How to end - part one : the Giant Jam

How to end AllStars music? Starting in the spring of 2015, the delivery phase has ended now - we will spend the next months reflecting, planning and evaluating - taking a breath before new things roll out.

Even in the early planning phase of AllStars we knew we'd want to mark the end of the work well.
Finishing can be difficult; it's one of the recurring themes of funded work. We knew we wanted to say goodbye with optimism and a sense of achievement.

We planned an end-of-project festival. With additional financial support from the Big Lottery and their perfectly-timed 'Celebrate' fund, we were able to put on an event that brought our community of young and SEN/D musicians together.

Beautifully put together by Ben, our pastoral support worker, and Jade, our admin star, the Giant Jam festival was organised in consultation with a team of party planners from the Heart Beats group.

Frome Street Bandits

Art Box bunting

The Gaint Jam was held at the Ammerdown Conference Centre - a beautiful garden alive with flowers and bees.
The sun shone all day.

Bands played outdoors and in the 'main stage room',  a transformed space with underwater decor borrowed from a local festival organiser and excellent sound equipment provided by our project partners SRYP.

The main stage room

A dance workshop, Loops disco and four live bands made it a real festival.
Festival goers enjoyed a performance from an inclusive choir, a ukelele workshop, a drum circle,  an art workshop, free massage, interactive storytelling from Openstorytellers,

Smiling gate crew

Relaxing massage

Live music workshops

outdoor games, wood fired pizzas, and an array of treats supplied by the brand new catering van from Critchill SEN school.

An outdoor improvisation workshop showcased the talents of the Heart Beats group and involved lots of new people too.

An amazing team of stewards and volunteers  made the day safe, fun and accessible for everyone.

Stewards and volunteers

We even got a slot on BBC Points West.

The Giant Jam brought all sorts of people together - it was inter-generational, inclusive and really enjoyable.

We're glad that the AllStars project, which has united so many diverse musicians, could end on such a bright note and a beautiful day.

What's the 'perfect session'?

Last Thursday our Heart Beats group gathered in Cedars Hall for the last session of the AllStars project. The mood was upbeat because we are all looking forward to our festival, the Giant Jam, this Sunday.

AllStars has been a long and complex project, involving many different people across Somerset and beyond. The Heart Beats sessions in Wells have been the core, with 38 sessions since Easter 2015.
Every session has been surprising, fun and different, and last Thursday was no exception.

In reflection, we agreed that it felt like a 'perfect session'.
As often happens, a few folk couldn't be there, but we had a good mix in the room, musicians with disabilities, young music students from Wells Cathedral School and Bath Spa University.

Everyone was relaxed, at home, and full of affectionate chat. Laughter ran round the room.
People choose their instruments with confidence and played them well. Listening was focused, respectful, and there was a plenty of considerate space in the music.
The dynamics of the session grew slowly from playful interaction to upbeat dance groove. The music grew and became bigger than the sum of its parts.

Most importantly, after starting the pieces, the music leaders could step right back and just play as equals. Everyone participated on their own terms, coming together to create a harmonious whole. The music took over.

We parted as friends and in the hope that we will all play together again really soon.
Thanks everyone! A perfect session.

Music tonight!

Hello - if you are in the Heart Beats crew - come along to Cedars Hall tonight to get our exciting programme for 2017 going with some real live music....

 

Everyone can expect a warm welcome, new faces and old : and we have some exciting news for you too.

Festivities

Music is fun, as it should be. And seasonal fun is even better. Here's a film of Geoff, volunteer music leader at Count Me In, sharing his festive joy last night... so Merry Christmas to all our amazing group, and supporters, and music leaders - and everyone!

Heart Beats starts tonight!

A reminder that the autumn sessions start tonight.
This will be our last session at the Lawrence Centre before moving on to Cedars' Hall.

Tonight we'll be using our voices, and rhythms, to greet each other and make patterns of sound.
Theme of the evening is 'everybody jam' - chosen by Geoffrey.

See you there!

September sessions, coming soon

It's been a lovely summer, but we can't wait to get together again for our autumn sessions, which start on September 22nd at the Lawrence Centre.
If you know anyone new who would like to come, ask them to contact us at info@heartbeats.org.uk

Hope to see you there!

The SRYP conference

Last Saturday, we went to the SRYP conference in Bridgwater.
Here's Geoff, Emma, Josh and Katie, with Russ and Michael Eavis. Michael joined in with our warm ups though he wasn't to keen to play the drum that was offered him!

The HeartBeats team

Our instruments looked lovely in the new theatre

Tonight....

Hey folks, it's HeartBeats tonight!
Russ is off to the farm to get all those lovely instruments.

Hugh....

So excited to be spending tomorrow with the super brilliant AllStars team, and the AllStars ensemble, and fabulous Hugh Nankivell - oooh yeah.
Music will happen.

this evening - at our new venue

AllStars are go.... the Heart Beats autumn sessions start this evening at 6.00 o'clock.

