Local arts charity Severn Arts is inviting families to come and try musical instruments at a free drop-in event at The Hive in Worcester on Saturday 21 March.  

From 1.30 – 3.30pm a whole range of instruments, including a cornet, trombone, violin, cello, clarinet, keyboard and djembe (African drum) will be available in The Hive studio for children and adults to have a go. Severn Arts’ music staff will be on hand to give demonstrations and to talk about the music tuition and performance opportunities Severn Arts offers and information on instrument hire and the repair service.  

Debbie Fawcett, Severn Arts Director of Learning said: “We’re looking forward to lots of children having fun trying out our instruments and really hoping that some will go away inspired and keen to take up the learning of an instrument. There are lots of great reasons why children should learn to play an instrument: mainly because it’s fun! but music has the power to fulfil and transform lives - giving a great sense of achievement and really boosting confidence.”  

The Severn Arts’ Come and Try event is part of Big Month of Music, organised by West Midlands Music – a unique collective of all 14 of the region’s Music Services, and the largest of its kind in the UK.  Big Month of Music, which is taking place across the West Midlands for the month of March is designed to celebrate young people’s musical achievements and inspire and encourage them to continue their musical discoveries by signposting on-going opportunities. 

As part of Big Month of Music local schoolchildren will be involved in the Big Play, filming One Minute of Music from their whole class music sessions   All the ‘minutes’ from across the West Midlands will then be profiled in a virtual celebration via social media, one after another, throughout the day on Friday 27 March. 

Young singers from schools across the region will also be part of an 800-strong choir at  Symphony Hall, Birmingham on Monday 16 March for the Big Sing.  Mentored by Ex Cathedra, the Big Sing brings together youngsters from all 14 regions in a professional-standard concert to sing songs from communities across the world, taken from the British Council’s World Voice project.    

In addition, four regional Spotlight gigs will allow young artists and bands to perform live in well-known music venues.  Worcestershire’s Spotlight gig is taking place a The Cube in Malvern on Wednesday 18 March. The other gigs are at The Coal Vaults, Coventry; Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton; and Redrum Stafford.  
 
Over 140,000 children and young people are anticipated to take part in the Big Month of Music, the largest celebration of young people’s music-making in the region and children from Worcestershire will be part of it.   
 
For information about Severn Arts see www.severnarts.org.uk and for further details on Big Month of Music and full list of events across the region, visit  www.westmidlandsmusic.org.uk