GMMAZ

Projects beginning this week!

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:16:00 +0000

We’re happy to announce the start of two new projects this week!

Hey, Mr DJ is taking place at Harper Green School in Bolton where students will be working towards a Music BTEC qualification incorporating DJ Skills. Artist G-KUT will be leading this project from January until March 2012.

Brass Roots Salford begins at Swinton High School this week. MAPAS and GMMAZ Projects are partnering to deliver a brass ensemble with a modern twist, exploring styles such as hip-hop, funk and soul. The project will culminate with a performance on Wednesday 21st March 2012 in Salford (venue tbc).

On Top of the World Tameside also begins again this week, so looking forward to seeing the regular group again and hearing their ideas!

Shake, Rattle and Roll Music making for babies and...

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:48:00 +0000

Shake, Rattle and Roll

Music making for babies and parents.

After our successful pilot last year we have organised another run of 8 music sessions for babies and toddlers aged 0-3 years and their parents/guardians.

Sessions are held at Band on the Wall from 10.30am-11.30am and 11.30-12.30 every Saturday morning from January 14th - 3rd March 2012. Please feel free to attend whichever session is best for you.

Sessions cost £3 per family (per hour) and payment will be taken on the door. You can also book for all 8 sessions via the Band on the Wall website to receive a discount:

www.bandonthewall.org/education

Get Up, Stand UpThe next round of our music and drama project...

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Get Up, Stand Up

The next round of our music and drama project arrives next week in Moss Side. Are you between 11-19 years old? Do you want to get involved in an exciting music and drama project?

Are you an MC, singer, actor, musician? Would you like to meet young people from other areas of Manchester and work with them on a large scale performance in 2012? If so, come along to:

Moss Side Fire Station, Denhill Road,
Moss Side, M15 5NR

Wednesday night sessions 6-8pm
Sessions on 18th and 25th January, 1st, 8th and 15th February with a performance at Contact Theatre on 16th February 2012 for friends and family!

Come along - It’s FREE!

The Curveball Music Project Final Event at Band On The Wall

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:57:00 +0100

Curveball music project is a joint initiative between Barnardo’s, GMMAZ and Youth Music, which has worked with young adults aged 16 - 22 in Moss Side Manchester.

There will be a drinks and canapés reception and introductions from the organisers, before the group performs the brilliant material they’ve written during the project on the renowned Band on the Wall stage.

There will be opportunities to mingle and meet the performers, as well as colleagues from across the region.

On behalf of Barnardo’s, GMMAZ and Youth Music, we’d love you to attend.

The event will be on Tuesday 13th September at Band on the Wall
6pm - 7.30pm

Please RSVP to info@gmmaz.org.uk

Aim Higher 2011, end of an era.

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:14:00 +0100

Friday 22nd July sees the big performance by this year’s GMMAZ / Aim Higher Summer School. The show is the culmination of three days of musical activity, where a group of over thirty young people selected through the Aim Higher programmes in Tameside and Stockport have worked with six top class musicians to write 10 (and counting!) brand-new pieces of music, taking in rock, blues, folk and urban styles along the way.

The project also sees the end of a long-standing partnership between GMMAZ and Aim Higher. The summer school has run for five years now (the last three being at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music), but sadly the Aim Higher initiative is due to come to an end at the end of this month.

We are proud to say Aim Higher & GMMAZ partnership projects have always been of a very high standard, and this week has been no exception, the quality just gets better and better! Thanks to everyone in the Aim Higher and GMMAZ artist teams, and at RNCM.

Living To Our Habitat is finally here!

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:00:22 +0100

The debut release by GMMAZ Records is finally here! Coming off the back of a great performance live on the Band on the Wall stage on Friday 3rd June. This is an album of quality material, so be sure to download your own copy!

The album has been made and released by a team of young people who have been involved in GMMAZ projects. Please show your support for the great work they have been doing by following the link below and buying the album!

Click here to buy the album on Bandcamp! (also available on amazon and iTunes)

AMP & On Top Of The World Performance!

Fri, 20 May 2011 13:06:05 +0100

Hi all

Check out this link to an amazing new track, soon to be released by a group of young musicians from across Greater Manchester, aged 11-19 called A.M.P.

Drop That Funky Bass

The track is a sampler from their forthcoming album, “Living to our Habitat”, the debut release on the new youth led record label “GMMAZ Records”.

The album will be available on iTunes and BandCamp from 6^th June.

Album Launch Event Invitation

There will also be a launch party on 3^rd June at Band on the Wall – 7.00 – 9.30pm – featuring performances of songs from the album. Please come down and support us!

