MUSE

I'm excited to have come across the MUSE project yesterday whilst doing my 'other' job.
Here's their website
They seek to ' empower young, disabled musicians by helping them challenge any barriers to musical participation that they may experience. '
They are working across the SW region with Youth Music funding at the moment.
Really exciting stuff.

Themes

One great thing about being a music leader is that you get to work with themes. And because we're not bound to any curriculum our themes can be as diverse as we want - there's mileage to be had in all sorts of ideas -  and learning and fun too.
Themes of the week include :
journeys
colours
space jumps
spaceman dub
beginnings /endings
strange celestial roads .....

Early years music

It's great to see Frome early years music leader Willow Harwood has been awarded some funding for instruments through a Youth Music initiative.
Willow contributes her bit of wisdom to an online resource on Youth Musics' Network blog. Click here for the Youth Music resources page.
Some of the 'top tips' hold good for our work too. 
Willow says "Ensuring a mix of adult led and child initiated music making builds confidence in even the youngest of music makers."

In our project, we make music with young adults, but we value scaffolding and sound support as the foundation for confidence building too.
Heart Beats really appreciates the funding that enables us to have a good, solid team of music leaders, trainees, support worker, volunteer and musician in residence .... it's a great way to work.

chimes

Hooray, a BIG box arrived today - full of bass and alto chime bars - bliss......

some rock pics

Sharing the drum kit

Guitar section

working on the keyboard parts

Bass guitars

working together

rock'n'roll

concentrating

A good team on the electronic kit

Star trainee!

star trainee too!

James and Martyn leading

getting into the groove

vocals - the finished song

Here's some snapshots of our rock band workshop.....thanks to SRYP's Soundscapes team James and Paul....

Tonight

Tonight! - Rock Band workshop, 7 - 9, with James Brookes from SRYP.......

Alex's new drum

Here's Alex showing everyone his new Udu drum .... great sound.