We deliver music workshops, tailored projects and concerts, to teachers and pupils, which specifically develop creative musical skills. Our team have firm foundations in the Jazz and Improvising musical arena with more than 30 years of experience. Our tutors are at the forefront of the current, vibrant Scottish Jazz scene. They are all established professional musicians, with excellent teaching and award winning performance skills.

Fife Region – Samba Reggae Project

Description of Programme:

Over a 10-week period participants will learn typical rhythms and songs from the (street) Samba genre and how to lead a samba group and acquire performance practice skills. The style relies on a carnival-based approach to music, which allows students to express themselves whilst keeping to established forms and patterns (musical language). The project will culminate in a concert by all the participants to their school and / or parents.

The Samba genre is ideal for allowing students to connect with music on many levels. For the beginner it allows them to have hands-on experience with rhythm and song that has immediacy to it. For students of music it gives them a new experience of learning by ear, and within group playing that will benefit their further studies. The group work instils a sense of camaraderie within the class that will unite the students and have a lasting benefit for all.

Fife primary school teachers

Chris and Mario delivered fantastic musical sessions!
Pupils were highly motivated and enjoyed the success of their performance.
Great for self-esteem.
Children recommended it! It built on what they already have, consolidates their skills giving them the confidence to continue playing.
It was invigorating. The children who did this would love to carry on but it would also benefit next year’s P5s.
I think some of the younger children would have loved to have joined in, I know the adults would have certainly had a go! Many thanks.
I would be interested in finding out how to keep this going in our school. Thanks to Chris and Mario for all their hard work.

Fife Region – Samba Reggae Project - Fife primary school children (without the spell check)

I liked how my mum came and watched the concert.
The lessons were hard but great.
I will really miss having Samba lessons hope I see you again.
You were the best teachers we could have. My favourite part was the call and response. You made it the best time ever.
I loved learning a new kind of music and having the best teachers ever!
I really enjoyed it because I have never done anything like that before in my life.
…it was amasing and my faiveraite instrumet was the surdo because they were really loud.
I loved Chris’s trumbone espeshaly when he played the rockey song. I also loved it when Mario played the small guitar.

Jazz Development Project, funded by the Scottish Arts Council, Youth Music Initiative

Project includes; CPD for instrumental teachers, live concert performance to schools and follow up serious of 6 – 10 weeks of workshops with music students on jazz and improvisation. Pilots held at: St David’s Secondary School Dalkeith, Dunbar Grammar, Holryood Secondary School, Edinburgh, Broxburn Academy.

'For once the IST was relevant and interesting', 'I have discovered that jazz and improvising is accessible and can be made simple, not scary!'
West Lothian Instrumental Teachers attending CPD

'Jazz rocks!'
5th year pupil, Holyrood Secondary School

Jazz is: 'Rhythm, groove, fun and accessible!'
'Cool music!' 'Really skilled musicianship!'
'Music to take part in!' 'Structured improvised music!'
'Exciting!'
From Pupils from Dunbar Grammar who took part in this project

East Lothian and Fife Region – Singing Drum Project

A 6-week programme creating sound pictures using percussion (including tuned percussion), the body and voice. Themed on the Rain Forrest with emphasis on listening, creating sounds and working as a team, the children also had fun learning rhythm games, how to conduct and control a group using hand signals and using narrative. The end result was presented as a concert to the whole school on the final week of this project. Most of the schools involved are also encouraged to make artwork for the concert in the form of colourful masks and banners.

‘This has been a fantastic experience for the children. They have been excited and motivated from the beginning. It has helped team building and relationships within the class, which is very important at the start of a new session. Their confidence and musicianship has developed greatly. I have learned a lot too! Thank you. I have been using rhythm exercises with the school choir. We had “The X-Claptor” to judge the winners of the clapping!’
Torbain PS, Fife

‘Workshops were lively and children responded well. Tutors were well prepared and could cope with difficult pupils.’
East Lothian Primary School teacher

East Lothian and Fife Region - Percussion and voice Project

A 6-week programme creating musical stories where the children were encouraged to make up stories relevant to school work, area where they live or other theme, make sounds using all percussion and composed songs and lyrics. The project ended with a performance to the whole school.

'Children really enjoyed process of getting to a final production and helped focus the children’s efforts' Capshard Primary, Fife

'Very well organised. Class have really looked forward to Wednesday sessions and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Please come back!'
Valley Primary, Fife

'Very professional in their approach but also made it fun. As a teacher I learned that you can give the children much more responsibility and just how easy it was to compose a tune!'
East Lothian Primary School teacher

'Excellent staff and children gained such a lot from the performances. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!'
East Lothian Primary School Head Teacher

Thick-Skinned will be working with the Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshops on future vocal jazz projects in schools. Keep an eye on this site for future updates. Information on Fionna's courses visit www.fionnaduncan-workshops.co.uk.