Since March 2021, 73 students from Music Education Islington music centres have been writing, performing and creating their own song, in response to Sir David Attenborough's New Year's message on climate change and their determination to help save the planet.

The song, called Seasons Change, will be available to watch here from Wednesday 7 July at 6.15pm.

The students, with the help of their teacher Fliss Gorst, have written lyrics inspired by Attenborough’s speech, as well as their own orchestral and choral compositions and rapping and singing, which can be heard on the track. All recordings were made by the children from home, using a series of audio cues, and they also sent in artwork inspired by their feelings around climate change, used to form the music video.

With thanks to Fliss Gorst (Seasons Change Project Lead) and Spencer Down (MEI Creative Director) for making this happen and to Sir David Attenborough, for taking the time to reply to two of the students letters.

Hear from the students: 

Khadijah, Age 12 says: "Seasons Change is about climate change and the speech that Sir David Attenborough made at the New Year fireworks about our impending doom and saving the planet before it is too late. When I got a letter from Sir David Attenborough, it meant a lot to me because he is an important person and has a lot of things to do with planet earth. For him to find time out of his day and reply to my letter meant a lot and I will cherish his reply for many years to come."

Sophia, Age 11 says: “I felt overjoyed and excited to receive something from such a hero. Sir David Attenborough is amazing and for him to take his time to write to me made me feel extremely special and pleased. Coming to the music centre throughout lockdown, as well as before and after, gives me something to look forward to every week – it is an enjoyable place to come and creatively explore music. The staff are very supportive and motivating.”

Louise, age 11 says: “Climate change is important to me because it’s affecting our planet. If we don’t take action and take care of it, it will get so bad that we won’t be able to do anything and the planet will become extremely polluted and not a nice place to live.”

Peter, age 11 says: “Climate change is important because if it continues the earth could go into a bad state and it will be ruined, and we will be next on the earth and if it is ruined, we won’t have anything to live on.”

Esther, age 10 says: “The world is getting warmer and the ice is melting. As well as that, the pollution worries me for my future.”

Zimon, age 11 says: “Climate change is important because all the animals are dying because of us and we should protect all animals. We should protect sea animals from plastic pollution, polar bears from the melting ice caps, cutting the rainforests and taking away pandas homes. Poaching alone is meaning that rhinos are becoming even more endangered and it’s clear across the globe that global warm is having a negative effect. We have to act now, pollution doesn’t just effect animals, it also effect’s us and our future."

About Music Education Islington
Music Education Islington is a partnership of the leading providers of music education in the borough, led by Islington Council with Guildhall School of Music & Drama as the lead delivery partner. It enables the borough’s schools and pupils to make the most of world-class music education, resources and experiences through Guildhall School, and be enriched by its creative alliance with the Barbican. MEI seeks to ensure all children develop their music skills regardless of their background or attainment and is part of Islington Council’s commitment to a fairer Islington where young people learn and thrive. For more information about Music Education Islington Music Centres visit the webpage. 

Information from World Land Trust 

By donating to World Land Trust’s Action Fund, we are able to act quickly, whenever and wherever urgent conservation action is needed. From unexpected urgency for land purchase to extend and safeguard existing reserves, fighting forest fires or ensuring that reserves are well protected by experienced rangers, we can turnaround the fate of these at risk environments, ensuring their security and wellbeing for the future.

There is no doubt that the natural world is changing. Every day, rising human demands continue to cause climate changes, habitat degradation and force an increasing number of species towards extinction. Fortunately, more and more of us are recognizing that the destruction of habitats and species is untenable. When we lose any part of the natural world, we disrupt not only the forests and species that dwell within them, but the communities that live within and depend upon them too.

The Action Fund demonstrates the possibility and positivity of taking pre-emptive steps to protect these precious wildernesses, for nature, for us and for the future.

For information about World Land Trust Action Fund please go to 
www.worldlandtrust.org/appeals/action-fund and share using #NotTooLate on social media.