Music for all ages
This week at PPL has brought home to me the importance of us being there for musicians at each end of their career. I have been involved in a number of discussions with retired musicians or relatives of deceased orchestral players, emphasising the importance that their recorded legacies are protected for current and future earnings. This often involves ensuring a player or vocalist has all their contributions correctly listed on the PPL repertoire database, from pop session work to orchestral and choral repertoire.
At the opposite end of the age spectrum, I have this week undoubtedly seen some PPL performers of the future at the Music For Youth National Festival in Birmingham. PPL have a partnership with the charity, and attending its events have given me a first-hand experience of just how important it really is to the development of our young people.
The wonderfully uplifting event plays host to around 10,000 young musicians and their leaders over four days, where no stone is left unturned and musical styles range from classical choral music to African drumming, folk, jazz and grime. If you were to simply go and sit in Birmingham’s Centenary Square for an hour you would hear some of this variety on offer while enjoying the sunshine, and you would also get swept up in the enthusiasm as people rush from venue to venue or take quick selfies by the square’s fountains, often with implausibly shaped musical instruments in tow!
I was lucky enough to see the opening of the refurbished area, which is still bordered by building works on two sides but shows off the start of an exciting new era for the city. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Mohammed Azim, and Lady Mayoress, Bushra Bi, looked on as pupils from Oasis Academy Woodview, in Edgbaston, performed djembe and steel pan pieces in celebration. Their infectious enthusiasm spread to the clapping of passers-by. Even while going for a coffee next to Symphony Hall the whole place was buzzing, choirs finding a quiet corner in which to tune up before their big moment in the spotlight.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the London Youth Folk Ensemble, set up by the English Folk Dance and Song Society in 2013 and brimming with talent, commitment and a real sense of community, surely the key principles of folk music.
It drew me into thinking of my own musical experiences at the age of 12. I had been playing the cello for a year, and a combined orchestral performance of music from Pictures At An Exhibition stands out. We had a wonderfully charismatic conductor in Thetford called Keith Dixon, a family friend who threw caution to the wind when he had a baton in his hand. His tie usually came off after two minutes! Then there was my charming cello teacher from Bury St Edmunds, Barry Metcalfe, who memorably managed to fit a double bass, three cellos and myself into an Austin Allegro in the snow for a concert in Diss. These are memories that stay with you for decades afterwards!
Judging by the faces of people in Birmingham, a similar thing will happen to them. Friendships will be forged, confidence in playing live will be achieved, new music will be enjoyed and a sense of belonging, which I sense might be sadly absent from a lot of education currently, will also be keenly felt.
Music For Youth will be 50 next year, and to my mind it has never been more important. I am immensely proud of PPL’s partnership with the charity, and look forward to supporting it further, in the hope it reaches even greater heights in years to come!
