have particular resonance with families who have a grandparent suffering from dementia and likely to be feeling overwhelmingly isolated and anxious during these unsettling times. Said presenter Wilkinson: ‘This is such a positive and creative idea that will fill some time of your children’s day and bright up someone else’s.’

In addition to ‘Ten Pieces at Home’, another initiative, ‘Connecting the Dots’, has been launched to offer a special experience for children still attending school or similar settings. Students will be connected to local BBC musicians who will conduct online workshops, to include performances, musical activities and Q&As. ‘Music can tell the most amazing stories’, said BBC SSO Associate Artist Lucy Drever, ‘and at its heart it brings people together.’

Visit the Ten Pieces website for more information.