Shrewsbury’s free street music festival the Big Busk is getting young people closer to the music by running a series of workshops for people to try out new instruments and chat to musicians.
The fourth Big Busk – which will take place on Saturday 2 April – has the theme The Future of Music. The idea came from my organiser Karen Higgins’s son, Nathan, who said he wanted to see an area where people could try musical instruments for themselves and speak to artists about their music.
Now that idea is being turned into a reality by two of the Big Busk’s newest members, Rebecca Hope and Olly James.
The pair will be holding sessions throughout the day at Shrewsbury Central Baptist Church in Claremont Street. Like every other Big Busk event, the sessions will be free, with people asked to just donate what they can afford. All money raised will go towards the Big Busk’s charity, the Shrewsbury Ark, a centre for homeless and vulnerable people in the town.
Olly said: “We know how hard it sometimes is to experience and learn a musical instrument and how many adults regret not having this opportunity.
“Through these workshops, we hope to give children a better chance of discovering the joy of all sorts of different instruments. We have gathered local musicians who are experienced with woodwind, guitar, brass, ukulele and African “Djembe” drums to hold 30-minute workshops to educate and excite children into wanting to learn, or to increase skills on their current instruments.
“There will also be a ‘try it out’ room, which will have numerous instruments for youngsters – and grownups – to hold, play and experience first-hand. Members of the Shropshire Music Service will be also be on hand so you can ask how to start learning, how to hire instruments and any other questions you may have.”
Workshops and try-it-out sessions will start at 10am.
The Big Busk is held in memory of talented musician, poet and artist Ben Bebbington, who was killed in 2012 in an unprovoked attack. It takes place on the weekend around Ben’s birthday. Last year’s Big Busk raised an incredible £6,100 for Shrewsbury Ark, a drop in centre for homeless and vulnerable people in the town.
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