Here we are in the local press - receiving a cheque on behalf of the group, generously given us by Radco through donations collected on their gala night.
Local support works in lots of ways, and donations do really help.
Click here to see the photo and read all about it.
Heart Beats music is a Somerset club for younger adults with learning disabilities. Heart Beats is run by Count Me In. Our team give you the support and opportunities to have friendly fun and play live music on real instruments. Our 'AllStars' project is about playing, leading and teaching music. It’s called 'AllStars' because we believe everyone is musical. We're supported by Youth Music, using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
welcome to Heart Beats
Monday, 19 September 2016
Thursday, 15 September 2016
Heart Beats is moving to a new home
We have some news! From the end of September we are moving our Thursday sessions (Heart Beats club, and the Listening Lounge) from the Lawrence Centre to a new venue in Wells.
This venue is Cedars Hall at Wells Cathedral School.
This is great news, for two reasons.
Firstly, Cedars Hall is a brand-new state of the art teaching and learning centre built with music in mind. Building the hall has been a long standing project for Wells Cathedral School, and now it is ready to be used.
The hall has wonderful facilities and is accessible, designed with acoustics in mind and - of course! - perfect for playing live music. We shall be on the first floor, in a teaching space with adjoining rooms and observation space for break-out opportunities.
Secondly, the move brings us into a closer partnership with Wells Cathedral School.
Over the years we've offered supported training placements for Wells students, and more recently, staff as well. This has grown to become a vital part of our work as the 'AllStars ensemble' explore improvisation together with the Heart Beats crew, our core group of learning disabled musicians - it's a creative hothouse.
Wells C.S head Elizabeth Cairncross says 'we know that music and the performing arts must be inclusive, not exclusive. With Cedars Hall we will be able to expand our community programme, our teaching, our staff training, and our partnership work.'
Inclusion is everything for us. We do believe that everyone is musical, and that music can change lives.
Most of our group live in the Wells area.The school recognise that Cedars Hall is a significant community asset for Wells and the South West. We're proud to be included.
This venue is Cedars Hall at Wells Cathedral School.
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| Cedars Hall |
This is great news, for two reasons.
Firstly, Cedars Hall is a brand-new state of the art teaching and learning centre built with music in mind. Building the hall has been a long standing project for Wells Cathedral School, and now it is ready to be used.
The hall has wonderful facilities and is accessible, designed with acoustics in mind and - of course! - perfect for playing live music. We shall be on the first floor, in a teaching space with adjoining rooms and observation space for break-out opportunities.
Secondly, the move brings us into a closer partnership with Wells Cathedral School.
Over the years we've offered supported training placements for Wells students, and more recently, staff as well. This has grown to become a vital part of our work as the 'AllStars ensemble' explore improvisation together with the Heart Beats crew, our core group of learning disabled musicians - it's a creative hothouse.
 |
| A professional development day with an integrated group |
Wells C.S head Elizabeth Cairncross says 'we know that music and the performing arts must be inclusive, not exclusive. With Cedars Hall we will be able to expand our community programme, our teaching, our staff training, and our partnership work.'
Inclusion is everything for us. We do believe that everyone is musical, and that music can change lives.
Most of our group live in the Wells area.The school recognise that Cedars Hall is a significant community asset for Wells and the South West. We're proud to be included.
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
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!
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!
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Avalon School
Look! we've just found a page on Avalon Schools website, with photos of our visit there last February. What a great day that was... see their report here:
HeartBeats at Avalon
HeartBeats at Avalon
Thursday, 28 July 2016
Rowdeford school outreach session
When we ran our training for professionals earlier this year, we offered participants the opportunity to book an outreach session to see our work in practice.
Thanks to Sarah Curwen, last week we visited Rowdeford School in Wiltshire to run a morning of music on the very last day of the school year.
What a lovely place! We enjoyed meeting everyone, staff and students - what a warm welcome. We enjoyed walking round the walled gardens, and especially liked the room we were in - the school arts centre.
