Music masterclass with Resonate Strings

Double bass player Andy Baker came to the school for the second time this year to help and inspire pupils.

The first time he visited he brought with him ‘Resonate Strings’, the string quartet from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, to inspire the whole of Year 7 and 8 with a performance of popular classics.

This time he came armed with 30 various string instruments to lend to students who wanted to try their hand at becoming musicians, and he was assisted throughout the afternoon by Beaminster’s resident violin teacher Carole Lilley.

All the new players, along with several of Beaminster School’s more experienced musicians, were led through a two-hour workshop with the aim of bringing them up to standard for a concert played to parents and family.

The concert will take place at 5.30pm on Friday, December 13 at the Sir John Colfox School, and will involve all Beaminster School string players joining the professionals from Resonate Strings in performing a variety of orchestral and string music. For many, this will be their first experience of performing in any capacity.

Nick Wardle, head of music at Beaminster School, said: “I am so grateful to Andy from Resonate Strings, and to Nick Thorne, their education project manager, for giving us this wonderful opportunity to inspire so many more of our students to get involved.

“They supplied us with 30 instruments – violins, violas, cellos and even a double bass, so that any students who may previously have found access to instruments a problem could also get involved. This is a really inclusive project and it was a real joy to see our new young string players joining in with more experienced players and a professional musician.

“Everyone found it a very rewarding and exciting learning opportunity. There are plans to extend the loan of instruments into the New Year to ensure continuity, and so I look forward to seeing all our young musicians progress over the coming weeks.”