News

New British Songbook commission needs choirs of all shapes and sizes from across the UK!
Post date: Friday, 25 May 2018 - 12:41pm

Director Rebecca Hanbury and composer Alex Groves, commissioned by Sky Arts and funded by Arts Council England, are looking for choirs to co-create a British Songbook that celebrates what it means to be British through the power of song.

They are conducting a nationwide listening project to collect stories about British life in 2018 and want to hear from a huge array of people and communities to take a snapshot of different lives across the UK - exploring our commonalities and celebrating our differences.

New consultation reinforces how crucial music making is for young people
Post date: Friday, 25 May 2018 - 11:52am

Sound Connections works on behalf of children and young people to strengthen the music sector, bridge gaps in provision and deliver landmark music programmes to this age group. It has recently published the findings of a consultation with 2,200 children and young people about music and the arts.

Edinburgh Concert Band: opportunity and challenge
Post date: Thursday, 24 May 2018 - 10:14am

Judy usually plays Bb Clarinet with the Edinburgh Concert Band, but when the chance to try her hand as a percussionist arose as part of their collaboration for Adopt a Composer, she didn't know quite what she was letting herself in for.

"We need a volunteer for percussion - anyone up for stepping up for Gaynor’s ‘Step Up!'...?"

Guest blog: Creating benchmarks, not boundaries
Post date: Wednesday, 23 May 2018 - 2:58pm

At Rockschool, our ethos has always been to empower musicians and help them achieve their aims, whether they’re applying for university, passing on their expertise and advice, or simply just having some fun with the music they love.

Nothing to fear

Learning via a graded exam system is often seen as something for younger learners and may seem daunting to adult learners. However, after talking to many Rockschool teachers up and down the country, we have learned that their adult students find doing grades to be fun and fulfilling.

Bellfolk Handbell Ringers: reflections from an adopted composer
Post date: Tuesday, 22 May 2018 - 12:44pm

Peter Yarde Martin reflects on his involvement on the Adopt a Composer scheme, and looks forward to what comes next.

With the first performance of my new piece ‘Starsong and Nocturne’ on 12th May, my Adopt-a-Composer project with Bellfolk Handbell Ringers reached its culmination. It was wonderful to hear my piece take shape over the course of the collaboration, and I was thrilled with how they performed it in concert!

In beautiful setting of St. George’s Colegate, the spatial effects and ethereal harmonies were positively spine-tingling.

5,000 programme notes now available in our Music Bank!
Post date: Thursday, 17 May 2018 - 4:55pm

Many of our member groups perform concerts several times a year. Some of these groups have dedicated and enthusiastic writers who spend their time researching the music and penning interesting articles to go into a programme, to help the audience understand and appreciate the performance even more.

Guest blog: Dartington's passion for music
Post date: Thursday, 10 May 2018 - 4:22pm

http://www.dartington.org/summer-school

Welcome to our new Corporate Member Bands for Hire
Post date: Thursday, 10 May 2018 - 2:53pm

Bands For Hire is a UK based music agency with a passion for exceptional musicianship and vocal ability. Founder Adam Mezzatesta began life on the music scene as a songwriter and performer, working in a function band as a way to fund his original musical projects. In 2010 Bands For Hire was born with the ambition to bridge the gap for working musicians looking to make a living whilst also pursuing a career in the music industry. 

Bellfolk Handbell Ringers: the last rehearsal
Post date: Thursday, 3 May 2018 - 5:13pm

With only days until the first performance of ‘Starsong and Nocturne’, and the culmination of my adoption by Bellfolk Handbell Ringers, the project is reaching its final phase. This can be a strange part of the process for the composer having finished the piece nearly two months ago, while the Handbell team have been frantically rehearsing and getting to grips with what I’ve written.

Tell us your views on music education
Post date: Thursday, 3 May 2018 - 12:05pm

We know members are passionate about music education for under-18s and as life-long learners themselves are aware of the benefits of music (appreciation and participation) for everyone, at all stages of their life. 

But there are barriers to people engaging with music and we’d like to find out more about what you think those are – and what could be done to address them.

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