Brighton and Hove Music for Connection

"Keys, chopsticks, coins, and pens!"

If you're over 50 and fancy a musical adventure, join us for our freejam session in Hollingdean.

Sometimes we use strings in our sessions, sometimes iPads, boomwhackers, and voices. And sometimes we use what we find in our pockets and kitchen drawers. In Tea and Jam recently, we played keys, chopsticks, coins, and pens. Participant J said 'it's marvellous what we can play together from nothing - we just listen and it comes together'

We are a group of people of all abilities making music in the moment. Some people come every week, and others drop in.

Free / £1 donation but booking preferred

12:00 pm-1:00 pm

📅Wednesday 2nd October
📅Wednesday 13th November
📅Wednesday 27th November

https://musicforconnection.co.uk/events/open-session-tea-and-jam-50-jam-session-3-2024-09-11

🎉Double celebrations, on Thursday 3rd October! 🎉

It's our 10th birthday and to celebrate, we're hosting not one but two events:

🍃1: An Interactive Listening Walk taster session. A great way to welcome in the sights, smells, and most importantly, sounds, of Autumn. Join us for a unique experience where you can immerse yourself in the sounds of our environment. This interactive walk will awaken your senses and help you connect with the environment in a whole new way https://bit.ly/4fvFIti

🎂 2: Our birthday party! This in-person event is a special milestone for our community, where we come together to celebrate 10 years of enjoying music together https://bit.ly/3WOrJaw

Hope to see you at one of the events...or both!

Brighton and Hove Music For Connection 10th Birthday Party Come and celebrate 10 years of Brighton and Hove Music For Connection with us - all welcome, refreshments and cake!

“I've never heard anything like it. 'M' singing was amazing. I didn't know, because she normally doesn't speak, but then to hear her - that really was something else! It was the first time I have attended and it was really fun. Everyone was so supportive of each other. I will definitely come next time”

We offer bespoke creative music-making for engagement sessions, across residential settings in Brighton and Hove:

✅We bring facilitators from our experienced team

✅We sing familiar repertoire

✅We explore instruments together in an inclusive way

✅We liaise closely with staff to ensure the best possible interactions

✅We do one to one work with individuals, using music as a relational communication tool

✅We include gentle movement and body work in our sessions

✅We use music-making as a way to encourage individuals to share their experiences with each other as a group, and encourage a culture of play

If you'd like to hear more about the work we do, have a look at our website or drop us a line https://musicforconnection.co.uk/

Are you a senior leader of a local community / voluntary sector organisation? Do you need more support?

Join the Community Works Action Learning Set (ALS) - a simple yet powerful structured form of peer support, facilitated by BHMC team member Bela Emerson.

More details and booking below - just two places left.

Calling all local VCSE CEOs and Senior Leaders: BOOK NOW!

Yes, it is back! And there are 6 places on offer for another Action Learning Set from September to March.

👉 The purpose of the ALS is to focus on work challenges and learn from the process. Members present and explore live work issues in turn with support from other members in a facilitated and safe environment. The emphasis is on action and reflection.

👉 Each session is 2.5 hours in duration, in person. Set members are expected to attend every one of the seven sessions, i.e. the intro session and 6 monthly sets.

How will it help?
👍 Develop your confidence and resilience as a leader
👍 Explore and find a way forward with an issue
👍 Learn to ask the right questions rather than offer advice or a quick fix.

Details
👉 There are only 6 places on this set so book your place ASAP!
👉 The Action Learning Set costs £250 in total.
👉 The introduction session is on 19 Sept 9.30am to 12.00pm.
👉 Subsequent session dates are:
17 Oct, 14 Nov, 12 Dec, 16 Jan, 13 Feb and 13 Mar.
👉 All sessions are in-person at Community Works and the Ansvar Community Hub in central Brighton.

The ALS is for CEOs, Directors and senior leaders working in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector across Brighton & Hove and Adur & Worthing.

⭐️ Please contact Emily at [email protected] to find out more about the ALS, accessibility needs or to book your place.
⭐️ Facilitator: https://belaemerson.com/

FULL INFO: https://www.communityworks.org.uk/whats-new/action-learning-set/

Join BHMC musicians for Hollingdean Folk Session this Thursday - learn some new tunes, explore some dances, make new friends, and drink tea: it's free for everyone!

Silver Strings have been blessed with the weather when we've played our annual performance at Sussex Prairies for the last few years, but sadly not today...we've had to postpone. Sorry! New date soon...

