all about AllStars

 And here we are - your music leaders :

Geoffrey

Ben

Russ

Alex

Jane

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.

AllStars project begins

This is it - this week we have our first AllStars taster session - Thursday at Wells Museum, 6 - 8. Now that is good news.

See you there.

Some new drums for our AllStars project

Thanks to Youth Music and Radstock Co-op we have been shopping ....and thanks to Ben of Ghana Goods for providing us with thirteen really beautiful, carefully selected, hand made new drums for our project, which begins next week, on June 4th.

Call out for any All Stars out there! Join us soon

Those taster dates again : - 6 - 8 at Wells Museum :

1. June 4^th
2. June 18^th
3. July 16^th
4. July 30^th

PKN

PKN : will they win?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-32778559

You never know ...go, guys

Schmoozik

We've just talked to a hammer dulcimer player who's interested in coming along....duelling dulcimers ahoy

Partnerships for the AllStars project -working with Somerset Rural Youth Project again

We've got some support from local organisations for the AllStars Project.

James Brookes from the Somerset Rural Youth Project has given us a lot of help and support to run Heart Beats.

Now James and SRYP are going to help us run AllStars too.

Their Rural Music Network sessions in Castle Cary and Shepton Mallet are in our area so we are going to create an 'exchange of opportunities' for young people in both projects, which are both funded by Youth Music.

James says 

I look forward to supporting Count Me In with their very exciting new music project bid, that offers opportunity for two Youth Music funded organisations to continue to work together. Developing new and exciting methods of making music accessible in Somerset, while at the same time enhancing support for one another in the process.

One part of our partnership is that Alex, Geoff, Jane and Russ are going to work with Heart Beats star Mark J to run a series of 'Smoozic' (Shepton Mallet Music!) sessions together - everyone is welcome. These are integrated sessions for everyone, of all abilities and ages.

More news soon.

The Big Cheque!

We'd like to say thanks to the Radstock Co-operative Society, who have given Count Me In a (very big) cheque.
We will use this money to benefit the people who join the AllStars project.
For a small organisation like us, it's really great to know you are supported by your local community. Donations do make a lot of difference.

Launching AllStars.... We are now recruiting for our new music sessions.

Count Me in are really pleased and excited to have secured funding to run the AllStars  project – continuing and extending the work of our Heart Beats inclusive music club based in Wells.

Just like Heart Beats, AllStars is for young people with learning disabilities between the ages of 16 and 25.

AllStars is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

It's called 'AllStars' because we believe everyone is musical. Music is a great platform for friendship and communication.

The club is for anyone who wants to play live music – it doesn’t matter where you live, or if you don’t yet play an instrument. Do you know someone who would like to come?

The AllStars project will reach out across Somerset. We think it is exciting because it will bring young people of different abilities together to meet, learn and converse through music, using improvisation and having fun. 

Sessions will be led by the Count Me In team - Jane Harwood, Alex Lupo, Ben Waller, Geoff Stow, and Russ Stanley.

All the team are really experienced at supporting everyone to get the best out of music.

Why would people want to come?

Our young musicians really like the sessions. MJ, who lives in Shepton and is a very important member of our team, says ‘... Heart Beats 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 Heart Beats. I have learned to play the Hammered Dulcimer and love improvising with Alex. Music always makes me feel good.’

This summer we are running four taster sessions at Wells museum (Cathedral Green, Wells, BA5 2UE) Be there to start at 6.00 p.m.; we finish at 8.00. The sessions cost £2 per person . You don’t need to book for the tasters.

1. June 4^th
2. June 18^th
3. July 16^th
4. July 30^th

In September we start regular  evening sessions , twice a month in term time.

For more information, ring Jane on 01373 813558 or email info@heartbeats.org.uk.