Workshop leaders to expland their vocal cords....!

Next week we're off to sunny Taunton for a mini masterclass with Yvette Staelens, Somerset's top voice practitioner and all-round good person.
And after that - will we be empowered to sing? watch this space!

Feedback....

At the end of the session we always pass a 'microphone'  (talking stick) for people to hold, and say or show what they have enjoyed about workshop.
Sometimes it's a smile, a gesture, or just a sound : sometimes the most surprising things!
Here are a few quotes from the feedback at the end of our FMU outreach session last week:

·      I say thank you for people doing drumming and music, and thank you for doing Heartbeats and it’s really good, for Heartbeat drum

·      I loved every minute of it and I liked the brilliant sound we made when everyone worked together

·      having some shakers – that’s good – the beats of the drums – that sounds funny, and then girls dancing....

·      I enjoyed being here and making new friends. You guys are really cool. .. and You know what, and I liked it. It was really cool and I liked being the singer, and listening to music - I liked the music and the drums and that, really cool. You guys are really awesome

Our team said some nice things too:

• I liked every bit of it. I don’t know if I can pick out a favourite bit – Liked all of it 
• It’s nice to see new people, it’s nice to get new friends

Outreach hits FMU!!!

Ears still buzzing and heart still thumping after an awesome music-and-sound-charged start to our outreach season at Openstorytellers 'FMU' club.
Thanks for hosting guys!
Great welcome, nice dancing, good playing.
Thanks to our awesome team - Martha, Geoff, Mark, Elin and Roo - great leading. It's a joy to work with you all.

Next up : after shcool club at Fosseway school this week.
Session at Threeways School in Bath.
Session at Penrose School in Bridgwater.
Two sessions at Fosseway school holiday club.

Sounds of Intent in Bristol

We're going to this conference in July. Alex is speaking - we promised not to heckle!

Heart Beats will be at FMU (Friends Meet Up) in Frome on May 11th.
We're running a two hour music workshop based on improvisation, sound

sculpting,communication and fun.
www.openstorytellers.org.uk

Heart Beats - Phase two

Some people have been wondering if they have missed some Heart Beats sessions at Wells.
To make things clear:
Open sessions have stopped now. (We hope they will start again in the autumn - we're waiting for funding news.)
We will have 'open doors' at the Heart Beats project party, on July 4th, 6 - 8 at Wells Museum.
Meanwhile, from now until our Youth music funding ends after the summer, we are running the second phase of the project. This is where we go out and run 'outreach' sessions in schools, holidays clubs and so on.
The first of these is at FMU (Friends meet up) in Frome, on May 11th.
- see www.openstorytellers.org.uk for details.
 So - if you go to FMU, see you there!
Watch the blog for more news about Phase Two.

Somerset Sound Foundation

Just back from giving a presentation about Heart Beats at the Somerset Sound Foundation (music hub) event hosted by Spaeda at Great Bow Wharf, Langport - 'how do we get more children and young people into music?'
Ideally I would have taken the whole gang along and just played music! But, words, photos and film had to suffice. Great to get good feedback and especially inspiring to hear about other work going on across the county and region - including Actiontrack and Drake Music amongst others.
Giving this presentation has helped me to think clearly about Heart Beats and look back on what has been good practice.
We're now entering phase two with our first 'rehearsal' session with our core peer leading team - a step into the unknown, but a good one I feel.

Music leading

At Heart Beats, we have our own way of music leading -  using agreed signals, body language, and conducting. Sometimes two people can lead at the same time - this needs empathy and a good awareness of your 'leading partner'.
Here's a clip of two of the Heart Beats crew doing some co-leading.
As you can see, it's fun too.

Games at Heart Beats

We often start our sessions with some musical games. This is a short film of a game we play - mirroring. You take turns to lead or copy. When the music stops - don't move! It's fun and relaxing - a great way to loosen up and make connections.

Count Me In are taking part in a sharing event about 'musical inclusion'

We're pleased and excited to be involved in a sharing event,  where we will be talking about Heart Beats.
This event is called 'How can we get more children and young people into music'?
It's  a free event and parents, carers and youth workers are welcome - it's not just for music leaders.
On June 26th Jane and Alex will both be talking at a similar event, aimed at the more 'formal' music sector - such as schools.