MAKE SOME NOISE ...IT’S OUR BIRTHDAY
Special sessions for orchestra kids
Big Noise Raploch has been holding belated birthday celebrations this week.
Though Covid-19 restrictions prevented the programme from hosting its usual birthday concerts in June, the orchestra is now celebrating the hard work and skills of the children and young people who take part in the community-based orchestral programme, including exclusive online performances from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Since Big Noise Raploch paused its face-to-face teaching, performance and activities in mid- March, the programme has delivered more than 1000 live online lessons and created more than 150 teaching videos for its participants. They have also been running online Baby Noise sessions and sharing ‘Wednesday Wee Ones’ videos on Facebook.
Feedback from families has been encouraging, highlighting how the lessons have helped the children to stay positive and focused during lockdown as well as enabling them to keep in touch with many of the friends they could not meet due to strict social distancing measures.
On Monday and Tuesday the youngsters were able to view performances and chat to musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra during exclusive online music and Q&A sessions featuring cellist Su-a Lee, bassoonist Alison Green, trumpeter Peter Franks and percussionist Louise Goodwin.
Today ( Wednesday) and tomorrow, for the first time ever, children and young people from across all four Big Noise centres in Scotland, including Raploch, will come together to take part in Big Noise Together - large-scale, online, learning and activity sessions with the Big Noise musicians.
Every afternoon next week, there will be Facebook Live sessions hosted by each of the Big Noise centres, starting with Big Noise Raploch on Monday. These sessions can be viewed from any of the local Big Noise Facebook pages, or the national Sistema Scotland Facebook page.
Every Big Noise Raploch participant will also receive a cupcake kit to make their very own birthday cakes.
Big Noise Raploch team leader Vicky Williams said: “It’s been an amazing and challenging year for Big Noise Raploch. We’re committed to supporting the wellbeing of our participants through music and nurturing relationships and our digital lessons have helped us to maintain that over the past few months.”
Stirling Council’s community planning and regeneration convener Councillor Chris Kane said: “To everyone involved in this transformative initiative, a huge congratulations from Stirling Council, and I hope you have a wonderful birthday week.”