At Nanyang Primary School, pupils receive bilingual music lessons from Pri 1 to Pri 6 and get to learn different styles such as samba, salsa and African rhythms. On the CCA side, there’s a wide range of musical choices, ranging from the Choir and String Ensemble, to Chinese dance and the Chinese orchestra.

At the book launch, the budding songwriters autographed copies for their friends.

”There are many opportunities for performing and listening to music in school,” notes Music teacher, Ms Mavis Tan, “but there is also a need to encourage children to create music.” She explains that composing is a task that engages higher order thinking skills. “To write a song is not a simple task. Pupils need to have both language and musical abilities. So in this process, pupils learn not to give up on challenges easily.”

Pupils from Pri 1 to Pri 5 were selected to contribute their creative energies to the book. “They were given the freedom to choose their own themes,” adds Ms Tan. Thereafter they used music notation software to help craft a suitable melody and tempo for their lyrics.

Matching themes and tunes

“My theme is about Singapore,” says Yung Cher. “I want people to know something about my country.” Writing the lyrics was easy but less so was finding the right music. “The tune was already in my head but it was very difficult to turn it into notes. Finally, after a long time, I succeeded,” he recalls. Ask him how it felt at the end of his efforts, and he breaks into a proud smile. “The joy that comes after composing the song cannot be described with words.”

The youngest composer featured in this collection is Shalynn Tsai, who was in Pri 1 last year when she wrote “The Honesty Song”. “Money” is a humorous take on values by Amanda Chew from Pri 4, while Tay Yu Hong wove an upbeat melody to describe his favourite pastime in “Cycling in the Park”.

Describing his piece, Yu Hong, now in Pri 5, says, “The song is about the joy one feels when cycling. The mood is light and joyful, and the tempo imitates the pace of cycling.” Writing music to capture a sense of motion was a challenge, but with help from friends and teachers, Yu Hong was able to convey a rolling rhythm that mimics the pedalling movements of a cyclist.

The recording team worked hard in the studio to perfect their songs.

Singing in a studio

For the budding songwriters, the next step was the experience of hearing their works performed and recorded. Six pupils took part in the sessions, which ran for three full days. “The pupils had an unforgettable experience in the studio,” recounts Ms Tan. “They became very close as they shared the experience.” Serving as the conductor, Ms Tan had to make sure that the tempo and pitch were exact for each song. “It wasn’t always easy for the pupils. They had to go through several practices and rehearsals before we got everything right,” she noted. “The determination and perseverance of these pupils is commendable.”

Listeners may not realise it, but one of the voices in the CD belongs to Roy Cozette, an Indian pupil taking Chinese as her second language, who sang on all the Chinese tracks. “My Island Home” is her favourite song. “I love it as it tells me about my homeland, how interesting it always has been, and because I sang it solo!”

The book and CD were launched at Nanyang Primary School on 24 March to an overwhelming reception. Priced at $12, the book is available at the school’s bookshop. “Many of our students asked for the autographs of our young composers,” enthuses Ms Tan. The school also carried out an online poll for the pupils to vote for their favourite song.

Working with her charges on this project has been a satisfying experience for Ms Tan. “I see that my pupils are motivated and, through their works, I get insights about their values, hobbies and daily life.” She believes the book will benefit both its creative team and future cohorts. “The book not only serves as a platform for the pupils to showcase their talents, it is also a music resource for the lower primary pupils and a legacy for young talents to be passed down through the generations.”