Please share this link with everyone you know! This incredible track is well worth spreading!

Please respond to info@gmmaz.org.uk ASAP if you’d like to attend the launch event, and feel free to invite others.

Watch this space for more news …

Yours, A.M.P. and the GMMAZ team.

Tune in to Waterloo Road next week!

Thu, 12 May 2011 09:21:00 +0100

Our girls Millie and Hope will be gracing your screens in the school based BBC drama ‘Waterloo Road’, every Wednesday at 7.30 pm. Well done girls!

Video

Thu, 05 May 2011 16:40:17 +0100

On Top Of The World... 2011.

Wed, 04 May 2011 10:51:41 +0100

Invites going out shortly… Watch. This. Space!

These are videos made by the CAN Exodus group using music from...

Tue, 03 May 2011 14:39:14 +0100

These are videos made by the CAN Exodus group using music from Rawchestra!

Happy Endings - Video: CAN Exodus group. Soundtrack: Rawchestra...

Tue, 03 May 2011 14:39:00 +0100

Happy Endings - Video: CAN Exodus group. Soundtrack: Rawchestra Group

Rawchestra Returns!

Tue, 03 May 2011 14:17:56 +0100

You will be pleased to hear that after a short break, Rawchestra returns to the Picturehouse this Saturday! Expect a great workshop of total improvisation. This session starts at 11 am.

Congratulations also to Rafiq, Lauren, Renya and Brad for passing their Arts Award! Keep up the good work!

Wall of Sounds Launch

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:05:26 +0000

We would like to invite you to the Wall of Sounds launch event taking place on Tuesday 22nd March 2011, 5:30pm-7:00pm, in The Picturehouse at Band on the Wall.

Wall of Sounds is an exciting new partnership between Band on the Wall and Brighter Sound, offering exciting opportunities to explore music through artist residencies, courses, masterclasses and performances.

The launch event will feature a selection of musical performances from The Beating Wing Orchestra, The New Music Voices Choir, The Picturehouse Choir, and a DJ set from Jazz FM producer and Band on the Wall’s very own Programme Director Mike Chadwick.

As well as that, it will be a fantastic opportunity to network with us, and meet other like-minded individuals interested in influencing the cultural arc of Manchester in years to come, over complimentary drinks and refreshments.

Please let me know by 5pm, Friday 11th March if you would like to attend. Attendance is FREE – just reserve your place, let us know if you would like to bring any friends or colleagues, and then turn up! Simple. And of course we look forward to meeting you and discussing the exciting horizons of Manchester’s music scene.

Danny Rampling FREE DJ Workshop

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:01:00 +0000

Band on the Wall, Manchester
Tuesday 1st March 2011 – 5pm-7pm

Youth Music is proud to announce that internationally acclaimed DJ Danny Rampling will be presenting a FREE DJ workshop and Q&A session open to all ages and hosted by GMMAZ (Greater Manchester Music Action Zone) on Tuesday 1st March 2011.

GMMAZ is Youth Music’s Manchester ‘Action Zone’ based at Band on the Wall. The event will take place at Band on the Wall’s Picture House between 5pm and 7pm. Tickets are very limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

The event is part of Danny’s nationwide tour to promote his new book ‘Everything You Need to Know About DJing and Success’ so he’s going out on the road to connect with young music enthusiasts and aspiring DJs by hosting an informal Q&A session to share his lifetime of experience.

The book reveals the secrets that have taken Danny to the top – from how to choose and set up equipment, to advanced DJ skills, securing and promoting gigs, producing mixes and even the financial, legal and commercial need-to-knows that can transform musical talent into business success.

This is a unique opportunity to meet and ask an industry expert who’s been at the top of the music/ DJ game for over 20 years any questions you have, and to benefit from his years of experience.

TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT ARE FREE AND WILL BE ALLOCATED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS. For further information and to book please email GMMAZ at:
info@GMMAZ.org.uk or call (0161) 830 3899.

Young Person's Profile

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:47:00 +0000

Brad - 16

MC, Rapper, Beat Boxer.

