In partnership with Orchestras Live, BBC Concert Orchestra and James Redwood, Norfolk Music Hub are able to offer an exciting collaborative project to support composition work in secondary settings.
Building on the initial Share Sound project in 2020-21 and working alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra with their 3 year residency in Great Yarmouth, this new project will support music creativity in Norfolk schools through a series of workshops and CPD led by James Redwood, in which an inclusive ensemble formed from young musicians (Year 10), music teachers from schools, Music Service instrumental tutors and players from the BBC Concert Orchestra will compose and perform music together.
Beginning and ending with an intensive period of workshops, the project will span several months in which students, teachers and tutors will continue the composition work in their own schools, supported by periodic CPD sessions led by James.
The hybrid online / in-person project will culminate with a live performance by the entire ensemble of the new collaborative piece that has been created. A video learning resource will form part of the legacy to help support continued creative musical work in the schools. All instrumentalists studying in year 10 are welcome to take part in this project.
Intended Outcomes
- Diverse young musicians brought together to compose and perform in new ways
- Workshop leadership skills developed and shared between adults and young people
- Inclusive ensemble established as part of the Music Service ensembles offer
- Music teachers supported in their curriculum delivery of composition
- Status and visibility of music in secondary schools raised and valued, contributing to Schools Improvement Plans.
Share Sound II Performance
A special concert is taking place at The Drill House, Great Yarmouth from 7.00pm – 8.00pm on Thursday 23 March.
We do hope you will be able to join us for this celebration of live music-making by young talent from Norfolk alongside world class professionals. Please let us know if you are able to attend completing the form below to secure your tickets for the event.
Schedule
4th November 2022
- 1 x half-day online planning session with James, music teachers, instrumental tutors and managers from BBC Concert Orchestra, Norfolk Music Service and Orchestras Live to consult and plan the detail of the project, including practicalities and artistic ambitions. Time: 1pm-4pm.
22nd and 23rd November
- 3 x half-day in-person workshops with school groups and teachers in three separate areas: King’s Lynn, Norwich and Great Yarmouth with up to 25 students at each host venue from local educational settings. All will be joined by BBC CO musicians and NMS instrumental tutors. In each session, the process will begin with group music-making including warm-up and devising exercises (which the music teachers can take back to their schools), leading on to the composition of a refrain that forms the Rondo backbone of the project.
- 2 x CPD films are made by James at this initial stage, expanding on the creative principles of this project. These video resources could be used by music staff not involved in the project as well as those taking part, with a focus on composition teaching and inclusive collaboration at Key Stage 4 and 5.
- CNS: morning of 22nd November (time TBC)
- Charter Great Yarmouth: afternoon of 22nd November (time TBC)
- Springwood Academy: morning of 23rd November (time TBC)
December 2022 – February 2023
- At each school, young musicians, their music teachers and visiting instrumental tutors compose a piece for their own school group which forms an interlude for the overall Rondo structure.
- 2 x mentoring online sessions (1 hour) for each school by James, supporting the specific artistic and learning requirements of each group.
March 2023
- 1 x mentoring online session (1 hour) for each school by James, supporting the music teachers to orchestrate their new material, incorporating the orchestral instruments into their piece through notated orchestration or other means (online).
21st and 22nd March 2023
- 3 x half-day in-person workshops (one session in each area) when the area groups hone and rehearse their interludes together with the BBC CO players and NMS tutors.
23rd March 2023 – Drill Hall Great Yarmouth
- 1 x half-day in-person session when the three area groups and the professional musicians join together to form a large inclusive ensemble, combining the different musical elements to form the entire Rondo piece. This is rehearsed in readiness for performance.
- 1 x half-day in-person final performance by the inclusive ensemble at a venue in Great Yarmouth, possibly held during a wider Norfolk Music Hub event. In addition to the premiere of the new piece, the BBC CO musicians might perform other existing repertoire during the event.
26th April 2023
- 1 x twilight online debrief session with James, music teachers, tutors and managers. Time: 2pm-4pm
About James Redwood
James Redwood is an award winning composer and music leader whose practice thrives on collaboration and partnership. He has a hugely varied career, working with orchestras, opera companies and arts organisations to create new music with and for non-professional groups. He has a special interest in writing music which incorporates material composed by participants and his flexible style always seeks out musical material which is both challenging and engaging to perform.
In 2009 he orchestrated material for Gorillaz’ Plastic Beach whose title track was nominated for a Grammy. In 2013 he won a BASCA award for Pass the Torch – An Olympic Symphony, a commission for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra which was devised and performed by 350 young instrumentalists and sung by 3500 young singers from across North London.
In addition to composition and creative music leading, James has a range of experience leading training and CPD for school teachers, Hub musicians, orchestral players and emerging music leaders. He has a long-standing relationship with Spitalfields Music, delivering training on their Skills Lab programme.
