EYO Outreach

The EYO Roadshow 2016

Following the great success of the previous two years, 16 talented EYO members embarked on another EYO Roadshow. Due to the high demand we received from schools in the local area, we travelled to 10 schools in the borough of Ealing in a five day period, with the aim of encouraging young people to take up an instrument and realise that classical music isn’t as dull as they may have originally thought. We had EYO players from the brass, woodwind and string sections, even covering some of the more unusual and rare instruments such as the double bass (courtesy of Michael and Gabby), the viola (courtesy of Gabs) and the bassoon (courtesy of Alma).

The EYO players were very successful in bringing their instruments and classical music to life by playing some well-known tunes from a variety of blockbuster hits including Indiana Jones, Wallace and Gromit, Jaws and Swan Lake. The audience were baffled by Patrick and Sam’s ability to play the William Tell Overture on a piece of hosepipe and a funnel, and honestly so am I! Michael’s seagull imitation on the double bass is still open to interpretation, with some of the audiences thinking it also sounded like dogs, although you will have to ask him to hear it yourself to make up your mind!

We opened the sessions by playing Mars from the Planets Suite, Star Wars and Mambo, which went down a treat, with the children always beating us in the volume department when we had to shout Mambo. We then introduced the instruments individually, allowing them to hear how each one sounded and ask any questions they had about them. In addition to the wide variety of orchestral instruments, we were also joined by Eugenio who demonstrated the saxophone despite it rarely being used in an orchestral setting, which allowed the audience to also listen to some jazz music.

We then all split off to our own areas to give the young people the opportunity to try the instruments themselves and learn how to play some basic tunes. We found a lot of potential in every participant, with everyone finding at least one instrument that they clicked with and enjoyed. This opportunity would not have been possible without the support from Ealing Music Service, who kindly allowed us to use their instruments so that each participant could have a go themselves on a wide variety of instruments.

For EYO players wondering about taking part in the Roadshow next year, I can’t recommend it highly enough. This year was the second time that I have done the Roadshow, and it has greatly improved my confidence and has given me the chance to pass my love for music onto someone who has not grown up in a musical background.

Natalie Porter

The EYO Roadshow 2016 team:

Emma Bamber, Katie Fung, Lucas George, Lucy Hull, Joss Inwood Wright, Eugenio Nanni, Gabs O’Reily, Natalie Porter, Trini Prasadam, Gabby Simon-Phillips, Victoria Szymanska, Juliet Thornton, Sam Thorp, Michael Vangelatos, Becky White, Alma Wilson, Patrick Wilson

Project leaders: Lee Marchant, Esther Sheridan

Schools visited 2016: Featherstone Primary School, Our Lady of the Visitation, Little Ealing Primary School, Khalsa Primary School, Perivale Primary School, St Joseph’s Primary, St Mark’s Primary School, Gifford Primary School, Brentside High School, Vicar’s Green Primary School