Corey Mwamba

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Corey Wrote Two Funding Applications Last Week. But The Reasons Why Will Make You Smile.

It's not even a real title: although that's exactly what I've done in the last month. If I'm lucky, I'll be starting a nicely-funded series of new music in Derby, with a primary aim of attracting families1, focussed on listening and appreciation. If not, it'll be a less-nicely-funded short series of new music in Derby, with a primary aim of attracting families, focussed on listening and appreciation.

So, why am I planning to do this anyway? It isn't that I've got too much money this year: that's never the reason I do anything. My general foolhardiness is legendary, and also a given. But there are other reasons:

  1. Adults with children like listening to music too, and there is no real reason that they should not be allowed to listen to music together. I have many lasting images of parents/guardians who have brought children to concerts, and seeing that interaction: it is very powerful. But perhaps "the concert" is not always quite set up to allow this to happen as often as it should.

  2. I think that the first skill any musician needs to learn, before learning how to read music; play the instrument; or any of that; is how to listen to music. Listening is the first thing. This is anecdotal, but I think we are in a situation now where young people are (made to) play music in a style they don't necessarily listen to at home for pleasure. I guess it's not wrong with that: it's never a linear path. But if the opportunity to enable young people to listen to live music is there, why wouldn't you try to make it happen?

  3. Audiences age [well, we all do], and for a music to be sustained in live performance, they need "topping up" with younger people. This doesn't mean the music has to change: it means that the access to the music has to open up. I realise this sounds harsh, but gentler methods of expressing this [to me] quite simple idea never seem to work.

With all this, I don't want to alienate people without children. That would be stupid, as I have no children myself. And, as this infographic shows, I'm not alone.

UK households in 2013—ONS

So, it's a matter of trying to create something that everyone feels "okay" with attending, but perhaps making it a bit easier for those with children as well. I think it's important. And so: I am going to try, and try very hard, to make this work. This is an idea that I've had for three-and-a-bit years now, and it's time. Cross all the fingers and toes!


  1. here, I'm using the families as a catch-all word for adults with children. 

comments (3)

Corey Mwamba

4th Jun 2014 | 8:41am

Oh, and I cannot stand titles that aren't really titles.

Corey Mwamba

27th Jun 2014 | 4:56pm

BIG NEWS: Arts Council England has awarded the project a grant, exactly as much as was asked for [£2700]. Needless to say, I'm very happy, but just waiting for the PRSF decision now. However, this is a massive boost!

Corey Mwamba

26th Jul 2014 | 2:22am

So: the actual plan.

Some great artists come to Derby and play a set of music, put on at a reasonable hour [I'm thinking 6p.m.] on a weekday so that people with children and older children can come along as well as adults.

There will be a "zine" with a bit about the artists and further listening suggestions: if people would like to add extra bits to it as well that would be great!

I've tried to keep the price points reasonable:

  • Adult: £5
  • Child: £3
  • 1 adult + 1 child: £5
  • 2 adults OR 2 adults + 1 or 2 children: £8

A child is a person between 6 and 17 years of age. Under sixes get in free.

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