Fledglings at Trinity

It's Sunday 6 November and there's a steelband playing at the Trinity Centre, and all I have to do is take photos. Yippee! Well done Wanda. This is Wanda's up and coming satellite Sparrows. The Silver Fledglings.

These players are a combo of present and ex-Oulton Primary School players, and very fine they are too.





They were collecting for St George's Crypt who support the homeless in Leeds.

To do this one hour performance for charity Wanda drives across Leeds a couple or six times to deliver pans, collect players, all that stuff, so, as we all now one hour's plating usually occupies most of a day, and the Friday before loading, and the Monday after unloading.

Always good with some good parents, and there are plenty of those. Sorry not to write more but, not being on the inside I just see the show. Yay!

Oulton Steel Band play Trinity and Allerton CE Steel Band play St John's

Well, two primary school steelbands tread the boards on the same day. I go first as audience to see Wanda weave her magic wand over Leeds Trinity Centre with the wonderful Oultonettes. The sound carries, and I hear them before I see them. Trinity is suitably seasonal with reindeer and snowflakes.

Besides panning they also sing some seasonal songs. I have to leave before the lunchtime rush starts, but not before Oulton have made their mark.











In the afternoon it is over to St John's at Moortown for Allerton CE's debut outside gig. The school has already transported the pans and glocks over already. All I have to do is count to 4 and find the B flats.

Each class payed one tune, and everybody from each class was included. That makes nearly one hundred children from years 5 and 6 . Mr Moore's class even managed Silent Night, which has 6 beats to the bar] We also played African Noel, Jingle Bells [not the whole song, but a nice two-chord 16 bar version of the chorus] and Winter Wonderland.

Our tunes were interspersed between readings, and the whole event proceeded at a fine pace. I will upload the pictures once permissions are established.

Oulton Primary Steel Band rocks Christmas Singalong 1

Last year for the first year ever in decades we had to cancel the YAMSEN:SpeciallyMusic Singalong, what with our base being suddenly whipped from under us. West Park is still unavailable, but this year we are going to Leeds Civic Hall.

For the steelband side of it, Wanda brought her gang from Oulton Primary. Good to know that some headteachers still appreciate the benefits all round of children playing to other children, and let their willing and hardworking music teachers take them out of maths from time to time.

[There's enough research to prove that playing music develops all the brain skills you need to do better at other subjects, but sadly research and professional knowledge is easily ignored. See Michael Gove. oops! Slipped into wrong blog there!]

Apart from the parking, Leeds Civic Hall is a fine building, full of history, art and architecture. The Lord Mayor put in an appearance, and agreed to pose with Wanda and the Oultonites.

Strangely Father Christmas said Yo Ho Ho in an Italian accent!

Diane got changed behind the screen. Made me laugh [and take a photo or two. here's one.