25 - Thetford Music Project

September Vacancies For All Young Players!

After-school activity Thetford Music Project (TMP) is pleased to be offering vacancies this September. Offering young musicians (6 – 17 years) the opportunity to learn an instrument or sing and perform with others. Affordable lessons take place every Monday during term time. See the website: www.thetfordmusicproject.co.uk for full details of instruments and teachers.

Our belated 20th anniversary showcase celebration (starring every club member) takes place on Sunday 12th December at the Carnegie Thetford and tickets are just £3 (under 15s go free). Tickets can be bought from Leaping Hare. Thetford Music Project is a registered charity that runs an after-school music club during term time. Led by our current Director, Ann Smith who in turn manages her expert team of specialist instrumental tutors and ensures every TMP member has a chance to learn one of 14 instruments (often from scratch, but going up to Grade 8), as well as the opportunity to play and develop musicianship alongside their peers, in groups and ensembles. Instruments are loaned out; all music and other equipment is provided free of charge. The project was set up over 21 years ago as a response to a decline (even then) in instrumental teaching in state schools. There were literally hundreds of unused instruments across every Primary and Secondary School in Thetford, and no County teaching in any of them. John Weeks, who became Vice-Chair of TMP, suggested a local partnership group to do something about grassroots musical instrumental teaching. The late David O’Neale, MBE (who became our first Director) set up a small team of Music Service and freelance instrumental tutors and teachers at Queensway School (now Diamond Academy). Since local management of school budgets, academisation, the withdrawal of County Music Services and a number of other political changes since, the picture has become if anything more fragmented across England: yet in Thetford, over the past 21 years, sometimes more than a hundred young people a week have benefited from lessons and ensembles, affordably, and with increasingly high musical standards. Thanks to John, David, a loyal band of willing helpers, our sponsors, fundraisers and many others, TMP has consistently delivered a total of some 30,000 hours of instrumental teaching, as well as bands, groups, concerts, charity events and other activities enabling talented and keen young Thetfordians and others a locally accessible chance to learn to play and love music. In 2002, Juliet Rickard took over as Director and developed things on significantly, in scale and musical audacity; who present would ever forget her massed voices and instrumental version of songs from the Lion King at the Carnegie! Between 2005 and 2011, Sue Taylor, then Polly Fenn, took the helm. Polly innovated us towards a website and among many other things, a 60 player charity play-in in aid of the Haitian Earthquake appeal in February 2010. Ann, our present, indefatigable, longest-serving, stalwart Director took over at a time of some upheaval, as further political changes meant we had to sadly leave Diamond. We moved to Bishop’s School and then Ann oversaw the long planned move from Bishop’s to Thetford Academy – where we remain to this day. TMP are warmly hosted by Principal Dan Carter, and Assistant Principal in charge of Performing Arts, Helen Thomas-Jones. As the only state Secondary in Thetford, 1,300 young people a year stand to benefit from the specialist music tutoring of TMP. Classes now take place every Monday afternoon, as an ideal complement to the developing music curriculum of the Academy. Our committee meets voluntarily – once in November, for our AGM, and once in the summer

TMP members and teachers performing together at Thetford Academy

For More Information:

TMP members include young people from across schools in the town and of all ages. the project gives them an opportunity to learn an instrument and to experience playing together as an emsemble

term to ratify our work, and this is a chance for all local school music departments and coordinators to have their say in the running and development of TMP and also for our loyal Town Council, Parent and Staff representatives to contribute to our day to day affairs. Fundraising continues to be a major essential to our work. Our four Trustees give their time completely voluntarily and free of charge; out of the modest club fees, alongside grants, and any other charitable fundraising, we aim to raise £1015k a year, to ensure that no child misses out. Our late, great President, Colin Armes, set up the TMP Hundred Club, which provides an important regular source of income, and an opportunity (through a tiny monthly contribution) to win up to £100 a month. We work alongside Norfolk Music Hub who offer us an annual Arts Council funded grant to support the affordable development of young musicians in Thetford as well as over 20 other schools in South Norfolk, and even into North Suffolk.

Many organsiations have generously lent us their support over the years: Thetford Rotary Club, Thetford Grammar School,Thetford Garden Centre – and, for most of the past 10 years, Shadwell Stud which endowed our ‘Shadwell Scholarships’. Get involved, learn a new skill, or simply support by joining the Hundred Club - thankyou. Robert Rickard

Chair, Thetford Music Project (2000 - present)

To join the TMP Hundred Club, contact Corinne: info@leapinghare.org or 01842 751975 To find out more about Thetford Music Project, and to enrol your child, contact: annsmithbrass@aol.com

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TADDS Memorial Service To Commemorate Past Members

What a busy August we have had, it’s been fabulous to see people coming back to the group and welcoming new people as well. This month sees our focus go towards the TADDS memorial service which will be held in October. At the start of this year, a tree was donated to TADDS, which was planted by one of our Trustees (Colin) in the memorial garden on Admirals Way. We intend to hold a small dedication ceremony in the memory of all the TADDS friends we lost not just in 2020 but also since we started 7 years ago. Many of our loved friends have been featured every year at the Christmas Tree service in the Methodist Church, but last year was probably the worst year for loss in the group’s history, and this fact makes a memorial garden all the more special. A place for us to remember our friends, and reflect. We encourage any previous carers who would like to attend, to get in touch with us so we can send them an invite to the day. If you are currently going through a diagnosis or needing more help, please come along to our group on a Friday between 10am and 12 noon. You will be able to chat to someone who will be able to give you more information and support with your current situation. If you would like to volunteer for our group or for our befriending service, please contact us either via our website or by emailing: taddsgroup@hotmail.com

Coffee, conversation and creativity is the name of the game at TADDS this month

Thetford Methodist Church Grand Autumn Event

Saturday 25th September, 9.30am to 11.30am Various stalls, including cakes, in aid of Church Funds and Cancer Research UK Best bargains in town!

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