The three music sessions were fun. Although we followed the same plan for each one, they developed differently as we followed the amazing suggestions and ideas of the young people.
Staff said it was 'perfectly pitched to the levels of our students and a delight to see and hear them all participating'.
They thought 'it was great the way all of the student's ideas were combined' and it was 'excellent fun for students (and teachers!)'.
'Fantastic - everyone completely engrossed!'
'Thank you for providing such a rich musical experience for us all.'
Thanks to Sarah Curwen, last week we visited Rowdeford School in Wiltshire to run a morning of music on the very last day of the school year.
Staff said it was 'perfectly pitched to the levels of our students and a delight to see and hear them all participating'.
They thought 'it was great the way all of the student's ideas were combined' and it was 'excellent fun for students (and teachers!)'.
'Fantastic - everyone completely engrossed!'
'Thank you for providing such a rich musical experience for us all.'
Friday, 15 July 2016
HeartBeats summer party
What a great session last night.
We played some excellent music, and danced too, with the help of Anna Golding who came up from Bridport to join us.
Sophie and Anna led some beautiful, expressive interpretations of an improvised piece of music.
Geoff and Emma shared their news from Bermuda and Geoff showed us Gombey dancing and rhythms.
Just to add to the mood was the exciting news that Radco have kindly donated us an extra £1000 to help our work.
Our next session is September 22nd. Have a good summer everyone!
We played some excellent music, and danced too, with the help of Anna Golding who came up from Bridport to join us.
Sophie and Anna led some beautiful, expressive interpretations of an improvised piece of music.
Geoff and Emma shared their news from Bermuda and Geoff showed us Gombey dancing and rhythms.
Just to add to the mood was the exciting news that Radco have kindly donated us an extra £1000 to help our work.
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| A BIG cheque |
Our next session is September 22nd. Have a good summer everyone!
Monday, 11 July 2016
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.
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.
Monday, 4 July 2016
Goodbye to Esther
Esther has been with us for a year now, both at the Listening Lounge and in the HeartBeats sessions.
We had a Listening Lounge evening out to say thanks to her for all the amazing music and to wish her well as she leaves Wells for a leap forward into higher education. We'll miss the harp and the smiles too. Good luck Esther!
We had a Listening Lounge evening out to say thanks to her for all the amazing music and to wish her well as she leaves Wells for a leap forward into higher education. We'll miss the harp and the smiles too. Good luck Esther!
Wells Musicircus
The Wells Musicircus on June 18th was something quite different for us - an outdoors performance, in the company of more than 500 performers all ranged around the beautiful Cathedral Green, with an estimated audience of between 2500 - 3000 people!
Not only did we enjoy playing, and audience participation, but it was a chance to hear some other music too. A great day.
Not only did we enjoy playing, and audience participation, but it was a chance to hear some other music too. A great day.
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| Martina on tongue drum, Sophie on vocals |
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| Mark on the Big Pan |
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| listening to the music |
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| ready to go! |
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| Tom, Martyn. Josh |
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| Josh on the tubes |
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| Tom and Russ setting up |
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| Beautiful! cellos right next to us |
Friday, 1 July 2016
DartsFest
Have a look at this one - DartsFest .
It's a 2 day festival created with the needs of people with learning disabilities in mind.
It's near Exeter if you're thinking of going.
A
fantastic 2-day festival created with the needs of people with learning
disabilities in mind. Live music, workshops, accessible facilities and
more. - See more at:
http://www.ahsw.org.uk/diary.aspx?id=1885#sthash.RSMs1aBN.dpufa
A
fantastic 2-day festival created with the needs of people with learning
disabilities in mind. Live music, workshops, accessible facilities and
more. - See more at:
http://www.ahsw.org.uk/diary.aspx?id=1885#sthash.RSMs1aBN.dpuf
A
fantastic 2-day festival created with the needs of people with learning
disabilities in mind. Live music, workshops, accessible facilities and
more. - See more at:
http://www.ahsw.org.uk/diary.aspx?id=1885#sthash.RSMs1aBN.dpuf
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