Young Music Makers London Limited
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : m*************r@y**************s.co.uk
Mission Statement
Music CAN change lives YMM focuses on the ways we can support access to music education, increase youth attainment and strengthen community cohesion within our local area of north London.
About This Cause
Young Music Makers is a Saturday music centre for the whole family. Established in 1967, we have been at the heart of music-making in North London for 50 years, offering a positive, inclusive and inspiring musical education for students aged four… to 94! Based in Kentish Town, we offer 39 different ensembles, including 8 adult groups, including jazz, rock and pop bands, two drumlines, string, recorder, guitar and brass ensembles, 6 choirs, theory and ukulele. We are very lucky to have some of the best professional musicians in London as part of the YMM family, providing instrumental tuition on piano, violin, viola, cello, recorder, flute, clarinet, saxophone, drum kit, percussion, ukulele, classical, rock-pop and jazz guitar, voice, trumpet, french horn and trombone. We regularly work with visiting workshops leaders, to ensure as diverse a musical education as possible for our students. Past workshops have included exploring the history and heritage of swing dance music with Swing Sister Swing and English Heritage, drumline & brass workshop with Box9 Drumline, jazz vocals with Pete Churchill, folk day with English Folk Dance & Song Society and a 5-week songwriting course with Mercury 2020 winner, Michael Kiwanuka. We have a strong focus on performance, with weekly cafe concerts from 10.45-11.00, a concert at the end of each term showcasing all ensembles and many specialist lunchtime concerts dotted throughout the year. YMM loves getting involved with local events. For example, our Big Bands and Rock n Pop bands regularly host ‘Picnic in the Park’ at the Parliament Hill Bandstand, while our choirs, rhythm groups and String Ensemble entertained the crowds at Parliament Hill Farmers’ Market and YMM Drumlines, brass and wind students lead a parade to open the 2019 York Rise street festival. Music CAN change lives YMM focuses on the ways we can support access to music education, increase youth attainment and strengthen community cohesion. Our bursary fund ensures that no student with financial hardship will have to go without. We take referrals from community organisations, schools and the local music hub to which we belong, as well as direct applications. Often the main reason for a music tuition referral is to help with underlying needs. Students with SEN needs or mental health concerns benefit from both the expressive, emotive and creative side of playing music, and the social side of being part of YMM. We are a family, we support each other and we lead by example. Our bursary fund ensures financial hardship doesn't mean students miss out. COVID-19 has caused a significant increase in demand for bursaries from families affected by overnight loss of income. It has never been more important to ensure our young musicians are able to make and share music with their community. Testimonials: "I like the playing the violin and my teachers at YMM. Music gives me the opportunity to do / try different things and has helped me with school. There are difficult pieces in the violin book, but because of my violin lessons, I have now mastered them!" (Student, age 9) "Both my teachers are amazing and they are both really fun... Learning music calms me down when I am feeling anxious." (Student, age 8) "What I most like about YMM is the enthusiasm for music, and the range of the music lessons and instruments that one can do there. [...] I also like the community spirit that YMM offers, and the fact that I have met a number of parents who also have a love of music." (Parent) "I started about 3 years ago with Guitar and 1½ years with Piano. I've achieved a certificate for completing my first ever guitar exam with distinction and have done many concert performances [both solo and as part of a group]. My confidence has also grown." (Student, age 11) "It really means a lot to be part of the YMM community. The bursary really gave [my child] an opportunity to learn and achieve great skill and have a chance at [their] dream of learning to play guitar and piano. Without the bursary, [my child] would have never learnt how to play an instrument and their confidence would have been what it was 3 years ago." (Parent) "Being able to play music individually and work towards a target, I find provides a structure and rhythm to my everyday life (especially in lockdown) [...] doesn't just provide you with the skill of being able to play music, it teaches you discipline and hard work. This effects your mentality when it comes to learning or having to revise school subjects and exams for example. You become more level headed and strong minded." (Student, age 17) YMM Ambassador, Michael Kiwanuka" "For me, music education has so many positives. So many skills can be enhanced other than just learning how to play an instrument. Through music education I learned how to relate to other people and peers my age. I gained an outlet to express myself whilst also engaging my brain in something stimulating. I found friends and a route to become part of a community, which in turn gave me a feeling of being part of something bigger. Last but not least, music is a really fun activity! Whether someone intends to make music a profession or a hobby, I believe the benefits are endless. As a result, this makes me very excited and honoured to be supporting YMM."