Children from across Cornwall have taken part in their first ever virtual music festival.
Hubbub, which is organised by Cornwall Music Education Hub, part of Cornwall Council, featured workshops on beatboxing as well as musical styles from around the world.
The annual event, which is normally held at Heartlands and/or Wadebridge, moved online due to Covid-19 and children have been taking part either at home or in school.
Cornwall Music Education Hub manager, Tanya Moore, said: “It was important for us to continue with this event because it inspires so many young people, although it was a little different from normal, it was a great day and everyone enjoyed themselves.”
This year’s virtual Hubbub featured workshops for all ages led by professional musicians.
They included beatboxing with world champion beatboxer SK Shlomo, Body Percussion with Beat Goes On, a range of world music workshops from Samba to South African gum boot dancing with Inspire Works, early years music with The Music Pond and Mindfulness with Cymaz Music.
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Tanya added: “I took part in most of the workshops alongside the children and I particularly enjoyed the beat boxing. This event certainly creates an energy and although people were attending remotely, there was a unique buzz.”
In all, 82 schools booked to participate in the virtual festival, with their students participating both in school and participants at home numbering in their thousands.
Marhamchurch School was one of those that took part and Sarah Short, from the school, said: “We had a fantastic day being musical in many ways! We warmed up with Angela Renshaw in her garden. Beatboxing with SK Shlomo was incredible – somebody who is famous and travels around the world. We loved the emoji's on the Zoom screen and waving to him.
“The body percussion with Olllie Turner from his front room was awesome, we could not believe he was in a hit show! We are so lucky to be able to work with him. We found it a challenge to be calm but the mindfulness with Cymaz Music helped us.
“We finished with some Samba with Mike Simpson. We picked up the rhythms quickly. We were all so inspired by the day we did a lot of Go Noodle after the final session. Finishing our Hubbub with lots of singing and dancing.”
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For the first time we will be holding a virtual Songfest concert, featuring performances by Angela Renshaw and Patrick Bailey, accompanied by the Songfest band. Schools and children of Cornwall are being invited to join in this virtual celebration of singing.
Choir leader Angela Renshaw added: “Lockdown has meant that all us teachers and musicians have had to think creatively, quickly acquiring new skills to continue to be able to engage with the children. We are all thrilled to be able to unite with them all once more in this new virtual format.”
The Cornwall Music Education Hub is a partnership of both local and national arts and music organisations, led by Cornwall Cornwall, working together to support the music education of young people in Cornwall.
The Hub leads on the strategic development of music education locally and works with a variety of organisations and individuals to meet local needs.
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