NOTES for NOTES

Children from low income families are half as likely to learn an instrument, according to recent reseaerch. Over 40% of those low income families say music lessons are beyond their household budgets. Bromley Youth Music Trust (BYMT) is committed to diversity and inclusion and believes ALL children should have access to music lessons in schools, regardless of their background or affordability. BYMT's Young Musicians' Bursary (YMB), provides financial support to those in need, giving access to music lessons, instrument hire and membership of bands, orchestras and choirs.

As I write this, we have, (so far), received 357 applications for financial assistance for this academic year 2022-23 which began in September last year and ends 31st July this year. This is the biggest plea for help we have ever received and the increase in demand is most likely due to the Cost of Living crisis affecting so many families. We want to help each and every child who wants to learn to play and sing. We have recently collaborated with over 40 schools and organised the Schools Proms where children were able to perform in a professional arena and bring joy to their family members and friends watching in the audience. From our experience, these children and their families will remember their performances for the rest of their lives. 

We have been able to help many young students this year on their musical journey, with 25 performances since September including wind & brass bands, jazz bands, orchestras, choirs and keyboard as well as Musical Theatre shows. We have three performances of Seussical The Musical at the end of March and five performances of Wind in the Willows at the end of April/beginning of May. We all know that memories are made from real-life experiences. Here's what Isabella tells us of her experience:

"I joined Band on the Run (an introduction to school children to playing musical instruments) when I was in Year 4 where I was given the chance to play the cornet. When this had finished at the end of the year, we were encouraged to join the BYMT Training Band and progress through the many orchestral ensembles at BYMT. I feel that playing in these groups early on helped me to develop vital skills for orchestral playing later on. I learned about the importance of rhythm, intonation and being aware of the ‘bigger picture’ (i.e., not just focusing on my part!) Most importantly, it was really fun learning alongside my friends, many of whom I’m still in touch with today. 

I moved to playing the horn when I was 11 and carried on working through the bands at BYMT during my time in secondary school. I’m so grateful for the opportunities that I was given in my time in Bromley Youth Symphony Orchestra (BYSO) and Concert Band. Performing huge orchestral works such as Mahler Symphony No. 1 and Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 before the age of 18 is a privilege and I learned so much from the brilliant coaching and support we received. I still regularly come across repertoire that we had played in BYSO which I would not otherwise had heard of. It was a really great start. 

I’m now at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on the Orchestral Artistry postgraduate course. We performed Mahler’s 1st symphony earlier this month at the Barbican Hall and I was reminded that none of this would have been possible without BYMT!" 

Thank you Isabella for sharing your story.

Music Changes Lives!

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• NOTES For NOTES