Kids adding strings

“TEAMWORK makes the dream work”, calls music i nstr uctor Ch ristopher Sayse as he leads more than 50 young violinists in rehearsal.

The eccentric conductor oozes a passion for both music and teaching as he takes the lesson at the city’s new Music Centre, based at Coldside Campus, Alexander Street.

For many of the violinists – all under the age of 12 and from primaries across the city – it is their first time playing as part of an orchestra.

And in around six months time the group will be playing as part of the city-wide orchestral show, Dundee Schools Annual Spring Concert, at Caird Hall.

“The level of concentration you can see happening here and human interaction – it’s great,” says Paul Clancy, executive director of Children and Families Service, at Dundee City Council.

It’s the second week of lessons at the newly opened Music Centre, following closure of the iconic centre on Bell Street.

Mr Clancy said: “The Music Centre on Bell Street was there for a long time, it was iconic but it was an old building with no disabled access.

“Moving the centre felt like an important change. Children and parents were used to going there, we wanted to make sure we retained the numbers.

“We spoke with parents and young people about what to do and decided to make the best use of the facilities that we have.”

As a result the council chose to create a central base for music lessons at the Coldside Campus, which houses Rosebank and Our Lady’s primary schools.

Additional lessons are held at schools throughout the city, including guitar tuition at Harris Academy

The children during rehearsals at the new Music Centre at the Coldside Campus.