NYJO x Cumbria Music Hub: Easter Jazz Residential
In April 2023, NYJO partnered with Cumbria Music Hub to host a Jazz Residential weekend, led by NYJO Educator Olivia Murphy. The project was designed to bring together young people from across Cumbria with different musical backgrounds and levels of experience. The weekend combined group music-making sessions and a programme of activities delivered by outdoors leaders at the Hawse End Centre (including canoeing and ghyll scrambling!), resulting in a fun, immersive environment, merging creativity and physical activity. Take a look at the result below!
Mental Health is a major factor in the development of young people’s health and wellbeing. Through outdoor pursuits and music, we are promoting the benefits of physical and mental health. We are equipping the young people with a toolbox of activities they can draw on to navigate life’s future challenges.
Marion Hinds, Cumbria Music Hub
We know that rural isolation is a barrier for many young people looking to access music-making opportunities across Cumbria. The decision to deliver the project as a residential meant that young people received around 4 hours a day of face-to-face music making contact time, without the usual barriers in finding appropriate transport to rehearsals. Full bursaries and free transport was provided for young people who would otherwise have been unable to attend. As a result, a group of young people were able to share the joys of learning and playing together, supporting each other, and making new friends, regardless of their background or financial circumstances.
It has helped me to make friends with other young musicians. I enjoy playing a lot more and I’m quite proud of what I’ve accomplished. I feel more confident now. I have learnt different ways of coming up with solid melodies and also a little bit on harmonies. I think it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.
Anna, young musician
Every young person deserves to benefit from dynamic, open access music-making experiences. Through our Widening Access programme, we support Hubs and Music Services to try out new ways of supporting young people to overcome barriers to accessing these opportunities. This residential was an exciting, creative way to explore improving access to group music-making for young musicians across Cumbria.
I wanted all of the young people to have a go at improvising during this project and have them finish the residential feeling more comfortable with the idea of composing and soloing, and have an idea about how open jazz music can be. I feel like this was really achieved – everyone was happy to take a solo in our final performance and they all sounded amazing.
Olivia Murphy, NYJO Educator
If you work for a Hub or Music Service and are interested in finding out more about our Widening Access programme, please get in touch today by emailing NYJO’s Head of Learning Vikki Moorhouse, or calling 0330 500 2002.
