Orchestra to train young musicians for film work

The North of England Centre for Music and Arts, located in Marsden, West Yorkshire, has launched a new youth session orchestra to help teenagers develop the skills needed to work in film and television music. This arts centre, which operates from the Standedge Visitor Centre, already runs several bands and orchestras and regularly hosts performances. Jenny Hanson, who leads the centre, has experience playing on session recordings for major organizations like Universal Studios and the Liverpool Philharmonic. She is passionate about sharing her expertise with young musicians who are interested in learning more about the world of film and TV music. Jenny explained that when she first started working as a session musician, she was not fully prepared for the challenges she faced. She believes these new sessions will give young people a chance to talk with others, enjoy making music, and learn what makes a great film soundtrack. According to Jenny, a good session musician must be able to quickly adapt to different styles of music, whether it is classical, pop, or film music. Many of the students at the centre already play a variety of music, but Jenny wants them to experience the excitement of a real recording session, where they have to play music they have never seen before and perform under pressure.

One of the young musicians hoping to join the youth session orchestra is Clem Melling, a 13-year-old member of the centre's Saturday Strings group. Clem plays the violin, piano, and ukulele, and dreams of studying opera at music college in the future. She is excited about the idea of playing in a large orchestra with her friends and other musicians. Clem finds film music fascinating because it can completely change the mood and meaning of a movie. She gave an example, saying that if you change the music in a film like Jaws, it could make the movie feel totally different. Clem believes that learning how music affects films is an important skill for any musician who wants to work in the industry.

The North of England Centre for Music and Arts hopes that the youth session orchestra will inspire more young people to explore the world of film and television music. By offering these sessions, the centre is giving teenagers a chance to try new things, develop their musical abilities, and gain valuable experience that could help them in their future careers. The centre also encourages people to get in touch and share stories about music and arts in Yorkshire, as they want to support and connect with young musicians and anyone interested in learning more about this exciting field. Through these efforts, the centre aims to create a supportive community where young people can discover their passion for music and develop the skills they need to succeed.