Explore what has been happening across Suffolk with our wonderful Community team this spring:

Group A

This month Group A worked towards their performance at Celebration. Two of our eldest members learnt instruments and played alongside the professional musicians on stage to help support the singing in two of their songs. Both expressed how much they loved playing and have even asked to play again in the next performance. We are also delighted to announce that we have had new members to Leiston this term. We hope to continue to have more young people joining us over the Summer Term. In our final session we asked the young people to feedback and reflect on their experience at Celebration, here are a few things they said;

“My friends helped me because when I was worried, one of them said ‘you can do it!’”

“My mum told me ‘you look like you belong on stage.’”

“I learnt that I should eat more before performing!”

“The Group A leaders inspire me.”

“During the performance I had an explosion of energy!”

Mini Music

Over March we ran five Mini Music Sessions and engaged with over 100 families with children under five years old. Sessions included working with guest musicians, exploring the gardens and exhibition gallery, music and even an Easter themed shaker hunt. We reached new local families this month and have received some lovely messages of thanks.

“Thank you for Mini Music this morning. The sessions are so lovely for us all to attend and are a special end to our week!”

Criminal Justice

We’ve received the final mixes of the 16 tracks we created in the recording party last month. Ranging from reggae, drum and bass, classical and rock, there is certainly something for everyone. Keep an eye out on the website for the tracks to go live soon!

Later Life

Participate, our fun and relaxed music and heritage workshops for adults in Suffolk, between January and March delivered 44 sessions, engaging with 143 people, including two local care homes.

In Skylarks, our friendly singing group for people living with Parkinson’s and their companions, we’ve had 12 sessions and engaged 56 participants.

Overall Later life has delivered a programme of 190 sessions and events this year, both out in the community and at Snape Maltings. Thank you to everyone who has taken part.

Friday Afternoons

On Wednesday 27 March we launched a set of five brand new resources on our Make it! page. These have been written by renowned composers and educators Emily Barden, Lucy Drever, Aga Serugo-Lugo, Charlotte Harding and Laurel Swift. They are all designed to empower teachers to write songs with young people in the classroom. We’re excited to see these resources being used by local primary schools during the summer term, and to hear the amazing songs that young people create with them.

School Visits

It has been a very busy month for school sessions both in school and on site with over 650 children participating in our sessions over March. Sessions have included…

• We visited Ringfield, Brampton and Bramfield Primary Schools to deliver two days of Science of Sound Sessions for year 3 and 4. The children participated in 8 different experiments which explored the science behind music and sound.
• We completed our final three 'Opera in a Day' Sessions at Britannia Primary School in Ipswich. In total we worked with six different classes exploring the elements of an Opera. The children worked really hard and we received some brilliant feedback.
  
  “Thank you to you and Anne Marie today for the visit. The children had a really engaging experience. The children from yesterday were still buzzing too.” Class teacher

• We were joined by children’s author Anne Stairmand for an Able Writers Day with years 5 and 6 from Saxmundham, Hollesley and Summerhill Schools. The children worked with the author to develop writing and literacy techniques inspired by The Red House site.

• We were visited by two classes from The Heath School to complete a Musical Mini Beast session at The Red House. The children explored Britten’s home, as well as his entomological musical pieces.
• We were joined by Rendlesham Primary School to take part in a Britten and Disney school session. The children explored Benjamin Britten’s home, learnt about his favourite Disney in his diaries, and created their own music and sound effects using a looper. The children all had a wonderful time and engaged really well with all activities.
  
  “Thanks for two inspiring days for our pupils. They learnt a huge amount and have not stopped talking about their looped music!” Class teacher
• We saw three days of visits from Claydon Primary School. The pupils took part in a Musical Minibeast School Session and spent the day exploring Britten, his insect music, met Zoe and her harp and created music and songs themselves.