"I had a pivotal moment. For the first time, I heard how this cello sounds...to others. Also, the sense of 'us'. As partners"

Westcreative has made this insightful short film about our Programme Manager, Bela Emerson's 5-day residency at Fabrica gallery, earlier this year

Making Space with Bela Emerson

‘A place you can always make a right sound’

We’re thrilled to be offering an all-day music workshop. A late summer opportunity to develop listening, playfulness, and creativity:

🍃Sat, 14 Sep 2024 10:00 - 16:00 BST
🍃St Martin's Church, Brighton
🍃Lewes Road Brighton and Hove BN2 3HQ
🍃Tickets: https://bit.ly/3z41AuV (early bird offer available!)

String Holiday is a workshop for anyone aged 16 and over who has a little (or lots of!) experience of playing a violin, viola, or cello. Our friendly, highly experienced, and supportive team creates safe space for you to explore and rekindle the joy of playing your instrument, however long it is since you last played.

We specialise in helping adult string players feel great while focusing on sound, feeling, and movement. Our aim is to support you to relax into playing in the present moment within a group of like-minded people, developing musicianship, listening, playfulness, and creativity.

String Holiday provides the opportunity to play together beyond music reading – using your ears to guide you, you’ll be gently invited to explore a range of immersive and inspiring creative activities within the group, with relaxation exercises and plenty of time to reflect and digest.

What you'll need:

To be able to play one major scale on cello, viola, violin, or double bass (minimum requirement)
Your instrument and bow
A notebook and pen / manuscript paper if desired
Curiosity!
NB: you won't need a music stand

About Brighton & Hove Music for Connection and our strings for all workshops:

https://musicforconnection.co.uk/strings-for-all/strings-unbarred

Sussex Symphony Orchestra
Brighton & Hove Concert Orchestra
Burgess Hill Symphony Orchestra
Eastbourne Concert Orchestra
Haywards Heath Sinfonietta
Horsham Symphony Orchestra
Lancing Chamber Orchestra
Lewes Concert Orchestra
Mid Sussex Sinfonia
New Note Orchestra

String Holiday: do away with the fear and liberate your playing! ‘A place you can always make a right sound’ - we’re thrilled to be offering an all-day music workshop, at the seaside in Summertime.

🎉 Brighton & Hove Music for Connection...is 10 years old! 🎉

We’d love for you to join us for an afternoon of celebration and connection:

Thursday 3rd October 2-4pm

Brooke Mead Extra Care Scheme

This in-person event is a special milestone for our community, where we come together to celebrate10 years of enjoying music together.

Please RSVP via Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/3WOrJaw

There's more! Interactive Listening Walk Taster is a taster event happening as part of the Birthday Celebrations. Join us to take an interactive walk to the party venue! Please book through Eventbrite to secure a place: https://bit.ly/4fvFIti

Hope to see you there!

⭐'Experimental and fascinating’ ⭐

We recently ran the first of two All-abilities adults' stings jam.

It was great to see some new faces!

There was a chance to try each instrument, talk about the string family, chat about bowing and even try a spot of improvisation.

Programme Manager Bela said 'I looked around and people were smiling and really absorbed’

At the end, we left out a comments book. What did people think of the session?

'My first time at a jam session! So good to hear a group making creative music. I loved it’

'Very inspirational, brilliant!’

'Thank you so much, a lovely friendly and enjoyable session. I really feel lighter!’

‘I loved to hug the cello and listen to its sounds'

Good news, we're doing it all again, in August! Come an join us! https://bit.ly/3Lzh3pS

Considering a new hobby, for Autumn?

Join our happy gang!

This is our Strings for Over 50's Group, performing recently at Emmaus Brighton

We meet regularly, on Tuesdays. If you don't quite feel ready for occasional community performances like this one, we offer Beginner Sessions, too. Instruments provided!

https://musicforconnection.co.uk/

📸 Jude Winter

Getting outdoors with the local community is a big priority for us, in the summertime!

Last week, we ran an Interactive Listening Walk at Stanmer, for staff at of Brighton. This was a staff development and wellbeing session. We run these bespoke sessions for organisations throughout Brighton & Hove and beyond, so get in touch if you'd like to book one of these for your team.

"I just wanted to drop you a note to say how much your sound walk was appreciated last week. I've had good feedback from everyone that went, and thanks from everyone who attended. Comments have been:

'That was really great, it was good to see some parts of the park I've never visited before'

'I feel much better for doing this, I think you should run one every month - especially when I'm in the middle of a difficult project'

'That was very relaxing'

'I really liked the blend of history and listening'

'It was so nice to just stop and close our eyes have a proper listen, it's something I haven't done since I was a kid'

I also really enjoyed it, I liked the different approaches to listening, small and large scale, and the Aspen in particular was lovely. Thank you again!"

https://musicforconnection.co.uk/

"An emotional home I have needed, for a long time..."

