Celebrating the AllStars Music project

The AllStars project is reaching an end with our mega-celebration, the Giant Jam, coming up on July 2nd.

What are we celebrating? We're celebrating
- hours and hours of live music played by amazing people with extra special powers
- establishing new friendships and connections
- a training programme that made us think hard about what we do and how it works
- some wonderful 'outreach' workshops and performances
- a chance to explore and reflect at the Listening Lounge sessions
- many surprising, fun, and serious moments
- all the volunteers and professionals who have given generously of their time and inspiration
- all the many individuals and grant giving organisations that support our work
- our partnerships with Wells Cathedral School, Spaeda, the Somerset Rural Youth project and Bath Spa University
- all the parents and carers who have supported all the young disabled musicians we work with

There is a lot more to say. This summer we'll be writing up our reports and evaluating the work. Everything we have learned from all the good people we've met along the way will help us to go forward and reach even more people, spread the music and see what is around the corner.

HeartBeats summer party

One more session before our summer break.
We're meeting at the Lawrence Centre for some great music on Thursday July 14th - this week.

There will be pizza and treats, and we're being joined by Anna Golding who will lead some movement  and dance for us.

See you there.

animated improvisation

Unexpected things can happen at the Listening Lounge .....Here's an improvisation inspired by St Patricks' Day, played by the one-and-only Esther on the harp. Animations by Josh. Dancing and laughter by everyone.

Joining In.....

Today there's a headful of ideas whirling around, that have been sparked off as we plan the final details of our 'Joining In' training day.
This Saturday, we'll be taking a load of ideas and showing how we turn them into MUSIC - why we do this - and why it's such a joy.

The AllStars mission statement

About the AllStars project....what we're aiming at..

"Music is a direct presentation of the feelingful dimension of experience"

 

Intentional sound can be a communication tool for everyone . The ability to improvise and respond is as powerful as good speaking and listening skills.

AllStars is about encounter-based music education. Beneficiaries are young people with special needs, who are in transition in education and from home to independent living.
We know they have a lot to say about themselves, and do this well through music.

We will bring people of all abilities together to play with this core team of 'experts by experience'. A cascaded training model will provide integrated, inclusive experiential learning opportunities. Peer interaction is the key.

We work with live, improvised music.
Improvising music together builds musical progression and communication confidence, regardless of 'ability' . We believe everyone is musical : we will radically challenge perceptions about music , enabling learning from the outlook and approaches of young people with SEN.

'Above all, music is a social art, where playing with and listening to others is the motivation, the experience and the learning process. This is music education by encounter.'

 

Ah, yes .... and there's the fun bit. too. Quite a lot of fun, in fact.