Skipton Rocks

Hell yeah Skipton Rocks!

Today sees (kinda) the start of a rather exciting project for Hope and Social. For the first time ever we’re all (bar Si W.) working on the same music and education project together. Skipton Rocks is a dynamic, real-world music project for young people, commissioned by The Mart Theatre and delivered by Hope and Social.

One of the great things that’s becoming apparent is that because we’re already used to doing all the things that bands do, and because we’re working as a unit on this project, it means we can really integrate all the things we usually do into the programme. For all our instrumentalists, we have a dedicated Hope and Social member who can coach (James for the brass stuff, Gary on Kit/Guitar, Goff on Bass and Strings, Ed on Keys and guitar, and me on guitar, vocals etc.). We could probably all have a bash at most everything (bar the strings & brass stuff), but it’s great to have people who make their living playing and teaching their instrument, coaching the young musicians in their musical development.

The goals for our young musicians this week are; to learn new songs together, to write their own original material, to make and release a record, and to organise, put on and perform at a show at The Mart Theatre on Friday.

Additionally to the music stuff, we’ll also be using the web and social networks to share what we make, and to promote the show on Friday. We’ll be posting all the young people’s pictures and progress, acheivements and awesomeness here on this site.

The Venue

For me (Rich here [waves hello]), this is also where my MA Music Industries, and specifically the Enterprise module, intersects with my working practice… So, if you know a musician, or a bunch of musicians, or a bunch of budding musicians who’d like to do the stuff that bands, duos, solo artists and ensembles do… please do contact us.

Have a look around the blog and if you like something you see, please do comment. Any encouragement and advice would be very much appreciated by this ace bunch of young musicians.

Skipton Rocks Rehearsal Panorama