We live in a fast-paced, technology-driven world and it's easy to lose touch with hobbies that once brought us fulfilment and happiness. We can all too easily become caught up in the daily grind, leaving no time for hobbies and interests which once brought us so much joy.

Here at BHMfC, we know it's never too late to rediscover those 'lost hobbies' and rekindle a passion for them, once again.

A newer member of our String Sessions for Over 50's recently told us:

"I was just thinking early this morning as the dawn chorus began that I wanted to let you and everyone involved in running Music for Connection and particularly Silver Strings how much I appreciate what you are doing.

I can’t imagine I would have taken that step to go back to the cello if it wasn’t for the Beginners session and I am very grateful.

The cello, and playing with others, is an emotional home I have needed for a long time"

🎻 https://bit.ly/4eSmRIE

Community music is alive in Brighton and Hove!

Thanks Emmaus Brighton for having us to play, last week!

It was lovely to play at the Summer Fair and great to see people stopping to sit, listen...and even cheer! A nice buzz all around us, from happy bargain hunters.

One of our players said "it was magical. Nerves all settled down now and am glowing, calm and happy"

Fancy joining us at our next public performance, as a player?! Check out the flyer and drop us a line for details of how to join one of our string programmes

This post is a tribute and huge thank you to Graham Dowdall: community musician, lecturer, performing / recording musician.

Several BHMC facilitators – and so many other facilitators from organisations throughout the south-east and beyond – were trained over the years by Graham Dowdall and Dr Phil Mullen on the brilliant 2-year Community Music Workshop Skills course at Goldsmiths, University of London. This transformational programme ran for over 20 years in total: that’s a lot of brilliant community, inclusion, and joyful work rippling outwards - a huge amount of positive social change.

Graham’s funeral was today at 11am. BHMC had our regular beginners’ / improv strings session this morning at Brighthelm auditorium. As part of the session, at 11am, Bela read out a short tribute to Graham, and 16 players of all abilities played long notes of a huge chord together to fill the room, letting the notes and the melodies change as we listened and played with each other. It felt a fitting commemoration of Graham, whose work was all about people connecting and expressing themselves, irrespective of their backgrounds, health, disabilities, social disadvantage or privilege. This work helps us belong; it brings us together.

Bela: ‘Graham described improvisation as a democratic process, and that has stayed with me ever since. It’s such a powerful and simple tool that goes beyond words – what it means to me is: everyone has a part to play; just listen to each other and we will decide between us what happens as we go.

I am immensely grateful to Graham personally: all the practice and skills he shared in his teaching & mentoring and as a colleague - and his honesty, humility, and integrity; it felt like he had your back. We’re also hugely grateful for what he brought to the organisation: bespoke training, advice, and support.

There wouldn’t be BHMC without Graham. His legacy is massive; he will be missed so much.’

We're delighted to announce there are two new summer all-abilities strings jam sessions coming up at Brighthelm:

- Monday 22nd July, 2:30-3:45pm
- Friday 23rd August, 2:30-3:45pm

Complete beginners are welcome too - we'll provide the instruments: cellos, violas, violins.

The themes of the session are

☀️ exploration
☀️listening
☀️playfulness
☀️self-expression
☀️creating together

These are light-hearted and supportive sessions, with fun and wellbeing as the focus: like a friendly campfire jam session, where every sound is welcome.

These are FREE for anyone aged over 50 (funded by BHCC's Third Sector Partnership fund) / donation if under 50.

Booking essential: www.eventbrite.com/e/all-abilities-adults-summer-strings-jam-tickets-938272577537

"Such a good session. Fun, inventive, nourishing"

Could July be the month you take up playing a string instrument, or reconnect with string playing?

We run regular Strings for Over 50's sessions, on Tuesdays:

Week 1 + 3: Silver Strings
Week 2: Beginners' / Improvising
Week 4: Strings Unbarred

We even provide the instruments.

Advance booking essential: [email protected]

"It's fantastically liberating and very levelling. And joyful...it's SO joyful!"

We're grateful to Brighton and Hove City Council for supporting these sessions via Third Sector infrastructure funding - it's clear that music-making is having a hugely positive impact on people's lives

Which session might interest you? Visit our webpage for details🎻

https://musicforconnection.co.uk/silver-strings

For those experiencing memory loss, and loved ones too...

