In the 20th of a series of articles, David Bird discusses the work of Redbridge Music Society and Redbridge Music Service, whose students will be performing in Wanstead this month.
Two main aims of Redbridge Music Society are to promote and support up-and-coming young musicians, especially those residing within the borough, and to bring a diverse range of musical styles and genres to the people of Redbridge at easily accessible venues. Both aims will be realised when the students of Redbridge Music Service put on a recital at Christ Church, Wanstead this month.
Based at the John Savage Centre, Barkingside, Redbridge Music Service is the gem in Redbridge’s musical crown. It is a lead partner within the North East London Music Education Hub (NELMEH), and through the many years of its existence, the Music Service has nurtured numerous talented young musicians, a large number of which have gone on to become professional musicians.
Currently, music has the status of being a statutory subject and is an entitlement for pupils up to the age of 14 in schools that follow the National Curriculum. Pupils should have access to both live and recorded music and Redbridge Music Service, via a programme of recitals, ensures pupils have first-hand experiences of music through live performances. The Music Service presents about 50 annual concerts, ranging from pupil concerts at the John Savage Centre to major events at Redbridge Town Hall. Every two years the Music Service puts on the renowned Redbridge Schools’ Choral Festival at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Learning a musical instrument can significantly improve important developmental qualities, such as self-confidence, imagination and creativity, memory and co-ordination skills and communication, team and social skills – skills which also greatly benefit other areas in the school curriculum. To this end, Redbridge Music Service provides a wide range of instrumental and vocal tuition in schools – even at nursery and reception level – throughout the borough. Instruments can be hired from the Music Service’s Instrument Centre at the John Savage Centre.
The Music School encourages its students to explore music from a wide range of historical periods, genres and traditions. This will certainly be evident at the forthcoming recital at Christ Church when the students will perform an eclectic mix of music and musical styles. Their recitals are always a popular and well-attended event and are now a standard annual feature in Redbridge Music Society’s calendar. Please come along and support our exceptional home-grown talent!
