* Make Some Noise will play for Ysgol Dinas Bran on September 24. Pictures by Kerry Roberts
A talented rock
band from North Wales is “in more demand than Oasis” and preparing to play to
an audience of 40,000 schoolchildren.
Over the next
three weeks the group, Make Some Noise, will be going on tour to more than 30
high schools and special needs schools across Conwy, Denbighshire and Wrexham –
including Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen on Tuesday, September 24.
The band is made
up of professional musicians and singers from the North Wales Music Cooperative
who are on a mission to inspire the pupils to take up and play a musical
instrument or start singing.
The singers
include Sioned Terry, whose credits include singing for the royal family, and
Sara Davies, this year's Cȃn i Gymru (Song for Wales) winner, who made
international headlines she called for Wales to have its own entry in the
Eurovision Song Contest.
As a warm-up the
group has been staging 45-minute virtual concerts, live streamed to schools in
the three counties from their base in Denbigh.
According to the
music cooperative’s Head of Service, Heather Powell, they’re more popular with
their target audience than the reunited Gallagher brothers from Oasis.
Between the
virtual tour and the gigs she has calculated they will reach a total of 40,000
pupils in 210 schools.
* From left, Sara Davies, Matty Roberts and Sioned Terry.
She said:
"It's all about raising awareness of the music service and the instruments
that can be played.
"There are
seven people, all tutors in the service, in the band playing a variety of
instruments and this year there are three singers. They perform a varied
programme ranging from popular classical pieces through to rock songs.
"We also
perform 'Hei Mistar Urdd' which features a guest appearance from the man
himself and our version of 'Anfonaf Angel', the poignant song composed by Robat
Arwyn and beautifully sung by Sara Davies who is joining us for the first time
this year.
"Matty
Roberts, our presenter, introduces the various instruments during the concert
and show the youngsters what can be played on them."
"There are
children who may never see a musical instrument let alone see a band play them
live unless we take it to them.
"Seeing the
response to the band is amazing. They really get into the music and it's a joy
to see them.
"But music is
also very uplifting and can benefit pupils mental health. It is proven to
improve numeracy, literacy, confidence and well-being in children and can
provide a safe and supportive environment and help build resilience while
decreasing anxiety levels.
"Music should
not just be seen as an add-on lesson, it is a core subject beneficial to
all," said Heather.
Band members Scott
Lloyd, who plays brass instruments, and guitarist Wyn Pearson are also managers
with the North Wales Music Cooperative.
Wyn, who also
plays with Dafydd Iwan's band, said: "The importance for us is the impact
we're having on the children which since Covid has skyrocketed. We've realised
how important music is to children for their wellbeing.
"We've got to
the point now, four or five years into these gigs, the kids really look forward
to them. It's become a major part of their school life in Wrexham and
Denbighshire and we even get recognised as members of the Make Some Noise band
when we go into shops. It's crazy."
Scott added:
"The optic of getting involved in music groups, working together in the
community really helps with social inclusion as well."
It was a message
echoed by harpist Dylan Cernyw who added: "I've been working for the
co-operative music service since the beginning.
“The harp is not
the easiest instrument to learn but there are instruments in every school now
and we also have a store here in Denbigh and the numbers are slowly picking up
after Covid-19.
"Children
benefit so much from the lessons. They have chosen to learn to play the harp,
the piano, the drums or whatever and the difference in the children is obvious
in the way they react and it is very important that they have these sessions.”
Sioned Terry said:
"It's great to sing with a band and perform songs to such a large group of
children. It's a very good initiative and hopefully will continue in the
future.
"It's good
for children to see that it is possible to have instrumental lessons and for
someone who has guitar lessons for example see what is possible to do.”
Music cooperative
Chair Cllr Mark Young said: “Much as it pains me to say as a Manchester City
fan, the musicians and singers from Make Some Noise are far more gifted
musically than the Gallagher brothers.
“They are an
absolutely brilliant band and it comes as no surprise to me that they are in
even greater demand in North Wales than Oasis and I am sure they will inspire
lots of the young people who hear them to get involved in music.”
The pioneering
music service usually teaches 5,000 children every week
in Denbighshire and Wrexham as has been described as a “national
treasure” by its patron, royal composer Professor Paul Mealor.
He says the spectacular success of the organisation is all the
more remarkable because it was formed nine years ago in the aftermath of a
financial crisis that saw funding for peripatetic music teachers being axed.
It runs two sister coops in Denbighshire and Wrexham, has now been able
to buy its base in Denbigh thanks to grants from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund,
via Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council, and other partners.
They work with pupils from more than 100 primary schools and 18 high
schools in the two counties while providing work for 70 freelance music tutors
who are also members of the cooperative.
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