If you or someone you know might benefit from our monthly Woodingdean sessions, drop us a line - we'd love to hear from you. All welcome!

🥁Exploring instruments together
🌺Singing
🥁Talking about music
🌺Having fun together

FREE

*NEXT SESSION MONDAY 8TH JULY*

The Parish Church of the Holy Cross

Is it ever possible to do too much listening?!

It has been incredible to test out interactive listening walks about gentrification in Brighton, St Leonards and Worthing over the last few months.

Programme Manager Bethan told us "I'm grateful to all the residents and community groups that took part and gave in-depth feedback. But I also feel also very full right now of listening to urban sounds, complex ideas and thoughtful reflections. So I'm looking forward to spending time analysing the feedback, processing all the material and writing up our learning from this over the summer"

Watch this space for our findings and what happens next for this community/university collaboration

A late summer opportunity to develop listening, playfulness, and creativity

🍃Sat, 14 Sep 2024 10:00 - 16:00 BST
🍃St Martin's Church, Brighton
🍃Lewes Road Brighton and Hove BN2 3HQ
🍃Tickets: https://bit.ly/3z41AuV (early bird offer available!)

String Holiday is a workshop for anyone aged 16 and over who has a little (or lots of!) experience of playing a violin, viola, or cello. Our friendly, highly experienced, and supportive team creates safe space for you to explore and rekindle the joy of playing your instrument, however long it is since you last played.

We specialise in helping adult string players feel great while focusing on sound, feeling, and movement. Our aim is to support you to relax into playing in the present moment within a group of like-minded people, developing musicianship, listening, playfulness, and creativity.

String Holiday provides the opportunity to play together beyond music reading – using your ears to guide you, you’ll be gently invited to explore a range of immersive and inspiring creative activities within the group, with relaxation exercises and plenty of time to reflect and digest.

What you'll need:

To be able to play one major scale on cello, viola, violin, or double bass (minimum requirement)
Your instrument and bow
A notebook and pen / manuscript paper if desired
Curiosity!
NB: you won't need a music stand

About Brighton & Hove Music for Connection and our strings for all workshops:

https://musicforconnection.co.uk/strings-for-all/strings-unbarred

Here are some of the instruments used, at the NHS trauma stabilisation group we ran recently. It was a real joy to listen and play together

Participants told us:

🎻"It's really calming"
🎻"I've always wanted to try the cello but I never had a chance before"
🎻"It's great to use the instruments because they sound good and you don't have to say anything"
🎻"I can focus on doing this - it's good!"

For more information on the sessions, projects, training and facilitation we can offer, take a look at our website or drop us a line

**NOW CANCELLED, DUE TO FACILITATORS' UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. Watch this space, for July's session...**

“You make us feel wanted. I love coming to music at Jubilee"

It's just two weeks until we welcome you though the doors of Jubilee library, for our monthly dementia-friendly 'Music & Motion' session

We promise music, gentle motion...and smiles all round

Monday, June 24, 2024
11:15 am-12:15 pm
Jubilee Library

♩ Have fun, connect, and increase wellbeing
♩ Meet others from the community in a friendly and welcoming group
♩ Increase dexterity with warm-ups and movement
♩ Join in with familiar songs and learn new ones
♩Mark the changing seasons with musical games and quizzes

Book here: [email protected] or call 01273 569096 / 07914467816

We're off to a great start with our new Sounding the Downs project!

Bela & Bethan recently met with partners at Waterhall and Lewes Railway Land.

Great to explore the sonic wonders at these two sites, as we create interactive listening walks

A few tickets remain for the walk on 15th July:

🌳Stanmer Park
🌳Monday 15 Jul 2024 1800-1930
🌳FREE
🌳This session is for anyone who accesses support for mental health.

National Trust, The South Downs The National Lottery Heritage Fund

📅 Friends! Save the date! 📅

Wednesday 24th July 2-4pm

We're going to celebrate our 10th birthday at Brooke Mead - expect cake, music and merriment!

All welcome to join us in celebrating this wonderful achievement.

More details soon - watch this space...

From Anna, Bela, and Bethan (and Esther and Stephen, and sessional workers, and participants and followers): a huge THANK YOU! to our wonderful social media volunteer Hannah Bastick, who makes all BHMC's brilliant posts - keeping our followers up-to-date, and celebrating our participants and achievements.

You do a fantastic job and we're very lucky to have you.