sw3This weekend the youngsters of Stringwise will be polishing up their pieces for a family and friends’ concert on Sunday. Hopefully these musicians will have been inspired by local teenager and former Stringwise play, Sheku Kanneh Mason, winner of this year’s BBC Young Musician of the Year. As well as being quite a week for MfE’s young string players, it’s been quite a week for Sheku. He signed a record deal with Decca on a Nottingham City Transport bus! As you do, when you’re on your way home from your local Nottingham school. Congratulations!

As though Stringwise and Sheku weren’t enough letter Ss, we came over all aliterative and added Strictly Strings. Now there might not be a glitter ball, and there definitely won’t be judges, but there will be lots of fun in making music. Nottingham Strictly Strings is a new and exciting Music for Everyone group for young string players grades 2 to 5. The plan is for this to become a group that meets regularly, just like the East Midlands Youth String Orchestra for grades 5 and above.  To get the group up and running, there are going to be some FREE Taster Sessions run by the talented and lovely Ann-Marie Shaw, MfE’s String animateur.

When? Sunday 20 November, Sunday 18 December 2.00pm-5.00pm, with a break.

Where? Bluecoat Academy, Aspley Lane.

How do I book a place? Phone the MfE office 0115 958 9312 or email admin@music-for-everyone.org

Or for more information email: annmarie@music-for-everyone.org

And if your responsible adult forgets to book, never mind, just come along on either or both dates with your violin, viola, cello or double bass. And your bow, of course. Did we need to say that? Probably not.

 

FOR CHILDREN WHO LOVE TO SING:

DSC02171 copyWould your primary aged child or children enjoy burning up some half-term energy with a fun singing day? Then the BIG FRIENDLY SING is for them. The BFS (not to be confused with the BFG!) is a new venture for Music for Everyone, and a variation on our years of running Vocals! for children from the same age group.

It’s going to be from 9.30 – 4.00 on Tuesday 25th October at John Clifford School in Beeston. (Very near to the Middle Street tram stop.) The children will be split into groups of similar ages. There will be nothing to prepare beforehand, just the singing games and songs of the BFS to enjoy on the day. The day will end with a ‘come and share’ informal concert from 3.30pm. The children will need to bring snozzcumbers food for the day, drinks will be provided. For more informtion and to book, click here.


FOR CHILDREN WHO PLAY A STRING INSTRUMENT:

STRINGWISE is for young string players, with groups from beginners to those with Grade 6. It happens over two weekends in November. No doubt you’ll know of Sheku Kanneh-Mason winning Young Musician of the Year 2016, but did you know he used to play in STRINGWISE? His mum kindly sent us some photos, and they are both happy for us to write a bit about Sheku and STRINGWISE:

Sheku6sheku17For Sheku, it all started back in 2005 when he saw his sister perform in our Stringwise concert. He became transfixed with the cello section and decided that was the instrument for him! He then switched from violin to cello and went on to take part in our Stringwise courses, impressing our conductors with his astonishing ability to play everything from memory!

Who knows what ability might be drawn out of a young player who comes to Stringwise?! Rosin that bow!

Hop over to the STRINGWISE page for more information and to book.


Last weekend Music for Everyone celebrated two wonderful musical events.

DSC02171 copyThe first was over 100 Vocals! children singing their hearts out throughout their space themed concert in Nottingham’s Albert Hall, to the delight of the audience. The second, later in the day, was Sheku Kanneh-Mason winning BBC Young Musician of the Year, 2016. Sheku, aged about 6, along with other members of his family, played his cello in Music for Everyone’s Stringwise! Many congratulations, Sheku!

Music for Everyone wishes to recruit an energetic and enthusiastic Principal Youth Music Animateur. Details here. Although part-time, there is another part-time vacancy in the city’s music scene, and the two jobs could be combined.