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The Cat’s Whisker Community Music Wales Winter Newsletter ‘12 Welcome to the Winter edition of the Cat’s Whisker Welcome to the Christmas special bumper edition of ‘The Cat’s whisker’! We’ve had an excellent action packed year at CMW with many highlights including our Arts Council of Wales funded environmental project ‘Stats in Sound’ and the WCVA’s Engagement Gateway projects that were run earlier this year through the European Social Fund. One of our favourites was the wonderful ukulele workshops that took place in the National Botanic Garden of Wales. Ciwdod has been continuing its relationship with BBC Radio Cymru’s C2 providing rock music workshops at schools across Wales and we are pleased to be continuing our partnership with the Artworks Cymru initiative. Of course, we were very excited by our visit from Damon Albarn and Africa Express. You can read all about it opposite. We’ve had some new additions to our offices in Fairwater. We now share the building with social enterprise organisation Spice and Fashion Designer Luna Amani-Downing. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to everyone! CMW have got some exciting projects lined up for 2013 so keep an eye on our website. In the meantime, keep warm and have a great winter holiday. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! HANNAH JENKINS Director Earlier this year, Africa Express, the collective of African and Western musicians visited Community Music Wales for an impromptu workshop and gig. Hailed as the most revolutionary force in popular music for two decades, Africa Express brings together musicians from different cultures, genres and generations to break boundaries and offer a new perspective on Africa and its music. The collective filled a train with dozens of guest artists and set off to play several shows across mainland Britain during September. As well as scheduled concerts in Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol, the musicians have been providing pop-up performances in railway stations, schools, factories, offices, shopping centres and local clubs. CMW were delighted to host the musicians which included Damon Albarn, Afel Bocoum, Kelly Mamadou and Pedro Sankaré. CMW were joined for the gig by participants from the Howardian Youth Centre, Diverse Cymru, 3Gs, University of Glamorgan, Vision 21, Mooreland Primary School and Ashgrove School; people who have all worked with CMW in the past. Damon Albarn, musician and co-founder of Africa Express, described it as one of his highlights of the tour saying It was nice to do something really mellow and communicate with people on a much more personal, one to one basis. He said: “It’s about spreading some kind of idea about music being a universal language.” Africa Express is particularly exciting for CMW as we have been running African drumming and percussion workshops for the last 20 years and the opportunity for a masterclass was not to be missed. Workshops like this are particularly effective as they allow groups of different skills to play together. This was proved by today’s session with world renowned musicians playing alongside local schoolchildren, young people, disability groups and even CMW staff – and it sounded great! Ian Birell, co-founder of Africa Express said: “Best of luck with your inspiring work. As the parent of a child with disabilities, I am well aware of the importance of music for such kids. I only wish there were more such centres and projects around the country.” Africa Express stops off at Community Music Wales 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 SPECIAL BUMPER ISSUE WITH 2013 CALENDAR! Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 5 x

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The Cat’s WhiskerCommunity Music Wales Winter Newsletter ‘12

Welcometo the Winter editionof the Cat’s Whisker

Welcome to the Christmas special bumper edition of ‘The Cat’s whisker’! We’ve had an excellent action packed year at CMW with many highlights including our Arts Council of Wales funded environmental project ‘Stats in Sound’ and the WCVA’s Engagement Gateway projects that were run earlier this year through the European Social Fund. One of our favourites was the wonderful ukulele workshops that took place in the National Botanic Garden of Wales. Ciwdod has been continuing its relationship with BBC Radio Cymru’s C2 providing rock music workshops at schools across Wales and we are pleased to be continuing our partnership with the Artworks Cymru initiative. Of course, we were very excited by our visit from Damon Albarn and Africa Express. You can read all about it opposite. We’ve had some new additions to our offices in Fairwater. We now share the building with social enterprise organisation Spice and Fashion Designer Luna Amani-Downing. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to everyone! CMW have got some exciting projects lined up for 2013 so keep an eye on our website. In the meantime, keep warm and have a great winter holiday.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!HANNAH JENKINSDirector

Earlier this year, Africa Express, the collective of African and Western musicians visited Community Music Wales for an impromptu workshop and gig.Hailed as the most revolutionary force in popular music for two decades, Africa Express brings together musicians from different cultures, genres and generations to break boundaries and offer a new perspective on Africa and its music. The collective filled a train with dozens of guest artists and set off to play several shows across mainland Britain during September. As well as scheduled concerts in Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol, the musicians have been providing pop-up performances in railway stations, schools, factories, offices, shopping centres and local clubs.CMW were delighted to host the musicians which included Damon Albarn, Afel Bocoum, Kelly Mamadou and Pedro Sankaré. CMW were joined for the gig by participants from the Howardian Youth Centre, Diverse Cymru, 3Gs, University of Glamorgan, Vision 21, Mooreland Primary School and Ashgrove School; people who have all worked with CMW in the past.

