
An account of weekly workshops by Isabel Dickens
We recently extended a warm welcome to both The Glasgow Barons street orchestra and Primary 3 pupils from Oakwood Primary to Platform!
Since 2017, The Glasgow Barons have been uniting communities through music, bringing joy to schools and community centres across Govan and beyond. This January, their incredible street orchestra are on tour, visiting ‘Baby Strings’ schools across Glasgow and spreading the magic of music.
As well as touring primary schools they paid a special visit to Platform where their orchestra entertained and engaged the Oakwood Primary pupils, who had headed to the venue for the afternoon.
The pupils joined in with percussive rhythms whilst watching the conductor, whilst one pupil tried out the role of orchestra conductor….well done!
As well as wonderful live music from the orchestra, there was discussion led by Artistic Director & Conductor Paul MacAlinden around topics such as having an identity that no-one can take from you, the right to an opinion, the right to share what you think or have privacy of that opinion, the right to happiness and a look at self-reflection and what emotions and images music conjours up.
Another topic was the musical rights for children from the International Music Council, looking at the right to express yourself musically in all freedom, the right to learn musical languages and skills and access to musical involvement through participation, listening, creation and information.
Thanks to both The Glasgow Barons and Oakwood Primary for visiting!