KELVINGROVE BANDSTAND AND AMPHITHEATRE Five ways to use the Bandstand and Amphitheatre as a learning resource for primary schools Introduction Contents The much loved Kelvingrove Bandstand and Amphitheatre 1. Perform! welcomed a global audience during the Commonwealth 2. Putting it together - Games in 2014 after a sensitive repair programme and construction science comprehensive upgrade of facilities. 3. The Victorians, Joseph Paxton The historic venue now programmes regular concert series. and a park full of gems It has greatly enhanced accessibility for performers and audience. It is able to host a variety of performances as well 4. Performer stories as learning visits from education groups and families keen to 5. Bandstand maths discover more about the fascinating history and heritage of the Bandstand. History and background of the Bandstand This pack is one of a number of resources to support learning and enjoyment of the historic bandstand building and Sources of further information amphitheatre. It is an extremely rare example of its type, with Pupil worksheets a fascinating history, and rich potential for meaningful and 1. Putting it together, enjoyable learning. construction science 2. Putting it together, We hope the ideas in this pack inspire you to use the construction science Bandstand and Amphitheatre as an outdoor learning resource! 3. The Victorians, Kelvingrove Bandstand, Ampitheatre and Park 4. Performer stories PAGE ONE 1. Perform! Like any theatre with a covered Consider bringing your pupils to use auditorium, Kelvingrove Bandstand has the Bandstand for: a stage, wings and modest backstage • A carol concert. facilities. It is ideal for performances by • A graduation ceremony, from nursery to schools. Benefits of using it include: primary one. • Seating for 2250, allowing a large audience • A nativity performance. for popular events such as nativity plays. • An annual prize giving, talent or progress • Pupils can learn about – and carry out - recognition event. different roles associated with performances: • stage manager • A ceremony for giving out John Muir Awards in • props and costume managers an appropriately outdoor, riverside setting. • front of house jobs such as preparing • A pantomime. posters and tickets for sale, selling tickets by • A primary 7 leavers’ assembly. staffing the box offices, and stewarding the amphitheatre. • A farewell and thanks to a staff member event. Pupils could gain understanding and • An “Our School’s Got Talent” show. experience of all aspects of staging a performance, and the purposes of all of the • Gathering the pupils after a sports day or different spaces. whole school outing to the park. • The Bandstand’s professional quality sound • An inspiring setting for a whole school systems allow even the quietest singer, or softly photograph. spoken actor, to be heard by audiences. • The Bandstand and Amphitheatre are fully accessible. Performers at the Bandstand through the ages were celebrated in 2015 through a presentation and performance by Mischief La Bas. http://www.mischieflabas.co.uk/ The scripts from the performance on 11th July 2015 are available on the resource page of the bandstand website www.kelvingrovebandstand.org.uk Why not restage the performances with your pupils? Or use the scripts to inspire them to write performances for other characters who have been part of the bandstand’s history? PAGE TWO 2. Putting it together - construction science The Bandstand was built in 1924, and re-opened in 2014. An apparently simple traditional building, in fact the Bandstand and Amphitheatre cleverly use the natural contours of the landscape, resulting in great sight lines, and a naturally successful acoustic. A visit on an open day in summer could be used to explore with second level pupils the construction materials. Pupils could first watch the You Tube film by Hopscotch, The Kelvingrove Bandstand, which documents the restoration process, as well as people’s memories. As a safe, enclosed place, pupils could have a Glass checklist to find examples of: • Windows to back stage spaces, to the ticket offices, stage lighting has glass covers. Brick and tiles • the stage base course, the roof is tiled, point out the decorative tiles on the ridges CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE Metal Learning in the sciences will enable me to: • Metal railings and gates. develop curiosity and understanding of the environment and my place in the living, material • Iron brackets support the wooden bench and physical world seats. • Iron downpipes on the Bandstand, painted EARTH’S MATERIALS green – even ticket offices roofs have tiny Having explored the substances that make up metal downpipes, also painted green. Earth’s surface, I can compare some of their characteristics and uses. CN 2-17a • Decorative iron brackets at the sides of the stage projecting roof covering. PUPIL WORKSHEET 1 PUPIL WORKSHEETS Putting it together, • New hand rails. 