Damon Albarn, musician and co-founder of Africa Express, described it as one of his highlights of the tour saying It was nice to do something really mellow and communicate with people on a much more personal, one to one basis. He said: “It’s about spreading some kind of idea about music being a universal language.”Africa Express is particularly exciting for CMW as we have been running African drumming and percussion workshops for the last 20 years and the opportunity for a masterclass was not to be missed. Workshops like this are particularly effective as they allow groups of different skills to play together. This was proved by today’s session with world renowned musicians playing alongside local schoolchildren, young people, disability groups and even CMW staff – and it sounded great!Ian Birell, co-founder of Africa Express said: “Best of luck with your inspiring work. As the parent of a child with disabilities, I am well aware of the importance of music for such kids. I only wish there were more such centres and projects around the country.”

Africa Express stops off at Community Music Wales

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SPECIAL BUMPER ISSUE WITH2013 CALENDAR!

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Contemporary Music Industry lectures at Cardiff and Vale College

In November, CMW Project Officer Adam Williams delivered a lecture on Intellectual Property (I.P.) to Popular Music students at Cardiff and Vale College Trowbridge Campus. Adam explained to the students exactly what Intellectual Property is and its importance within the creative industries. He also discussed the legal mechanisms that are in place to protect I.P. such as Copyright. He went on to talk about the history of Copyright, going into detail about Gutenburg’s Printing Press and how it changed the publishing business and the ‘Statute of Anne’, the first law to protect I.P. The lecture also looked at alternatives to Copyright taking into consideration the digital age and explored how industry and technology over the years has affected I.P. legislation and our creative culture and economy. Feedback from the staff and students at Cardiff and Vale College has been very positive and Adam is booked to deliver further lectures there on Entrepreneurship within the Contemporary Music Industry. Adam said: “It was great to see the students engage with a subject that is new to some of them, as they are just starting their career within the creative industries. I’m looking forward to our further work with Cardiff and Vale College.”

Andrew Brown is a musician living in Cardiff. He plays bass in his own band Afro Cluster and also for Zervas & Pepper, who are currently being championed by a diverse range of DJs from Lauren Laverne and Radcliffe & Maconie, to Terry Wogan and Janice Long. He previously played for Melo Park, a band featuring Sian Evans (Kosheen) and Simon Kingman, which included playing internationally and recording at the world famous Rockfield Studios. Andrew’s first opportunity to play music was at a CMW workshop. He was immediately hooked by the experience and went on to take part in a number of CMW projects. Andrew tells us about his experiences below: “I remember really well the first time I wanted to play music. I must have been around 12 or 13 and my high school were starting ‘Band Club’ every Thursday after school. The sessions were run by CMW and it was my first experience of what CMW are all about. I met all of the tutors there, and not knowing what I was going to play I got a bass shoved into my lap and that was it, from that day on I was hooked and wanted to play bass! I did MusicMix (the annual summer rock school that CMW runs with Cardiff Council at St David’s Hall) two summers on the trot when I was in high-school. Again they were all great memories. It was a great way to practice with a band all week, every-day, all day and it gave me a good taste of what being a full-time musician can be like. The tutors were great to get on with and really helped me with my performing. Overall these MusicMixes were a great experience. I got to meet different musicians and work with great mentors. I remember really well all of the tutors that mentored me throughout high school and have very fond memories of them all. Ron Macauley, Neil White and Gareth Giles were the ones from Band Club, then Lyndon Pettican and Cat Southall were at MusicMix. Ron helped me a lot because he was a drummer and so was able to show me how the two instruments (bass and drums) work together. I’ve got vivid memories of badgering Neil for new bass-lines, he was great like that, he was definitely the first person to actually teach me different bass lines...every week I’d get something new out of him. I still remember a couple bass lines he taught me to this

day! Gareth was also great; he taught me some good exercises and scales that I still go through today. I remember him being a massive fan of The Smiths too! The MusicMix programme re-affirmed to me that I want/need to do music full-time. The whole thing of getting up early everyday for a week and going in to practice with your band was amazing. It’s that experience that has motivated me to do this full-time. When I left high school I studied Music at University and graduated last year with a BA Hons Degree in Pop Music. I’m in the middle of doing a PGCE in Cardiff University and hoping to on to do teaching work in the future so that I can inspire young people like the CMW tutors did for me. Of course I’m still playing music, I’m currently playing around at least three times a week for various projects and function bands around Cardiff. CMW has been heavily instrumental in inspiring me to pick up the bass, keep practising and make a living out of music. LONG MAY IT CONTINUE!!!!”

CMW CASE STUDY:Andrew Brown, former participant

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For up to the minute news and project information: www.communitymusicwales.co.uk---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mo Ho Ho!Sightings of Harry sporting a big fuzzy

moustache are being reported from around Cardiff.

