Coventry Music delivering summer music workshops with holiday and food providers across the city.

Many of the Coventry Music tutors are going to be visiting lots of different summer workshops to lead workshops in samba drumming, body percussion and rhythm games, safe singing activities and much more for children who are taking part in the holiday and food sessions.  Workshops are going to be running in all different parts of the city with our tutors who usually deliver 1:1, small group or whole class lessons in schools during term time.  It will be lovely to meet many different young people in this more relaxed, informal setting of a holiday workshop to have fun with music and discover new musical talent!

Find out more about HAF project

String Ensemble back to rehearsing face-to-face

The string ensemble has been meeting live again, after 15 months of online rehearsals. It has been great to see everyone and for us all to play together instead of taking it in turns on Microsoft Teams! We’ve put together some of the repertoire that we recorded when working online, and we’re looking forward to starting some new music too. From September, we’ll be rehearsing on Tuesdays at the refurbished Drapers’ Hall, next to the Cathedral ruins; if you play a bowed string instrument at grades 2-6 level please get in touch if you would like to join the group, we’re always looking for new members.

Coventry Moves Together by Vicky Clayton - Music Engagement Officer

On Saturday 5 June, residents of Coventry and Warwickshire were invited to join with their neighbours, tune in to various local radio stations and enjoy the world premiere of Coventry Moves Together, a brand new piece of music created by composer Dan Jones, and featuring the voices of Coventry school children. 

A different stream of music was broadcast by each radio station and when listened to simultaneously a musical tapestry unfolded and the children's words were heard across the airwaves loud and clear. 

One of the schools involved was Longford Park Primary School and, on the Wednesday after the original broadcast, the children from years 1-5 listened to the piece again in their classrooms. The children who had been involved could pick out their voices and were rightly proud of their moment in the spotlight. Their classmates were beaming as they recognised their friends' voices and conversations flowed; largely about the creative process and where the piece fits into the larger City Of Culture picture.

"I am so proud of our children who were involved in this project. What a great little piece of history." Danielle Farrelly - Deputy Head Teacher

"I heard myself, my voice sounded loud and I told everyone I wanted to be a nurse when I grow up" Prabjhot - Year 2

"I knew it was me but my voice sounded different, I think that was because of the microphone they used" Charlie - Year 2

"I was a bit shy when we did it, but I am glad I did. I can listen to it forever"  Alycia - year 4

Listen to the full recording here: https://youtu.be/vT8ExUcoYcQ 

Stringcredibles Power Up Project

Sadly, our staff string quartet’s participation in the Stringcredible’s Power-Up project has been postponed due to Covid-19 safety, but we will still be performing live at Joseph Cash and St Laurence’s primary schools at the end of term, and look forward to taking lots more live string music out to Coventry schools next year. The Power-Up project will return in the autumn, and will mean more schools performances from our staff quartet, as well as training up an ‘apprentice’ quartet, taken from the senior players of the string ensemble. Please contact Cathy Scott-Burt if you would like to book a performance for your school!

Congratulations to Moat House Primary, Eastern Green Primary and Whitmore Park Primary on gaining their Silver Artsmark this term.

It has been brilliant to see schools continuing their Artsmark journey, despite all the restrictions and we are confident there will be many more Artsmarks awarded in the city over the coming months. Please contact Cathy Scott-Burt if you would like to find out more about our next Development Day in the autumn, or if you would like to join the next cohort of schools applying for Artsmark status.

Theory Class students pass with merit

Congratulations to all our Grade 5 theory class members, who all got excellent passes with merit in recent online theory exams. Also congratulations to Drew, Felicity and Freya from the string ensemble, who all passed grade 3 exams this term with merit or distinction! We’re so proud of all the children and young people who have kept up their engagement with music and their practice and learning over the last year.

NYO’s Hope Exchange, is a summer-long celebration of hope through music, performed by hundreds of dedicated young people across the country. 

There are lots of ways for your community of young people to get involved! 

Throughout the summer, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain will be exploring the music of hope and spreading musical optimism through a nationwide series of concerts, workshops, digital events and school residencies.  

Discover NYO's Hope Exchange Playlist & Medley 

They’ll be sharing their message of hope through music on our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages. Musicians are working to put together NYO’s Hope Exchange Playlist, a collection of music bursting with optimism which we’ll be sharing on NYO’s social platforms in the coming days and weeks. 

On their Instagram page this week they’ll be kicking off NYO’s Hope Exchange Medley Performances and asking: what piece of music inspires hope in you?  

Free tickets for 19s and under 

The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain will be performing in Saffron Hall, Southbank Centre, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Leeds Town Hall and at the BBC Proms.  

Tickets are free for anyone aged 19 and under!  

There are tickets available for the following performances: 

31 July at Southbank Centre – with French horn player Annemarie Federle   6 August at Birmingham Symphony Hall – with violinist Nicola Benedetti   8 August at Leeds Town Hall – with violinist Francesca Dego 

Find out more and buy tickets 

Watch and Listen to NYO 

NYO’s Hope Exchange will go out to the nation on BBC TV and Radio 3 in August, as part of the BBC Proms. Performing in the Royal Albert Hall, NYO is joined by violinist Nicola Benedetti who will perform Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, alongside works by Laura Jurd and Jessie Montgomery.   

Spread the Word 

NYO would love to reach as many young people as possible with their messages of hope, and to hear from young people in return. Please share the details of NYO’s Hope Exchange via email or via social media and with your friends and families.

Future 100

Hosted by Jaguar, BBC Radio 1 DJ and presenter, the Future 1000 is a free programme to introduce 1000 female, trans and non-binary students into electronic music by 2022. 

This initiative is an inclusive space for students of all backgrounds, structured around modules on DJ-ing, music production, presenting and industry skills, giving students the support they need to start their journeys into music.

Find out more

Looking for some music career advice?

Check out our great video on what next in the music industry: A Future in Music video

and these great resources from Discover! creative careers: https://discovercreative.careers/#/ 

Interested in music, presenting, radio production, event production, sound recording or engineering?

Experience training sessions, hands-on experience, masterclasses and mentoring to develop your skills, your voice and your ideas with Open Music.

All whilst getting the chance to work with the BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Proms & other BBC teams in building, shaping, delivering (and possibly performing in!) a BBC Prom in 2022.

Apply for Open Music now