Me and my work:
LYJRO director Brendan Duffy. I have worked for Artforms Education Leeds for
30 years and have always been involved in the jazz/improvisation work undertaken
by Artforms music.
What I want to achieve with the Durban project
1. Strengthen the partnership already established with the Ekhaya K-CAP centre
after a visit in 2007.
2. Help the centre to establish their own Big Band by providing the Brass
and Saxophones from the £8000 fundraising effort of LYJRO in 2008.
3. Work with some of the primary schools twinned with Leeds, where LYJRO performed
and contributed books and P.E. equipment in 2007.
4. Develop the links made between Mzuvele High school and the Garforth Community
Collage and LYJRO, by encouraging pupils from the school to take part in music
workshops at the Ekhaya Centre.
5. Establish links with the older generation of township musicians based around
the Durban area. Resulting with the LYJRO players learning more about the
styles related to South Africa township music.
These musicians through negotiations with Durban City Council can be funded
to continue the ongoing project work when LYJRO return to the UK.
The range of activities will involve:
1. Working with the young people of the selected schools and Ekhaya centre
on the basics of Blues/Latin and Funk improvisation.
2. Working in both large and small group workshops on a group composition,
based on a riff based motive culminating in a performance at the Ekhaya centre
involving LYJRO members and the young people involved in the workshops.
3. In selective primary schools, our team of teachers will:
(a)Conduct group activities involving singing and dancing to the LYJRO Big
Band
(b)Lead sessions on the wider opportunity style of teaching, using recorders
and simple percussion instruments which we will provide for the schools.
Making it happen
This partnership with Durban was first established in 2005 after a visit to
Leeds by the Kwa-Zulu Natal Wind band affiliated to the Durban music school.
*The Durban music school hosted the LYJRO Band during their 2007 exchange.
*The steering group/committee of parents and friends of LYJRO initiated a
5 year plan which involved the LYJRO's visit to Durban in 2007.
*2008 fundraising to provide instruments for the Ekhaya.
*2009-2010 fundraising events/gigs/jazz workshops.
*September 2010 return to Durban to develop a working relationship with the
Ekhaya and selected schools.
*2012 exchange visit to Leeds by musicians/young people involved in the LYJRO/Ekhaya
project.
How I will manage and carry out the activities to achieve its aims:
The workshops and improvisation sessions will be led by myself and three fully
qualified teachers from Artforms music assisted by two semi-professional instrumentalists
based in Leeds.
My team leader Alison Blair specializes in the wider opportunities style of
teaching and will be assisted by a string and brass specialist.
The workshops will also include a dance element which will be led by dancers
within the LYJRO band.
How I will manage the project:
The Durban 2010 project is managed by a committee of the above teachers and
a steering group which meets every three weeks to monitor fundraising, set
the agenda and plan the project.
LYJRO also liaise with International Relations Leeds City Council who co-ordinate
events with Durban City Council.
Budget/Finance
The overall cost of the trip for a group of 30 is estimated to be £25,000
LYJRO are currently involved in numerous fundraising activities ranging from
sponsored events to gigs and bagpacking and estimate to make £10,000
by July 2010
Benefits
The benefits so far are clearly seen in the response by LYJRO members to help
raise £8000 to buy instruments for the centre after the 2007 exchange
(refer to the website LYJRO.org.uk.)
The benefit to the participants and the organization will be tremendous as
it will enrich there experience of working with underprivileged children in
a foreign environment.
This will have a longer term impact on their development as musicians.