Don't forget : we're at our new venue

THE LAWRENCE CENTRE
37 CHAMBERLAIN ST
WELLS BA5 2PQ.

Hope to see you there.

Getting ready for a new venue

We're moving ... the Heart Beats music club will be in a new home when we start AllStars up for the autumn on September 17th.
We are relocating to the Lawrence Centre in Wells, which is also called 'TLC'.
We think it will be different - and the same : same people, same instruments, same amazing sounds.
We will miss the museum, though, which has been our base for a very long time now.
Time for something new though. See you there.... at TLC.

TheTLC .... in Union St car park

Somewhere to relax outside

Other people enjoy coming here too

We think it will be warm and comfortable

A good big table for tea and chat

We already feel welcomed

This evening

A sunny summer evening coming up, what better way to start our project than by gathering and playing together.
Wells Museum, starting at 6 : looking forward to it.

the lovely things that people say

I keep bumping into people who have been to our sessions. People even send us messages about the session. We thought we'd put some of these messages on the blog.

It really cheers you up when you hear how much everyone has enjoyed the music...Wendy says
'I would like to share some of the comments from some of the clients that I work with who used to attend Heartbeats. Frequently many of them ask me when is heartbeats going to start again and that they miss it very much.  One particular client said she missed playing the instruments it made her feel happy.  Another client has stressed how he misses making music with other people at heartbeats. We hope that heartbeats will continue to run throughout 2015.'
 Maggie says :'it’s very moving to see how those that struggle to communicate verbally find it so easy to communicate musically with a percussion instrument in their hand and engage with others in an extraordinary way. Their smiles and enjoyment are wonderful to see....'
MJ says 'Heartbeats is a very special group where I can relax and enjoy making music with friends.

Jane, Russ, Alex and Ben make every week fun and we learn different exciting things.

 I am happy to help people with music at Heartbeats. I have learned to play the Hammered Dulcimer and love improvising with Alex. Music always makes me feel good...' 

 

 

 

HeartBeats in Shepton Mallet

HeartBeats musician Mark Johnson has been plotting and plannning with our musical partners Somerset Rural Youth Project.

Mark has asked us to come and run a music workshop for the SRYP 'Rural Music Network' community music project in Shepton Mallet.

Everyone is welcome, old friends and new, families, young and old....

The project is funded by Youth Music and O2, and the session is FREE!

Date : Monday February 9th

Venue : The Baptist Church in Commercial Road, Shepton Mallet

Time: 7p.m. start (don't be late) - 8p.m. finish.

Bring instruments if you want, but we have plenty for you.

Expect some good sounds, and some fun.

Mark will be there to welcome you and show off his skills.

SRYP have other taster sessions too, they are all free.

Heart Beats - the movie

Alex has made a film about Heart Beats.
If you would like a copy, email us at info@heartbeats.org.uk and we will send you one (please don't forget to tell us your address)

making music with new friends.....

Playing music together is an age-old way to develop friendships.
Heart Beats aims to give young people physical, emotional and social confidence, whilst having a good time.
We do what we can to evaluate the success of this, but sometimes you get something come through that reminds you it's all on track.
Today I got sent this lovely spontaneous endorsement, a poster made by one of the group.
Making music with new friends....yes.

Heart Beats Sound Foundation festival - July 12th

Russ and Jane are running  Count Me In workshops at the Sound Foundation Somerset Music festival in Taunton next week.
Our workshops are especially for young people with disabilities and their families / circles of support.

The workshops are in the Brewhouse theatre, 11 - 3. (One morning, one after lunch)

You can find out more, and book a FREE place, by getting in touch with Spaeda : 01458 254 262 / 07976 118650, alice@speada.org.uk

There's lots of other music events happening too : www.soundfoundationsomerset.org.uk

Summer Party.....

Ah - yes, midsummer madness time again. Come and have some big time fun, and some amazing music, and some cake.
We have the end-of-year Heart Beats summer party this Thursday, 6 - 8 at Wells Museum.
Please do come if you have been in any way involved in Heart Beats, (including supporting someone to come), or think you may want to get a feel for what we do. And be prepared to play some awesome music.
It's £1.50 on the door. All welcome. Don't be late!

Evaluation - case study

We're proud to hear that Arts Manager and Evaluator Nell Farrally will be using a Heart Beats case study tomorrow as an example of good evaluation practice. Nell will be sharing this case study with the partners of the Bristol Musical Inclusion Network.

Tonight, and next time....

Tonight we're exploring what happens when you play the same thing slowly, fast, and then on the off beat ... could be interesting.....get ready to SKANK IT UP one and all.

And a reminder : because of this and that, the next session is on JUNE 12th.

See you all soon!