Mo Bro Harry had been growing the ‘tache in November in aid of the ‘Movember’ initiative,

which has men all over the world growing moustaches with an aim to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

He said: “I’m not facially hair challenged so it’s grown well I’ve grown rather attached to the thing. I’ll be keeping it for Christmas so I can save my mince pies in there for later and it has the added bonus of keeping my face

warmer.”

Chris Evans was unavailable for comment.

Staff Profile: Simon Groves

Chair of the Board of Trustees-----------------Simon is Experiential Manager for Atradius – a credit insurance and management company based in Cardiff Bay. He is also heavily involved with music and plays gigs across the country with his band Roosevelt.-----------------If you had to be stuck in a lift with anyone who would it be?So I don’t panic (eventual lack of oxygen, starvation etc) it had better be someone who’d keep me amused. How about comedian Milton Jones? This is one of his: ‘I rang the spiritual leader of Tibet the other day. He sent me a goat with a very long neck. Turned out I’d phoned ‘Dial a Llama’.Favourite film?Depends on what day of the week it is. Sometimes it’s ‘The Godfather’, sometimes ‘Some Like It Hot’, sometimes ‘Crash’.What was the last album you bought?Ron Sexsmith ‘Long Player Late Bloomer’. Great Canadian songwriter. Sometimes sounds like Jackson Brown (v good), sometimes Paul McCartney (not so v good).What is your greatest fear? Anything bad happening to my wife and kids.Which person do you most admire and why?George Harrison. Gentle. Unassuming. Made great new music throughout his life. And wrote many of the best Beatles songs too. ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ – I rest my case.What’s the first gig you went to?Rolling Stones, Capitol Cardiff, September 1965. But the BEST gig I’ve ever been to was Jimi Hendrix, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff 1967.Cat or dog?Dog. But not a yappy one. Russian terrier would be nice, if impractical.Star sign?Gemini. I know it’s all nonsense but I like to kid myself I’m a typical… you know, smart, witty, fun, creative. Told you it was nonsense.If you could have an alternative career what would you be?Drummer with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.What do you like to do when you’re not in work?Drum with my band Roosvelt (sort of Tom Pettyish). Watch endless series of US and Danish TV thrillers. Eat.

The MixCMW are continuing our long standing relationship with Head4Arts by running a series of workshops for young people around South Wales. The workshops are taking place as part of Reach the Heights project ‘The Mix’ and focus on music technology including everything from DJing to music production. The workshops also have a strong emphasis on digital inclusion and the use of social media within the music industry. The workshops are accredited through Agored Cymru and include DJing in Senghenydd Drop-in Centre, music technology in Rhymney College and ‘transition into employment’ DJ sessions in Aberfan. There are also weekly workshops in St Martins School in Caerphilly where young people are being taught how to make ringtones for their mobile phones! CMW has over 20 years experience of running participatory music activities and we have expertise in planning and providing high quality music projects in a community setting. We can tailor music projects to need, facilitating any special requirements and providing expert strategic workshop planning to your given budget. For more information on our bespoke workshops please visit www.communitymusicwales.co.uk

DJing at Senghenydd Drop-in Centre

-----------------------------------------------------------------------CMW is a registered Charity and relies on grants and donations to survive. For

more info on donating please visit: www.communitymusicwales.co.uk get-involved/donate-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Community Music Tutor Training to return!CMW are pleased to report that following the success of our course in 2011 we will be running the 15 week Community Music Tutor Training Course again in 2013. The training covers a range of theory and practice in community music with practical workshops from professional community music trainers. The workshops include group work skills, assertiveness, devising and adapting workshop material, facilitating client learning and growth, working with soft outcomes and transferable skills, an awareness of child protection, insurance, assessing basic skills, health and safety, equal opportunities and diversity and best practice.

The course will run from Thursday 11 April through to 11 July and will involve one full day a week of training. There will be taught sessions and placements. The course will take place in Cardiff but is open to those resident in South Wales. Our courses are Agored Cymru accredited. Training is designed with a structure, method and ethos which reflects the job of a community music tutor i.e. the course is a valuable rehearsal for the job itself. Training is based partly on self-assessment - trainees assess their own strengths and weaknesses. Through personal experience of being in a group in a learning environment each trainee will gain an appreciation and understanding of group dynamics and group processes. CMW has had a huge success rate in its training, with over 500 people going through our courses. CMW’s tutors are skilled musicians who through the training programme have converted their skills to a credible and real work potential. Tutors range in age and background but all are committed to using music as a way of engaging people to make a real difference.Not only has the course benefitted people in Wales it is also highly regarded internationally, with CMW delivering courses in Latvia, Germany, Cuba, Israel, Canada and Bolivia over the past 10 years.Bethan Nia, a participant on the 2011 course said: “I would highly recommend this course to anyone thinking of working within the field of Community Music. It certainly gave me the tools, structure and confidence to expand my work opportunities and set up my own projects.”Further information and application packs will be available from January 2013. Please contact [email protected] or call 029 2083 8060

