A youth band and a children’s choir are offering young people new opportunities and providing normality post-pandemic.
Both have been set up for free by the award-winning North Wales Music Co-operative.
Sessions are free to join, and, at the youth band, participants do not need to own their own instruments but can borrow from the Co-op’s supply.
The idea is to make music more accessible for young people of all ages and backgrounds as well as boosting their mental well-being in the wake of hardships caused by the pandemic.
After just a few weeks in operation, the band in Wrexham and the choir in Denbighshire have proved an invaluable lifeline for children across the two counties.
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Among the latest to sign up is Ethan Roberts, aged eight, who is proud to be the only student of the tuba with the newly formed Belle Vue Community Youth Band.
At first, he contemplated learning the cornet but when offered the tuba he jumped at the chance even though it is almost as big as he is!
Smiling widely behind the lowest-pitched instrument in the brass family, he laughed: “It’s great. I love it. I want to be the most famous tuba player from Wrexham!”
Fellow band members Angharad Roberts, 10, and David Moskal, nine, are excited at the chance to be learning face to face from professional tutors.
Live music lessons had to be put on hold during the pandemic lockdowns and were sorely missed by many young students, but the music co-operatives have worked hard to get them up and running again as restrictions ease.
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Cornet learner Angharad said: “It’s great to be playing music with others in a group as it gives me more confidence. It helps to see others my age playing the same music and it’s reassuring to know that we all make similar mistakes and can learn techniques to overcome them.”
David is also learning the cornet but has his heart set on the drums.
He said: “I’d love to play the drums one day. They’re such a fantastic instrument. Maybe now I’ve joined the band I might get the chance.”
The youth band was set up for children aged eight to 16 by Wrexham Music Co-operative manager Scott Lloyd who said it has been a bumper success and now has about 20 regular attendees, with more places available.
He said: “The social and cultural demographic of this area is hugely diverse which means we have children in the band who speak about five different languages.
“Some have moved here with their families from war-torn and troubled destinations overseas and speak minimal English. But the beauty of music is that it is all-encompassing. It has long been the language of friendship and harmony, and now it has become a catalyst for healing.
“With all that’s going on in the world it’s great to have a refuge in music, a safe space where youngsters can learn a new skill and freely enjoy being creative.”
Veteran soldier Scott played in an Army brass band before returning to Civvie street as a full-time music tutor. He also works closely with Ifton Colliery Band and the Wrexham Concert Band both of which, like the youth band, meet at the Parciau Community Centre in Bellevue Park, Wrexham.
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Founder and Head of Service, Heather Powell set up the not-for-profit co-operatives nearly a decade ago after funding cuts were made to music education services across Wales. Today they offer music sessions in 200 schools, covering more than 5,000 children, and they have more than 70 self-employed tutors on their books.
Heather thanked local and national arts and community organisations for their support, including Denbighshire and Wrexham Councils, Offa Community Council, and the National Lottery community grants project.
She said: “We have faced many challenges keeping music lessons alive over the two years of the pandemic. With social distancing in force, face-to-face lessons were off the table and some instruments could not be played at all.
“It is massively rewarding not only to see our existing services back up and running again but the addition of new sessions like the youth band and children’s choir.”
The Bellevue Youth Band meets on Tuesdays at Parciau Community Centre, Bellevue Park, Wrexham, from 6.30-7.30 pm. For details email bellevueyouthband@gmail.com or visit their Facebook site.
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