With a van-full of instruments and strange objects, and a team-full of magical music-making ideas, Soundwave went to Solfest 2010. The challenge was to provide exciting opportunities for all age groups to make music and explore new sounds. As we are currently developing a new Early Years project for 0-5 year-olds, we were keen to provide an exciting space for the smallest festival-goers. We filled the little tent with playable objects from our “musical garden”; we built a tree with playable, shakeable fruit and a trunk that made different sounds. We created a water fall with musical logs floating on the river and a host of small noises that could be made in the duck pond at the end. Yellow kazoos had been transformed into small musical bees that could be played by all. There were colourful caterpillar beaters available for children to bang the cymbal mushrooms and the drum-kit flowers (which kept changing their sounds as the day progressed). The garden was popular with all the young festival-goers. They were given the opportunity to make their own noisy frog masks to take home with them. Most returned every morning for a new chance to explore the sound world.

Workshops were held at the front of the tent throughout each day. A series of percussion workshops evolved into drumming jams and could be heard from all over the main festival site. They were enjoyed by adults, children and young people, becoming a daily must in some of the festival-goers’ schedules.

The Young Vocal Leaders (YVL) lead their own singing games session for children. This was very enjoyable and energetic; essential as the weather turned colder.

Another YVL held a beatbox demonstration and workshop on the Saturday afternoon. This attracted a large audience of all ages, some of whom were keen to try out their new skills on the microphone.

A popular evening activity was Soundwave’s own open mic night. This was held every afternoon on the small stage inside the tent. A diverse range of quality acts participated, from a rap and singing duo (D-Mite feat. Uncle Jeff) who wrote 2 new songs for the event, to Soundwave’s own with new graduate Ste Hudson and Emma performing the now-famous Shh-bop. New young bands sang some of their own songs, mixed with some popular covers. Solo artists sang some entertaining songs with their guitars or ukuleles. There was even some original poetry and a beatboxing flute. But most excitingly, the SoundWave open-mic stage attracted the attentions of the Dry Stone stage and one of the acts may well be featured in next year’s Solfest line-up!

The Sunday evening saw the open mic night evolve into a jam session. Adults and children joined together, playing a variety of instruments and made some enjoyable music as a group.

Overall, the Soundwave tent was a very popular place to be this year at Solfest and we made some great new friends that we hope to work with in the future.

Whitehaven MusicZone is starting again at Whitehaven Civic Hall, 6-9pm on Wed 8^th September.

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME

Whether you're looking to form a band or already on the scene our team of musicians can help you with any or all of the following: rehearsal techniques, Dj-ing, song writing, performance tips, vocal techniques, music production, recording a demo, marketing and promoting your band and getting gigs.  Music Zone thrives on a varied mixture of abilities, interests, styles and motivations so it doesn’t matter where you particular tastes or abilities lie, there’s something to be gained from this stimulating music group.

So if you are between the ages of 11 and 19 years, and have a general interest in progressing your musical aspirations, pop along for a chance to work with seasoned professional musicians and learn from their experience and much more...

Watch this space for more information about Maryport MusicZone venue to be confirmed.

For more information about MusicZone follow the link:

http://www.soundwave.org.uk/ymaz/musiczone.html

We deliver an inspiring and varied programme of music. We stage performances, events and installations, and run a large participatory music-making programme.

Music has the power to transform - it:

• is as a means of expression
• stretches people’s expectations
• challenges preconceptions
• develops a sense of individual pride and identity
• increases empathy with and acceptance of others
• gives a voice to those who otherwise would feel unheard
• empowers people to be more expressive, confident, positive and communicative
• improves interpersonal skills and team-working
• inspires!

More about SoundWave

SoundWave is a ‘not-for-profit’ music organisation based in west Cumbria with a mission of Transformation Through Music. We deliver a programme of inspirational music projects, including performances, events, festivals, and a large participatory music-making programme, including:

• a Youth Music Action Zone (YMAZ) consisting of around 70 separate strands of music workshop activity for under 19s.
• Singing workshops and vocal training / CPD as part of the national Sing Up programme
• Indonesian gamelan and tuned percussion
• The new technology of 3D Sound
• Adult education courses

We work with music from a diverse range of cultures, including west African percussion, gamelan, ‘fusion’ styles of music as well as rock / pop and more contemporary styles, including a specialism in the new technology of ambisonics / 3D Sound. SoundWave is also committed to building the capacity for ongoing delivery of musical opportunities through training initiatives for local musicians to develop their workshop leading and facilitation skills.

The aims of SoundWave are:

Aim 1 - Create opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to participate in musical activity

1. Sustain an accessible and wide-ranging programme of music making opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, giving them direct experience of performing/making music.
2. Provide access to high-quality resources, positive role models and professional leadership

Aim 2 - Develop a unique and distinctive musical identity of national significance

1. Support the development of a music ‘scene’ for local artists and repertoire
2. Focus on the creation of original material
3. Raise the profile of the programme

Aim 3 - Sustain the programme and the organisation

1. Maintain a self-sustaining and financially stable organisation.
2. Develop a programme of professional leadership and development opportunities
3. Be part of local, regional and national communities of practice
4. Build and sustain a customer base
5. Lead the infrastructural development of music in Cumbria, especially in west Cumbria

We hope you enjoy exploring our website, and look forward to developing a transformational experience with you soon…

SoundWave is grateful for the support of Youth Music, Sing Up, The Sage Gateshead, Arts Council of England, Cumbria County Council, Allerdale Borough Council, Barrow Borough Council, Carlisle City Council and Copeland Borough Council, Plunkett Foundation, Northern Rock Foundation, PRS Foundation, Heritage Lottery Fund, North-west Development Agency, Cumbria Vision, European Social Fund, , Cumbria Cultural Skills Partnerships and Sure Start.