The Music Workshop Company Blog

Each month the Music Workshop Company publishes two blogs. One blog, written by the MWC team addresses a key issue in Music Education or gives information about a particular genre or period of music. The other blog is written by a guest writer, highlighting good practice or key events in Music Education. We hope you enjoy reading the blogs.

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To contribute as a guest writer please email Maria@music-workshop.co.uk

The joy of music and friendship

Posted on 16th November 2024 at 14:22

In past blogs we have explored many of the benefits of music education and participation in music: brain development, self-expression, motor skills, collaboration skills, self-discipline as well as improving wellbeing.

This month, our Artistic Director, Maria Thomas, explores an element that isn’t often highlighted as a benefit of music participation – friendships.

She argues that participation in music - whether through playing music with others, or sharing an appreciation of music - can be an important way for us to form vital connections with other people.

Image: David Amann

Puccini 100 years on

Posted on 15th October 2024 at 15:40

Giacomo Puccini is widely regarded as one of the greatest opera composers of all time, and second only to Verdi in terms of the great Italian opera writers.

Puccini was one of the young school of composers who were active in Italy as Verdi’s long career was coming to an end. Many of his works were written in the ‘verismo’ style – placing everyday people at the heart of the action, with subject matter that often focused on romance and passion.

Several of his operas are now considered staples of the genre, such as ‘La bohème’, ‘Madama Butterfly’ and ‘Tosca’ (a favourite of our Artistic Director, Maria Thomas).

Puccini died on 29th Nov 1924, and as the 100th anniversary of his death approaches, we take a closer look at his career.

Stammering and singing

Posted on 12th September 2024 at 18:01

Photo: Richie Luego, Unsplash

Singing is an activity enjoyed by people around the world, and here at the Music Workshop Company we see every day the different ways that it can benefit people. But one little-known benefit occurs for people who stammer – with many people affected finding that singing can help to reduce their stammer.

We take a look at some of the people with a stammer who have made their names as singers, and explore the potential reasons singing can have such a dramatic impact for people who stammer.

What's the future for university music courses?

Posted on 16th August 2024 at 12:51

A stage with empty seating for an orchestra

Picture by Rui Alves, Unsplash

The last few years have been a challenging time for arts education in the UK. As educational institutions have struggled with rising costs and funding decreases, we have seen a series of decisions to cut back university music education across the country.

And while most of these cuts have affected courses for post-18 students, junior departments have not been immune. This summer, young musicians hoping to attend weekend courses at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama were disappointed to learn of the closure of this provision.

We explore what has been happening in the sector, the reasons behind these closures, and – with a new government in place – what the future may hold for music in higher education.

Fanfarra (Cabua-Le-Le), Sérgio Mendes

Posted on 23rd July 2024 at 11:02

Sérgio Mendes as a young man in 1968 (Public domain/Arquivo Nacional Collection)

The Brazilian composer Sérgio Mendes has achieved major success both in the US, where most of his albums have been recorded, and around the world. The Grammy Award winner is notable for brining bossa nova to global audiences, and for having collaborated with a wide range of musicians spanning multiple genres over the years. We explore Mendes’ career, from his beginnings in the jazz clubs of Rio de Janeiro to his more recent musical partnerships.

Our activity this month focuses on Fanfarra (Cabua-Le-Le), a piece recommended in the Model Music Curriculum for Years 1-6.

Walker Lyric for Strings

Posted on 19th June 2024 at 16:50

George Walker had a long, prolific composing career, was a respected teacher and was the first Black composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music alongside many other accolades.

As a composer, he drew from a wide range of influences, and he made a huge impression on the music world, in spite of the racism that he experienced throughout his career.

We explore his life and works, and suggest an activity inspired by his best-known composition, ‘Lyric for Strings’, which is recommended by the Model Music Curriculum for Year 4 and above.

Image: Composer George Theophilus Walker at the piano, early 1940s. Source unknown.