Here's something entirely new for us : AllStars music brings you ... the Listening Lounge.
Alex and Jane have been hatching plans to use their skills as music leaders, mentors, and musicians to run monthly music mentoring sessions for small, mixed ability groups.
We're interested in how Alex's skills as a music therapist can cross over with community music approaches.
Wells Cathedral school have kindly offered us the use of their music room for these sessions, under the big old beautiful beech tree.... We will meet once a month for some playing and reflection.
We want to connect with this group to play, talk and learn together.
Obviously listening will form quite a big part of it - we believe that active listening is the vital key to musicality : we're looking for a quality of attention, some proper connections.
Partly inspired by the success of the listening space that we've developed at the end of Heart Beats sessions, we will take time to discuss what music we feel inspired by, and to hear what we can all contribute to the group.
Our aim is to work towards increased understanding - developing empathy, emotional and social knowledge and intelligence.
We'll be offering Arts Award 'discover and explore' accreditation, and a chance to come out and help run outreach sessions with the AllStars team too.
We want to listen to our group, reflect on their strengths and interests, and create a safe space where communication can happen spontaneously through expressive response to others.
We want the group to grow in confidence and feel ensured that friendship can grow from music.
And ... we want to find an effective way of evidencing this, too. Watch this space!
