Community Music
This topic covers many things! By ‘Community Music’ I mean ‘musical involvement which is by large inclusive to the wider public to join in with’.
Here you will find out more about my work with Community Choirs, Schools, Community Band, and other activities I’ve contributed to within community events such as Festivals. Over the years I have run and managed many of my own projects and events too, and many of them involving more than ‘one group’ or ‘community of people’ such as ‘The West Cork BIG Sing’, which brought many choirs and individuals together to sing for positive mental health. Many of these projects have involved multiple art-forms, and incorporated costumes and props.
I am currently running the following Community Music groups:
- Acapellabella Community Choir: an all female choir meeting weekly on Thursday evenings, based in Schull, West Cork.
- Ballydehob Community Band: a group for musicians who wish to learn and develop confidence and skills whilst playing in a group context. Meeting weekly on Mondays. All instruments welcome. Based in Ballydehob, West Cork.
- The Songwriting Circle: a monthly group for anyone wanting to develop and explore techniques and approaches to creating songs alongside others. Meeting on Sundays. Based in Ballydehob, West Cork.
Harmony Singing and Community Music Workshops
Here’s an idea of what you might experience working with me within this context:
- Building up of confidence/personal development
- Techniques, tips and skill-based activities
- Fun and inspiration
- Introduction to a particular genre, style or ‘flavour’ of song or music
- Building repertoire and developing arrangements
- Learning pieces through accessible approaches, requiring no formal music experience.
- Learning pieces suited for beginners through to the experienced – depending on group ability
- Tailor made to suit group/theme etc.
- Relaxed and friendly approaches requiring no formal music experience
Community Music Events
Periodically I organise events for singers and musicians to come and enjoy playing music together. This has sometimes taken form as ‘Open Door’ Singing Workshops as part of a Festival or Community Event, where a shared repertoire has been learned in the separate groups, with the wider public being invited to come along and enjoy learning these songs to musical accompaniment.