Games at Heart Beats

We often start our sessions with some musical games. This is a short film of a game we play - mirroring. You take turns to lead or copy. When the music stops - don't move! It's fun and relaxing - a great way to loosen up and make connections.

Deserts!

At our last session lots of people said they wanted to do 'guitars' this time.

We've been thinking hard about this one ..... because Geoff said 'African blues' too... so tonight's theme is...
DESERTS!
 First off, African desert blues (thanks for the inspiration, Tinariwen)
 Then, some low down Tex - Mex musical dualling in a dusty desert landscape.
We're just loading up with every guitar we can lay our hands on, plus a big bag of plectrums.
Get out of my way, tumbleweed. Here we come.

Heart Beats improvisation, February 2012

Alex recorded some of our session last week. You can listen to some of music by clicking on this link:

https://soundcloud.com/heart-beats-5/heart-beats-long-improvisation

Everyone is playing along on different instruments. Geoff is playing the didgeridoo - it sounds like a whale! We know Mark can make really good whale noises too, but he is playing the dun dun, the foundation drum.
The lovely sound at the start is Martyn on the 'boom tubes' - a home made instrument.
Emma is playing the steel pan which sounds really bright.
Daryl is playing chime bars.
David and Andrew are playing percussion. Daniel is on guitar.

We called this piece of music 'spring is coming'.

Heart Beats March 22nd

Loving the Heart Beats crew. Great session yesterday, highlights including an unaccompanied song from Daryl (go Daryl!), Charlie leading a piece on the new electric guitar, and some stunning instrumental skills from Iona on trumpet and Sophia on viola - beautiful.
Good to welcome James and Paul from Soundscapes too. Hope you enjoyed!
As Martyn said, 'it was fun in there.'

Another guitar

And here's the Gretsch! This one's cherry red and sparkles.
Thanks again, Ellie.

lovely new guitar

Here's Russ trying out our new DanElectro guitar - thanks to Ellie for donating this to our project.
Is it lime green? beige? lemon yellow? whatever, it's got style, and sounds good too.

I'm a Heart Beats music leader

Hi - I'm Jane and I'm a Heart Beats music leader.
I play guitar, bass, flute, and percussion. I play in two bands, lead workshops and teach guitar.
I like all sorts of music - especially music that surprises me, or makes me smile. Best of all I like playing, especially when everyone else is joining in.
Come and join us!