Gigs4kids!

The idea

If a child isn’t learning a musical instrument by age 8 they may never start. We aim to inspire the 2327 Year 3 children in Bedford Borough to learn to play music via the power of live performance. All our gigs will be followed up by a clear communication campaign about options for lessons in Bedford Borough for parents. A bursary fund to support at least 30 disadvantaged children to access a 'taster term' of 1-1 lessons.

Just imagine: Buskers in the playground, a rock band in assembly, a baroque quartet in the library or a cellist in the canteen

There are 54 primary schools in Bedford Borough, and we want to reach all of them. We will provide a free gig, a 'learning to play' pamphlet (to make clear all of the music options for year 3 children) for every child and at least 30 bursaries for those who haven't been able to afford to try.

This is a collaboration with Music Live, Bedford Music Co-operative, the Philharmonia Orchestra, The Culture Challenge and Pad Presents.

What we'll deliver

54 gigs in 54 schools
A 'learning to play' pamphlet in every year 3 school bag
30 'taster term' bursaries
Intensive support by The Philharmonia for the bursary recipients who have chosen an orchestral instrument

Why it's a great idea

The joy of live music is something everyone loves to experience, but for children the benefits are extraordinary. Childhood is the peak time to learn to play & being able to play opens up a lifetime of potential to enjoy and express themselves. The Cultural Learning Alliance has robust research showing that musical knowledge makes a positive difference to engagement and attainment in their broader learning too.

Let's not expect children to want learn to play before they have heard, seen and felt live music. Instead let's inspire children with live music and let's practically support their early explorations in music.

In a context of cuts to music provision, charges to families for music lessons, and a rising number of families struggling to get by the musical opportunities for children are shrinking, especially so for those from poorer families. The orchestras and bands, the concert halls and small music venues need both the musicians and audiences of the future.

Kids need gigs!

Steps to get it done

Create the menu of gigs and dates for schools
Promote gigs for kids to all Bedford Borough Schools
Contract all musicians
Design, print and distribute the 'learning to play' pack
Promote and administer the 'taster term' bursaries
Administer 54 gigs to schools
Evaluate the impact of the programme.

Music for Bedford Borough is collaborating with The Philharmonia Orchestra, the Bedford Music Co-operative and Music Live to provide these concerts, which will be a broad mix of music styles from rock, jazz, funk and classical music. Bedford Creative Arts and The Culture Challenge will be active partners in this programme. Pad Presents, the managers of Bedford's independent small music venue, Esquires are supporting the programme through a social media campaign to broaden the appeal.
The Philharmonia have pledged extra support for all children in receipt of bursaries.

All concerts will be offered to schools free of charge, and bursaries will be allocated on need by a panel from the partners above and according to set criteria.

Location

By Music for Bedford Borough

The Bedford Music Hub consists of organisations th... Learn More

About

Partner donations

This project has
received funding from
Our Music Crowd Fund

Updates

An update from Gigs4kids6 years ago

Dear Gigs4kids supporters We wanted to take a moment to fill you in on the next steps for the gigs4kids programme. While we were able to undertake 26 concerts to 1582 pupils as of 20th March, COVID 19 got in the way of delivering the full amount of concerts planned. We have 29 concerts to complete and of course the 30 bursaries for lessons (plus 9 extension terms), and master classes from The Philharmonia Orchestra to undertake. All gigs4kids partners are fully committed to delivering all of these things for Bedford children, just later than planned. While schools are due to open in September we know it may be some time before things are back to normal so we have committed to reviewing our delivery options in Spring 2021 with a goal to deliver the remaining concerts in September 2021. We are really excited to deliver them as soon as it is safe to do so. Indeed, after the disruption of summer term 2020, these musical experiences and bursaries will be needed more than ever. We will keep you up to date with our progress over time. Thank you once again for your support with all the very best, The gigs4kids team

A last hurrah for now6 years ago

Hello all, Just to let you know we had two gigs4kids shows take place last week at two schools in Bedford. The Brass Funkeys entertained a group of students at Castle Newnham and at Harrold Primary, which went down a storm! It feels particularly poignant right now, as this week all schools are closing in the UK and as such, there won't be any gigs4kids events for the time being. But to reassure you, they will go ahead in the future - gigs4kids is not cancelled, merely on hold! Take care. Keep rocking.

An uplifting update from Gigs4kids6 years ago

Dear Pledgers We wanted to give you a little update on our progress since you helped us hit our fundraising target. Artistes from The Philharmonia, our partners Music Live, and ensembles from the Bedford Music Co-Operative have all been identified and confirmed and the concerts will take place in March and April this year. The ‘Learning to play’ pack for parents has been signed off and is with the designers. This pack will go home with every Bedford Year 3 child after they have had their concert and supports the key goal of the campaign to encourage children to take up lessons. We were delighted to attend the Bedford Borough Learning Exhange this week to announce the success of the campaign and to let the Headteachers know that the booking forms will be going out via the Music for Bedford Borough office next week. We also sent a very special thank you to the children of Shortstown Primary School who, last year, took part in a ‘dress like a rock star’ fundraising day for the campaign. A rather heavy box was delivered to the school hall yesterday addressed to the students. Whilst rumours flew around the school that Justin Bieber was in the box it was in fact much better than that - Music Co-operative teacher Chris Hepworth emerged from the box this morning to give a pop-up rock concert! The enthusiasm and response from the children gave us a taste of how magical these concerts will be for the children of Bedford. Details of the lesson bursaries will be released to schools once they have booked their concerts, enabling the take up of music lessons for children in need of some financial support to do so. We will keep you posted once the concerts are rolled out to all primary and lower schools in Bedford in March, but until then, thank you, and keep rocking! The Gigs4kids team.

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Recent backers

Anonymous - £214
7 years ago

Councillor Doug McMurdo - £300
7 years ago

Debbie Ward - £500
7 years ago

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