A large scale project designed for Year 10 and 11 GCSE Music students, and/or youth groups aged 13-17.
It has been delivered in partnership with South Bedfordshire District Council and Orchestras Live, with support from Bedfordshire Youth Service. This project has also run in partnership with Redditch Borough Council.
Participants work with musicians and two OOTS animateurs – one from a classical background, one from a rap and hip hop background- to explore dramatic and narrative themes from a play and an orchestral suite composed to accompany it. The suite is scored in dance band style, using saxophone in addition to the usual orchestra line up, with easily identifiable musical themes. The main themes of the play concern life choices and consequence.
Through a series of seven to nine three hour workshops, participants devise their own music and text or songs to illustrate their own interpretation of the play’s themes. They perform the work with full orchestra, alongside the orchestral suite, in a public performance at the end of the project.
This project can include dance, English and drama students as well as music students.
For settings offering Arts Award, this project can provide many of the elements required for Bronze and Silver awards, and be used towards the Gold award.
“Affirmation that the Arts are a fantastic vehicle to engage young people.”
“It was a joy to work with professional musicians who were so relaxed- and committed to getting the best out of young people by putting their best into the project.t”
“Inspiring environment- barriers broken down.”
100% of participants would join in another similar project
100% enjoyed working with the musicians
100% said they had gained new skills
75% acquired a new interest
82% said their confidence had grown
62% said they were more likely to go to a live performance after participating in this project
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