Training News

CMW participant sets up new enterprise

CMW are delighted to report the success of one of our participants. Loui Milne of Maesgeirchen, Bangor, was originally a participant on one of our Engagement Gateway projects that were run earlier this year as part of a scheme developed as a collaborative venture by the Welsh European Funding Office [WEFO], Welsh Assembly Government and Wales Council for Voluntary Action [WCVA].After completing the Engagement Gateway scheme, Loui was placed on another of CMW’s mentoring schemes, Complete Control Music (CCM). CCM works with 14-19 year olds involved in making music. It’s a mentoring scheme which gives practical advice on the music industry along with opportunities to promote and develop young peoples work, offering recording opportunities, possible releases, gigs, support and advice.Whilst on the scheme he expressed an interest in becoming a guitar tutor. His CCM Mentor and Tutor, Marcus Peachy, helped to prepare him for this by giving him some music theory and teaching tips. Loui attended CMW’s 2 day tutor training course ‘Community Music in the Workplace’, where he achieved a Level 3 accreditation through Agored Cymru, as well as many valuable practical skills.

CMW then put Loui in touch with Menter a Busnes who provide grants to help individuals start up a business. Loui applied to help him start up his guitar teaching project.CMW also put Loui in touch with Maesgeirchen Youth Club where we have been running many workshops over the last 3 years as part of the scheme. Loui is now volunteering as a guitar teacher to some of the younger participants who are not eligible for CCM.Since leaving CCM Loui has joined a new band as a guitarist and started up his own new band. He is also a founder member of BYGS, the Bangor youth group which has been set up to give young people in the area somewhere to meet and exchange ideas to try and combat any negative effects of the recent curfew on young people. Loui has recently been in touch with CMW to let us know that his Menter a Busnes grant application has been successful and he is now in the process of starting up his own business.Good luck Loui!

Tutor Training 2011

C O N T A C TD E T A I L S

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Diary of eventsWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWReach the Heights – The MixVarious dates and venuesCommunity Music Wales have recently been commissioned by Head4Arts as part of their Reach the Heights project ‘The Mix’ to deliver music workshops including sessions on DJ-ing and music technology, for young people at various organisations around south Wales. These organisations include Tai Calon Housing Association in Tredegar, the ‘transition into employment’ scheme in Aberfan, Senghenydd drop-in centre and Rhymney College. The courses are all accredited by Agored Cymru. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participatory Workshops at Ty PenrhosTy Penrhos, Caerphilly:Wednesdays 10am-12pmFollowing the continued success of our participatory music workshops with the Coalition of Disabled People at The Laurels and Briary in Ely, Cardiff, CMW have been commissioned to run an additional 10 workshops at a new residential home, Ty Penrhos in Caerphilly. We’re very much looking forward meeting everyone there and having some fun making music!These workshops are not open to the public.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Creative ChoicesChapter Arts Centre, Cardiff:Tuesdays 21 August - 18 December10.00am - 12.00pmCommunity Music Wales are working with Vision 21 in Cardiff to provide drumming, singing and participatory workshops for adults with learning difficulties.These workshops are not open to the public.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conwy Central Referral UnitConwy Central Referral Unit:Wednesday and Friday from 7 November - 19 Dec 10.00am – 11.00amCommunity Music Wales have received funding from the Arts Council of Wales through the ESF Reach the Heights project to run a series of workshops for young people at the Conway Central Referral Unit.These fun and engaging workshops aim to help participants gain confidence, self- esteem and a range of basic transferable skills. The Project aims to accredit all participants with an Agored Cymru level 1 accreditation.These workshops are not open to the public.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ysgol Syr Hugh OwenYsgol Syr Hugh Owen, Bethel Road, Caernarfon, Gwynedd:Mondays, 1:50pm - 3:30pm and Thursdays, 9:00am - 11:00amStarting on 12 & 15 November for 5 weeksCommunity Music Wales have received funding from the Arts Council of Wales through the ESF Reach the Heights project to run a series of workshops for young people at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen in Caernarfon, Gwynedd. The workshops will engage participants in group composition and recording with the aim to increase the participant’s confidence and transferable skills. The course will be accredited by Agored Cymru.These workshops are not open to the public.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Community TheatreCommunity Music Wales have been commissioned by Head4Arts to provide choral singing support for a larger production involving three primary schools in Merthyr.The Primary Schools are:St Aloysious R.C Primary School, Gwaunfarren School and Goetre Primary School20, 27 November and 4, 5 December, 9.15am – 3.00pmThese workshops are not open to the public.

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