How to end - part two : Twelfth Night at the Globe

Throughout the AllStars project, Alex and Jane have been running the Listening Lounge - monthly music mentoring sessions with a mixed group of SEN/D musicians and music students / Graduate Music Assistants.

This safe, small and exploratory group have been integral to the delivery of the project. Ideas for workshops have been investigated and developed. We've chatted, played together, and used all sorts of approaches to interactive improvisation.

We've invented games, written songs, experimented with graphic scores, art and sound, iPads apps, voices, and lots of surprising ideas.

This summer Alex has been in London a lot, as the drummer in the band for Emma Rice's production of Twelfth Night at the Globe Theatre.... ' the Summer of Love' season. We'd spent our session last month exploring drama and music, learning about the play, and impersonating the characters. Josh identified with 'Count Cappuccino' and Hannah, Sir Toby Belch. Lots of laughs, and some serious playing.

The Globe Theatre

The stage

It seemed obvious that our last Listening Lounge session should be a visit to the Globe Theatre.

a warm day...

So - off we went on the hottest day of the year!  It was an adventure, and a long day, but with Russ at the wheel it was a smooth journey.

a full house

Celebrity!

Our seats were in the upper gallery. We had a good view of the play and the musician's gallery and managed a couple of celebrity waves at the drummer.

The play, the music and the atmosphere were completely unforgettable. Lots of humour, with top class musicianship and singing from the cast.

As we drove back west we were treated to a spectacular sunset over Stonehenge and Salisbury plain.

A colourful end to a special day, and a vibrant end to a special piece of work.

Wiltshire Music Connect are running a SEND music day

If you are free on July 16th , in Wiltshire, and want some inspiration, then this is the place to be :  Alex is speaking, and you can watch the SW Open Youth Orchestra perform.

Reflecting, understanding, and sharing - working in a team

Leading a training day for other professionals, who come from a range a backgrounds and experiences, forces you to reflect on what you do - pick it apart - and distill it down into a cohesive presentation.

We work as a team of three independent music leaders who deliver sessions together, with an interconnected  approach.

 As musicians our job is to scaffold the music in the group whilst waiting our turn to lead - it's interesting switching from leading to modelling and support, whilst our colleagues interpret the plans we make together. This gives you a real sense of how effective the music leading is, too.

When we were planning for 'Joining In' training this Saturday, we started with the premise that we bring three different approaches to the whole.

The day was about approaches to 'musical inclusion'.

Obviously between us, we have a range of expertise. To keep things clear we focused on the AllStars  'musical inclusion' approaches:

• Alex, as a music therapist, spoke about the personal outcomes, the process-based approach;
• Russ, as a musician, spoke about musical outcomes, and enabling everyone to be included in a musical process;
• Jane, as a community music leader, spoke about social outcomes, participation and communication.

It worked! - we managed to re-affirm and support each others' work, whilst describing our broad and cohesive approach.

Just through putting this together, we learned a lot through reflection and sharing.
A great experience.

Some feedback:
'fundamental, free, expressive, understandable'

'Inspiring and eye opening'

'It made me realise what a variety of things music does and has taught me not to be so regimented with music.'

'Makes you think outside the box.' 

'Amazing, I learned a lot. I learned, what is music.'

 'Life affirming - opened my eyes to a different type of 'work.''
 

Training opportunity with the AllStars team, January 30th

Joining in : exploring good practice for inclusive music

A CPD day for professionals with Count Me In.

This training day is for professionals who are looking for new ideas and ways to use music inclusively .

Join us for a creative and hands-on day in this inspiring setting to explore some different approaches to learning through music. This CPD opportunity is a day of practical exercises, playing, reflecting and discussion, led by the music leaders of the AllStars project, Alex Lupo, Jane Harwood and Russ Stanley.

We will investigate methods and techniques to fully include all children and young people with additional needs.

This training is for educators (mainstream and SEN), SENCOs, teaching assistants, musicians, music leaders and practitioners working in non formal settings.

Topics to be covered:

- enabling musicianship in mixed groups
- inclusion and communication through music
- incorporating interpersonal and therapeutic approaches

The training has a unique, experiential element. Attendees will be offered the opportunity to attend one of our ‘Heart Beats’ live music sessions, to co-lead a workshop with an integrated, inclusive group of young musicians.

Places are strictly limited.

Do bring your own instruments, though some will be provided.

