The saxophone felt like my voice and the emotions you go through as a teenager
Cbeebies presenter and double MOBO winner Yolanda Brown tells MARION MCMULLEN about bringing music to kids in lockdown
Your Cbeebies show Yolanda’s Band Jam has been hugely popular. Tell us more about it... THERE have been two series on the go, each 20 episodes, the children make music on a variety of instruments and there are other musicians in the studio.
Beforehand I was thinking ‘there really should be something like this on TV for young children’.
Like Top Of The Pops, it really gets you dancing and there are also nuggets of music education. We’re looking at a possible third series when lockdown ends and we can all be back together again in the studio.
The Band Jam album is out now as well, and I’ve been getting a lot of great comments from people. The songs existed from the show and it was really nice to do. I hope the new album will encourage children to discover the joys of music through dancing, singing and playing.
You have two young daughters yourself. How have you been managing during lockdown?
(LAUGHS) It’s a juggling trick and I know other parents are going through the same thing. I’ve been working from home and doing things like radio broadcasts. Trying to get it all done is not easy when you are sorting out meal times and all that.
I think my daughters are musical, but I’m cautious not to push anything as they are growing up.
I was eight months pregnant and still touring each time and they would react in the womb to music and have their favourite songs. They have come on tour with us in the past and they still have the same reaction to music.
My six-year-old actually came up to me recently and said ‘I’m ready. I think I’d like to learn the piano’.
How old were you when you started playing music?
I WAS six when I started playing the violin, drums, recorder, everything... and then, at about 13, I discovered the saxophone. There was something different about it. I thought I’ll just have a blow into the instrument and I didn’t look back after that.
The saxophone felt like my voice and all the emotions you go through as a teenager. I love playing it and that has never left me.
I have saxophones everywhere. I take three on tour, I have them in different rooms at home and even one at my mum’s house... just in case.
I have a piano in my front room, a baby grand, and it was my oldest daughter’s idea to put my MOBO awards on top of it.
You have toured with the likes of The Temptations, Billy Ocean and Beverley Knight. Do you miss performing live?
I REALLY do. I was on tour in Australia and we all went. I had taken my six-year-old out of school and my mum and dad came along and there was a seven-piece band and, two weeks in, Australia went into lockdown.
I was pregnant as well when I did Jool Holland’s Hootenanny on BBC and got to perform I Put A Spell On You with Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics and Ain’t Too Proud To Beg With Rick Astley.
Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics called me in 2019 to play, and that was quite organic and nothing was planned. (Laughs) I didn’t even know what the song was when I went on stage.
You’re backing music education in lockdown with free learning materials for children, teachers and parents. How important are the sessions to you?
THE announcement of another lockdown has created a lot of anxiety and panic from children and their parents and guardians.
We must stay positive. I decided to release my Yolanda’s Band Jam album earlier than planned, as well as make my school resource available to everyone, to give joy, escapism and support to many children and their parents around the country – we will overcome this pandemic together.
What have you been listening to at home during lockdown?
A LOT of uplifting music with my daughters, like Don’t You Worry About A Thing, from the Sing film. Everyone gets to pick their favourite tracks so there’s everything from Korean pop and afro-beats to up-tempo music and anything that gets you moving and just up and dancing.
I believe you’ve been brushing up your Rubik Cube skills as well?
(LAUGHS) I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to things like that. I can normally do it in a few minutes.
Once you work out the algorithm you can do it every time.
It actually comes with instructions when you buy it, but most people throw the paper away without looking at it.
■ Yolanda’s online music lesson plans, learning materials and videos for teachers, parents and pupils are available to download from the Twinkl website for free at twinkl.co.uk/yolanda.
■ Go to lpo.org.uk/podcast.html to subscribe to her London Orchestra Philharmonic podcast Offstage.