Creative minds: Sleeping and dreaming

The Cheltenham Science Festival Education team, together with artist and scientist Dr Lizzie Burns, have been running a fascinating series of workshops exploring the mysteries of sleep. Community and school groups in and around Cheltenham and Gloucester have been finding out about the science behind sleep and discovering their own artistic inspiration in this unusual theme. Participants of all ages have been creating pieces of artwork inspired by the brain, sleep and dreams by painting and decorating a simple white mask. These beautiful masks offer a fascinating glimpse into the emotions and memories experienced during this mysterious state of mind. Take a look at some of the artwork created so far.

Cheltenham Science Festival is also running a series of events on these topics, exploring human consciousness in its many forms. To find out more, and for ideas of further reading and info, visit our special States of Mind resource page.

16-05-2008

The Milestone School meets the Gamelan

We had a wonderfully colourful and musical day last week when a group of pupils from the Milestone School came to play the Cheltenham Gamelan. There were smiles all round as the pupils, led by our expert tutor Jonathan Roberts, got straight down to making music, filling the Pittville Pump Room with a riot of sound.

The Gamelan is an ensemble of tuned percussion instruments from Indonesia, and playing it demands concentration - as evident on the faces around the room – as well as the ability to listen to each other. The morning went quickly as the pupils followed Jonathan's rhythms, learnt how to play quietly (and really loudly) and swapped around to try out different parts of the Gamelan. At the end of the session the teachers decided to give it a go, prompting a lot of laughter and some words of advice as the pupils looked on.

Playing the Gamelan is a great activity for a group of any age; it can be enjoyed by people of any ability as no previous musical experience is necessary. It is a unique way of working together, where everyone has a part to play and the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Bringing together history, geography and culture, it looks and sounds simply stunning.

Our Gamelan morning with the Milestone School was a special morning that everyone will remember for a long time.

'I loved playing the big gong the best. The sound was like music of a thousand years ago'
Jamie, the Milestone School.

11-12-2007

Announcing Jazz It Up! 2008

Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May 11am - 2pm, Jazz Marquee Imperial gardens (free).

Two days, twelve great bands

Every year the education team at Cheltenham Festivals brings together the cream of Gloucestershire’s school jazz bands to perform on stage at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. This year’s Jazz It Up! promises to be better than ever. From soul to swing to big band, the twelve brilliant bands performing this year have a style to suit every jazz fan.

A brand new venue, a new time

For 2008 Jazz It Up! has been moved from its usual weekday slot, and will now take place on Saturday and Sunday, 3rd and 4th May in the Jazz Marquee in Imperial Gardens. We hope this move means that Jazz It Up! can attract the wider audiences it so richly deserves.

Shaken and stirred, Jazz it Up! gets a 007 theme

To celebrate the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth, there is a James Bond flavour to this year’s performances, with ten of the twelve bands including a Bond theme in their set. Each Bond theme has been specially arranged for them by young jazz star Dave Stapleton, who is performing at this year’s HSBC Cheltenham Jazz Festival. A pianist and composer described as a real UK jazz revelation by The Guardian, Dave will lead two jazz workshops at each school in the run-up to Jazz It Up!

Dave’s first workshops take place in the next couple of weeks, and he can’t wait to get started;
'I am really excited to be involved in this years Jazz It Up! and very much looking forward to hearing some of the young jazz talent coming out of Gloucestershire. I have selected ten James Bond themes that are familiar to everyone and arranged them to provide a platform for the students to learn new skills in jazz and improvisation. I am sure it will be an invaluable experience for both me and the students.'

Jazz It Up! on CD? More news coming soon

For the very first time this year, we hope to record the live performance of Jazz It Up! with the help of undergraduates and staff from the University of Gloucestershire’s popular music degree course. For more details, watch this space.

04-02-2008