Please bring some lunch to share. Drinks and snacks are provided.

DATE : Saturday January 30^th 2016

Location : The Lecture Hall, Wells and Mendip Museum, 8 Cathedral Green, Wells BA5 2UE

Time : 10.00-3.30                                                                                      

Cost : £40.00  (concs. available, please enquire) 

To book : info@heartbeats.org.uk     01373 813558

The Listening Lounge.

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!

all about AllStars

 And here we are - your music leaders :

Geoffrey

Ben

Russ

Alex

Jane

Heart Beats at the Rural Music Network, February 9th 2015

Heart Beats hero Mark J. has fund raised, organised and made the poster for this session.
All you have to do is book a place (0797457603, email jamesbrookes@sryp.org.uk) and turn up on the night. It's free!
Huge massive fun guaranteed. Come and meet up with your old friends. Warm your hearts in the middle of a cold winter!

Drawing with sound ... join us August 30th

On August 30th we're running a workshop for Sound Foundation Somerset / Spaeda / Short Breaks Somerset, at Bow Wharf in Langport.
There are still places available. Suitable for young people and professionals (who will be invited to stay on for some CPD in the afternoon).

We are taking this years 'Big Draw' as our theme.
We'll be 'drawing with sound'.
The soundscapes we'll be creating are based on landscapes - urban, rural, and coastal.
Alex is going to record the music we play so it can be used as a soundtrack.

For more information, see http://www.soundfoundationsomerset.org.uk/event/music-making-workshop-with-count-me-in/

Happy Holidays

Hoping you are all having a Happy Holiday!

CPD opportunity for professionals - with Alex

The world premiere of Heart Beats - the movie

This Thursday there's something different - a midsummer special.  We shall be watching the brand new exciting top-class Heart Beats film, shot, produced and directed by none other than our own Mr Alex Lupo.
We're excited because it's the first-ever screening...... and yes - there will be popcorn... and ice creams.... (And music, later)

Hello! Hello! Hello Alex!!!

A great session again last night, we are always pleased and surprised by how different it is - every time we meet. High points included learning the correct sign for 'punk' (extend fingers from top of head like a mohican hairdo); a soundscape of sunrise that included an array of animal sounds; french horn and ukelele duet; Mark on the agogo bells; Ben's looping antics; and lots of creative leading by all the group.
Next time, we're going for more looping - live and recorded - and a bit of a folky theme. Sign for 'folkie' anyone?

All this without Alex, who is away this month being a Rock Star. We missed you, Mr L.!
So we made this film for you - no apologies about the singing.

Heart Beats are here to cheer you up...with an emergency dance party

It's February and it is cold, wet and windy. Every time we go outside our hats blow off and we keep stepping in puddles.

Tonight we're going to forget about all that - what we all need is an emergency dance party!!

This year we've played some funky beats and some reggae, now it's time for the dance grooves.
Alex and Ben will be bringing loops and beats into the mix, you'll get a choice to dance, play or get creative with the technology.

Over to you, then, guys.......

Half term music making opportunity

Please spread the word - there are still places available on these excellent workshops  for young people with disabilities (12 and over). Siblings, parents and extended families welcome too!
The workshops will be run by Alex, Russ, Geoff and Jane from the Heart Beats / Count Me In team.

Babyhead and Zone Club at the Cheese and Grain

What a great time we had last night, thank you Babyhead, Zone Club, and FMU.
Caught a few glimpses of the Heart Beats crew bouncing around in the crowd.
Why can't all gigs be like this? Let's move things forward to more inclusive times.... more fun for everyone.

Oh, and that Alex wasn't bad on the drums, eh?...

A Babyhead gig in Frome

The Heart Beats crew will be there : are you coming too? It's an inclusive night of music, dancing, and socializing, on October 18th.

Babyhead in Frome

Hearts, Beats, Music

Wow, what an amazing team!
Its been a total joy working with you all .....
Geoff
Russ
Alex
Ben
Mark
Martha
Emma
Leah
Elin
Ros
Iona
Sophia
Declan

Here's a wish for lots more music, for all of us, later.

Sound Foundation Somerset - another event to attend

On June 26th Alex will be talking at the Sound Foundation Somerset's second event looking at musical inclusion - how do we get more children and young people into music? Please spread the word about this event, which is in Langport, Somerset.

Please note that this event has been postponed until later in 2013.