Talented rock band to play at Ysgol Dinas Bran

 

* 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.