When I first started GMMAZ:
When I first started GMMAZ in 2008 I had been invited to a summer school in Stockport. My teacher had told me about this event because she knew I was interested in music and she had told me that GMMAZ is a great way to use your talent and your ability and I was up for anything so I went. When I arrived at the summer school project in Stockport I thought it was going to be another rubbish crappy thing where you go and you get really bored very quick. When everyone arrived at the project GMMAZ and their employees (the artists) sat us down and explained how the next three days was going to work and by this time I was really getting excited about the idea of making music and performing it at the end of the project. When we got started GMMAZ made all of the youths feel right at home because they were nice they understood and best of all they listened to what we (meaning the youths) wanted and personally that made me feel good because normally at the age I was at then no one ever listened to me and it was all about adults and what they want to do so in a away being listened to and taken seriously helped my confidence to come forth and share my ideas with the group.

What I have achieved and accomplished at GMMAZ
Things that I have accomplished at GMMAZ are gaining confidence learning to do things that you see on TV, meeting new friends, inspiration and ability to take control and be a leader also I have achieved to find my inner self I have found out who I am which is a born musician and a person who will never let go of his dream and for me to say that is easy seem I have had the help of GMMAZ. I have also got my Bronze and Silver qualification in the Arts Award and hopefully now in 2011 working towards my Gold there are so many much more things that I have gained and accomplished from GMMAZ.

What am I doing now) 2011)
I am now in training with GMMAZ and helping out with the sessions. I am also building up my career slowly but surely in the music industry, I am being more open to all kinds of projects that are getting offered. By far GMMAZ is the best music project you’d ever want to attend.

That’s my small profile about GMMAZ and my time thanks for reading.

Wall of Sounds Course

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:52:00 +0000

A five day intensive course in creative musicianship and band skills led by Arun Ghosh.

Compose and devise new music and songs and perform live on the Main Stage at Band on the Wall on Friday 25th February at 1pm! Open to all instrumentalists, singers, DJs and MCs. For young people aged 14-19. An inspiring week of collaboration and creativity for any aspiring young musician.

Dates: Monday 21st - Friday 25th February 2011 (Half Term holiday)

Times: 10am - 3.30pm

Performance: Friday 25th February 2011, 1pm-2pm

Fee: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FULL COURSE FEE IS £165 (THERE IS A SIBLING DISCOUNT RATE OF £100 PER EXTRA SIBLING)

More info: www.bandonthewall.org / learning@bandonthewall.org / 0161 830 3899

Young Person's Profile

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:36:00 +0000

Natasha - 17

Singer, songwriter, keyboards

I have been working with GMMAZ for just over two years starting with a project I did through school.

I have learnt many things with GMMAZ over the course of these two years. I hadn’t performed much before so it was with GMMAZ that I learnt the fundamentals. My confidence has grown to the point where I am confident creating music and performing live. I’ve been given the opportunity to try things that I wouldn’t have normally tried, like beatboxing and percussion.

Even though I haven’t ever really wanted music to become a job (I enjoy it as a hobby) I have found that I really enjoy composing, so now I am considering, in the future, becoming a professional songwriter.

I have two pieces of advice for people who want to get involved with music. First, it is important to keep an open mind with music. It is vital to explore all styles of music because there are many things that a person can discover they actually like if they listen to it with an open mind. Second, it is important to pay attention to everything in life because you can be inspired by absolutely anything, and often inspiration comes in the strangest forms.

Young, Brave & Courageous

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:44:20 +0000

A Youth-led project

Young, Brave & Courageous is an exciting new play created and developed during workshop sessions that encompassed music, production, dance, drama and creative writing with young people across South Manchester.

The performance tells the story of a young man’s life, the problems he encounters and the lessons that he learns. Torn between street life, getting a good education and love.

Held on Saturday 29th January 2011 at 7.30pm.

Venue: Zion Arts Centre, 335 Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester M15 5ZA

Box office: 0161 226 1912

Tickets: £2

Rawchestra

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:51:00 +0000

Be part of an orchestra with a twist…..

Are you a frustrated Drummer or Guitarist, wanting to hook up with fellow musicians? Or do you play in an orchestra and wish you could express some of your own ideas and play together with different types of people? If so, then come down to Band on the Wall on Saturdays and make music with our expert team and other like-minded people.

This is open to all instrumentalists aged 11 -19, whatever your instrument, what ever style, from beginners to advanced, come along and help us form a new kind of orchestra.

All the music will be new, original material created by YOU. We will write music inspired by films or adverts, paintings or photographs and we will begin to create music together as one big group.

All sessions are held at BAND ON THE WALL, SWAN STREET, MANCHESTER, M4 5JZ

and run from 1

1am – 1pm.

The session dates are as follows…

JAN 29th, FEB 12th/ 26th, MARCH 12th/26th, APRIL 9th/23rd, MAY 7th/21st

For more info call,

0161 830 3899

or email us at
info@gmmaz.org.uk.