MUSIC AND MOUNTAINS
The Project
Matilda’s Music and Mountains education projects started in Braemar with Braemar school. Matilda and Mountain guide Mike Norbury led the children of Braemar school up to Glen Shiel bothy where they wrote their favourite song together. They also wrote a number of instrumentals and songs with Matilda back at the school and performed them at the Ski Cafe up at Glen Shiel ski Centre - where the audience went up on the chair lift! and in St Margaret’s church. An inspiring, wonderful project where the community and musicians from across Scotland came together to perform with children who had been inspired to write music and songs in response to their environment and their trip to the local bothy.
The project takes place over 2-3 months and involves pupils generating ideas, translating these into music and artistic expression and finally, performing their new work. Children can explore their creative ideas through instruments, singing, conducting and utilising state of the art music technology such as Soundbeam 5, Logic, and Thumbjam on iPads. The project culminates in a performance for family, friends and the public in a professional concert venue. Musicians from the Matilda Brown Ensemble support the performance and the final stages of rehearsal to add an extra dimension to the pupils’ creations. Pupils work alongside the professional musicians in rehearsal and performance with a professional sound team managing the balance and set-up.
Matilda’s Music and Mountains 26-28 October @ 10am-5pm Shielen of Mark Bothy, Glen Muick and Victoria and Albert Memorial Halls, Ballater £35.00, £15.00 (students) Matilda Brown’s deep connection with wilderness landscape is inherent to her music. This three-day event is for anybody inspired by walking in mountainous landscapes with a love for music. You will be able to create your own music or song in response to a day out in the mountains, visiting a local bothy, with composer and mountain guide, Matilda Brown. Your music will be workshopped and rehearsed by an ensemble of professional musicians on day two, and performed on day three in a sound festival concert.
Matilda’ Music and Mountains projects were so well received that she has been running them for over 8 years in Aberdeenshire with Abderdeenshire Music Services and for 3 years with Hampden Primary School, Glasgow.
Matilda’s Music and Mountains Project Overview Aim
To create new music and songs with composer Matilda Brown, using SB5, ipads and various music technologies alongside acoustic instruments in response to the theme of “Music and Mountains”.
To perform pupils’ music with professional musicians and sound engineers at chosen venue.
Optional: To train staff in SB5.
Outcomes:
An introduction to SB5 and Thumbjam.
Creative Music making with new technology and acoustic instruments, such as acoustic and jazz guitar, flute, piano and percussion.
Learning and Teaching outdoors through music. Using the theme of “Music and Mountains” and “Where we Live”.
To increase musical skills and knowledge.
To develop group composition and performing.
To work with professional musicians drawing on various styles of music.
To work with movement in music.
To produce a quality product.
Other Outcomes:
To develop social Interaction and working with others.
To develop communication skills.
To develop motor skills.
To increase confidence playing with others and performing independently.
Extras:
Video/slides with some pieces of music Recording of music
One to one instrumental tuition Movement choreography if appropriate
What do pupils from Cragievar Primary School say about Music and Mountains?
“I love this way of making music. I’ve never done it like this before. Are we going to do more with you?”
“Sometimes I couldn’t hear when to come in but I practised and got used to all the different things I needed to hear. I don’t know what I’ll do when you leave. I loved it so much.”
“I liked the fact we could make up our own music with Matilda. I liked working with Jo and Mairearad. They helped me to keep in time and to make our own piece up in pairs. Playing the drum on stage in front of the audience was exciting and I will remember it.”
What do teachers say about Music and Mountains?
“We thoroughly enjoyed your first visit yesterday. It was such a pleasure to meet you and to observe the amazing things that you managed to achieve with the children. They are all very excited about the project and can’t wait for you to come back! Every school should be getting Matilda and this project!” - Teacher from Strathdon.
I would just like to say a big thank you to you both, we have had a wonderful 2 weeks working on the project. The performance this afternoon, in the round, with changes and switches, went like a dream. The audience spoke very positively of the performance and I was extremely impressed with what every child achieved. The pupils have loved the experience of creating their own music, using their own instruments and the team work involved was fantastic.” - Teacher from Criagievar Primary School.
“All the staff at the school were very impressed and we would definitely recommend this music programme to other Primary Schools.” - Teacher from Logie Coldstone Primary School.
“I wanted the children to experience writing their own pieces of music, and playing. This project more than exceeded my expectations!! Matilda was fabulous with the children and they all played confidently.”
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