1 & 2 construction science Pupil’s name .......................................................................................................................................................................................... in pack Kelvingrove Bandstand, the Amphitheatre and the ticket offices are traditional buildings, and use • Iron scrolls support the cast iron Glasgow traditional materials. The materials were chosen because they had the right qualities for the job they had to do. Look hard at the buildings, the steps, seats and all of the surroundings. See how many examples you can find things made of each of these materials. Beside each material, write what you discovered, and draw it. For example, Coat of Arms on the Bandstand roof. Wood ticket office window Brick and tiles • Grey parts of the roof are mainly clad in zinc, another metal which is soft, and waterproof, PUPIL WORKSHEET 2 Putting it together, Wood so it can be bent around complicated roof Metal construction science Pupil’s name .......................................................................................................................................................................................... shapes. Can you find these items in an around the bandstand and what are they made of? • Speaker horns repurposed as lights on the Glass Now draw something else you have seen roof. today at the Bandstand that you like. • The spiky shape projecting from the domed Where is it and what is it made of? Where is it and what is it made of? Where is it and what is it made of? top of the ventilation feature is a metal finial. Wood • Bench seat slats, the doors on stage, the Where is it and what is it made of? Where is it and what is it made of? Where is it and what is it made of? boards of the stage panelling. PAGE THREE 3. The Victorians, Joseph Paxton and a park full of gems Some open questions and discussion starters for Why was there a bandstand and pupils on a visit to the park: seating in Kelvingrove Park? Parks, and in particular the Bandstand and When do you think the term Victorian amphitheatre, were somewhere for ordinary was first used? people to relax and enjoy themselves. The term “Victorian” was first used during Remember, Victorians didn’t have TV, iTunes or the Great Exhibition in London (1851), where even radio. Victorian inventions and morals were shown to the world. Did Victorians have lots of parks? Kelvingrove Park was the first public park in Has anyone heard of Crystal Palace? Scotland: evidence of another Victorian value, More than a football team, the centrepiece philanthropy, the idea of helping others. In of the 1851 exhibition was a daring, futuristic Victorian times, populations soared, and more marvel in glass and iron, the Crystal Palace, people than ever were squashed into cramped designed by Joseph Paxton. It was in Hyde Park, conditions in cities. central London. Glasgow wanted the best for its city parks, and commissioned Paxton. CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE Who do you think designed this park? Learning in the social studies will enable me to: Joseph Paxton designed Kelvingrove Park; the • develop my understanding of the history, arrangement of curving paths, avenues of heritage and culture of Scotland, and an trees, steps, terracing, flower beds, viewpoints, appreciation of my local and national curiosities and points of interest. heritage within the world, • broaden my understanding of the world Why did Paxton put a bandstand and by learning about human activities and achievements in the past and present amphitheatre here in the park? I can interpret historical evidence from a The current Bandstand replaces an earlier one range of periods to help to build a picture of on the same site, but relationship of stage to Scotland’s heritage and my sense of chronology. amphitheatre seating shows how Paxton cleverly used the natural landscape in the park, for an SOC 2-02a outdoor performance area with great sight lines, and an equally successful acoustic. The riverside HOMEWORK/ REINFORCEMENT setting is also highly picturesque. PUPIL WORKSHEET 3 PUPIL WORKSHEET 3 The Victorians, Kelvingrove Bandstand, Ampitheatre and Park Why is Paxton typical of Victorian Pupil’s name .......................................................................................................................................................................................... When was the term Victorian first used? Write a short paragraph describing something values? you saw and liked, or learned about, when visiting Kelvingrove Park, Amphitheatre and Paxton is closely associated with many