News

Post date: Thursday, 10 June 2021 - 4:30pm

Foss Foster of Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra shares her group's delight on returning to in-person activity for Adopt a Music Creator 2020/21 – a special rehearsal which a spot of chilly weather couldn't prevent.

I'm writing this on 23 May and we’ve been in Scottish Level 2 restrictions since 17 May. This meant that we could meet outside and play in socially-distanced groups.

Post date: Thursday, 10 June 2021 - 12:45pm

Penny Hamilton of North Kingston Choir reflects on a successful return to in-person singing and looks ahead to a sunny (fingers crossed) outdoor rehearsal programme over the coming months.

In early June, we held our first in-person choir rehearsal, more than a year since our last rehearsal was cancelled back in March 2020. Suddenly seeing everyone in real life was exhilarating and comforting in its familiarity. 

Post date: Wednesday, 9 June 2021 - 6:11pm

Mark Foster of the Child Protection Company highlights how safeguarding responsibilities have shifted during the pandemic, and the importance of creating a safe environment for all your music makers.

Post date: Wednesday, 9 June 2021 - 9:23am

Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra's Foss Foster ponders the pros and cons of life on Zoom, and how the platform has framed her group's Adopt a Music Creator project - leading to further collaborations alongside their work with Ugie Voices and Ben Lunn.

Post date: Wednesday, 2 June 2021 - 3:40pm

Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, Founder and Artistic & Executive Director of the Chineke! Foundation and joint winner of the 2020 Sir Charles Groves Prize, has been presented with her award by Making Music Chief Executive Barbara Eifler.

The presentation look place during the Chineke! Orchestra concert on Friday 28 May at London Royal Festival Hall – the first live-audience concert of Southbank Centre’s ‘Summer Reunion’ season. 

Post date: Thursday, 27 May 2021 - 11:28am

After three years of campaigning from the music community, including Making Music, the future is looking bright for children learning instruments in Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament election is over, new MSPs are inducted and ministers are taking up their portfolios. ‘To do’ lists, dominated by pandemic and planning for recovery, will be longer than ever this year. And how many of those confident manifesto promises will become policy in the next five years?

Post date: Tuesday, 25 May 2021 - 3:39pm

Bury St Edmunds Concert Band trombonist Gary Hawkes pens a diary entry for Adopt a Music Creator 2020/21, again pondering how Litha Efthymiou's Zoom workshops have got him to reflect on his musicianship.

So here we are, back on Zoom to go through these findings with Litha. Everyone else, with a lot more imagination than me, doing some very strange things. Litha is getting very enthusiastic with each musician, taking what they’ve come up with and trying other things out – what is going on? Admittedly, I am thinking, ‘Where is this going?’

Post date: Sunday, 23 May 2021 - 3:06pm

Bury St Edmunds Concert Band trombonist Gary Hawkes fills us in on another thought-provoking Zoom workshop with Litha Efthymiou for Adopt a Music Creator 2020/21.

We’re back on Zoom to meet up with one band representative from each section: trombone, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, percussion, euphonium, flute and tuba.

Litha told us about a little project she’d like us to complete: three tasks to research, bringing our findings to the workshop in two weeks’ time. Here are her instructions:

Post date: Monday, 17 May 2021 - 9:00am

Jenny Dalton, communications and marketing manager for Club Europe, talks us through their Covid protection framework for your next music tour.

As restrictions start to ease and the world opens up again, choirs can start dreaming about going on tour again.

To give you the reassurance you need to travel again, we at Club Europe have created our Individual Covid Promise. This is our commitment to working with all our ensembles individually for the best and safest possible tour. 

Post date: Tuesday, 11 May 2021 - 6:12pm

Bury St Edmunds Concert Band trombonist Gary Hawkes reflects on introductory sessions with Litha Efthymiou, and how she has got to know the group during their Adopt a Music Creator 2020/21 collaboration.

Litha’s first step was to send each member of the band five questions, to start understanding us after she had seen and heard the band perform. Here are the questions and my answers:

What instrument do you play?

Trombone