Count Me In in 2010 - Happy New Year

We have been looking back over the things we've done in 2010.
Although it's been a quiet-ish year for us, in the past 12 months we've worked in partnership with, or for:

• Somerset Community Directorate (l.d. services)
• Strata Collective
  
• Fiveways School in Yeovil
• Take Art / Step Changes project
  
• Merlin theatre, Frome
  
• Creative Learning Agency
• Somerset County Council (Flux festival)
• Heathfield Community school, Taunton
• Spaeda (Somerset)
  
• Millfield School
• Mencap
• Wells Cathedral junior school
• Kids South West

We also worked with funding from Awards for All and Somerset County Council (arts officers group).
Plus, had a lot of fun and some awesome music at the round sound sessions.

Here's feedback from some of our participants in 2010:
- ‘The workshop really engaged a group of really challenging youngsters. All of the group were involved, enjoyed the activities, and ACHIEVED! Our youngsters would really benefit from regular drumming sessions.’
- ‘The control of the very disparate group was awesome. Everyone entered in to the spirit in their own way. Leaders were so encouraging, affirming everybodies’ contribution.’
- ‘The music made me feel really happy’
- ' The staff and service users love coming to your sessions, it's been a real success, THANK YOU xxxxxxx '
- ' Very cool '

Our aims for 2011 include a relaunch of the website; developing links to the east of the region - Wiltshire; working to establish live music making sessions for young adults with learning disabilities in transition.
Suggestions and invitations always welcomed! info@countmeinarts.org
Don't forget to make time for music.
Happy New Year!

round sounds .... evergreens and candles

What a lovely cosy afternoon - thanks for your music, round sound group!
We gathered round the fire with the afternoon sunshine filtering through onto candleflames.
- enjoyed it so much I forgot to take pictures. But the music lingers in the head.
Happy moments, everyone!

Evening draws in

Dear round sounders, fellow music makers
this is to remind you we have another music session this Sunday afternoon.

Our inspiring session last month was outside in glorious sunshine, but this time we'll be inside the hut: we'd like to ask you to dress up warm and bring a torch. We'll supply instruments, a fire, cake and hot drinks. We're asking for a contribution of £10 per person if you can afford it.

Because of the early darkness we're starting at 3, (come at 2.45), and will be ended by 5.30.

Our theme for the session is 'evening'. bring your inspiration.

Please forward this information to any interested friends or neighbours. We're looking forward to seeing you there.
Make time for music!

round sounds .... an apple day afternoon

Who would have believed it could be such a perfect afternoon in October?
So sunny that we were outside for the whole session, watching the sun trace the curve of the hilltop, mingling the sounds of birds / animals / distant trains and passing tractors into our music.... As the sun dipped down and the chill rose up, a perfect V of migrating birds passed overhead.
Apple pie and spicy flapjacks, hot mugs of tea all round. Winter coming!

round sound sessions autumn 2010

ROUND SOUND SESSIONS


Count Me In invite you to join them for four wonderful afternoons of musical exploration, improvisation and play.

Together we will bring the year to a harmonious close, gathering together to surround ourselves with sound as the nights draw in.

Join us at a rural, secluded, beautiful location (a straw bale round house) to share music, a warm fire, tea and cakes. Share the joy of listening; discover the fun of playing.

Please bring an open mind, your voice, your instrument if you have one, and your curiosity.

● Sunday 19th September
● Sunday 17th October
● Sunday 14th November
● Sunday 12th December
3.45pm till 6.30pm

Cost: £12 per session or £40 for all four sessions.

Places are limited to seven in addition to the hosts so booking is essential.
Drums, percussion instruments, tea, cake and a fire will be provided. Location is near Langport, Somerset. Directions will be given with booking.

Please contact Kate Pawsey on 01458 259094 for more information, and details of how to book a place.

Count Me In news

June 2010:
Count Me In are happy to welcome Geoff back from his tour of Slovenia.
We'd also like to thank Kate from Wilder Woods forest school who helped us out in Geoff's absence with a huge school workshop. Welcome to the team Kate!
We are getting ready for the Mencap day at Millfield this Saturday - a big load of music for everyone : so much more fun than Glastonbury festival!
Next Tuesday, June 29th, we'll be joining the fabulous funky drummers of South Somerset to see what they've been up to.

Diversity

For the second year running, Count Me In have delivered workshops for Heathfield Community School to tie in with Global Citizenship day. Students from year 7 worked hard together to create bands for the Intergalactic World Cup of the Future. Each class created their own planet and then presented what was best about their world to the other contestants, through music, rhythm, song, dance.
Exhausting fun!

Wells Cathedral Junior school

An arts week activity day based on 'opposites' .... sound, silence : monkeys, millipedes: elephants, sloths: three part rhythms : jungle soundscapes, grassy cricket lawns : chocolate and vanilla cake !
Looking forwards to more fun with Year 6 on Friday.

Flux festival

Count Me In had a good fun day at the Merlin theatre in Frome with out 'Making Time for Music' workshops ..... ages ranged from 6 ... to 60...(?)
It's lovely to have the opportunity to work with integrated age groups. Thanks to Critchill school for coming along.
Lets hope it leads to more collaboration.

Horton Drummers Show

The Horton Drummers are putting on a show at the Horton Village hall (Nr Ilminster) on the 29th June 2010 at 11.30am, for about 30 minutes. After lunch there will be a open session for all to join in and have fun. The day should finish around 2.30pm. All are welcome.

Lifemusic

We are not alone .... watch this film to see the work of Dr Rod Paton, kindred spirit and exponent of Lifemusic.

Flux at the Merlin theatre .... free music and fun

Hello !
Tell your friends!
Book a place for the FREE workshop at the Merlin theatre, May 25th!

To reserve places, ring the theatre box office on 01373 465949

Count Me In work with Strata Collective

Count Me In had a big part to play in the 'Soundlines' education project run by Russ and Janes' other organisation Strata Collective.

Soundlines ended this week with an event launching the project website and premiering the documentary film.

Mike, Russ, Jane and Geoff helped the participating students play music which was all recorded and used for mediascape walks.

You can hear the music by clicking here and scrolling through the students' walks. The music tells some stories of the historic landscape of Sand Point near Weston Super Mare..... monks, pirates, watchtowers, tunnels, and much more!

The Flux network

Hello friends
click here to see the new Flux network - this should take you to our page - don't forget to look at all the other events, it looks good.

new photo

Here is our publicity photo for the FLUX festival of disability arts 2010.

Relaxin'

Well, we do work hard at Count Me In meetings ....... but sometimes that music makes you feel ..... pretty ....relaxed.

Dance Day with Take Art / Step Changes at Taachi Morris

Count Me In are excited about being part of the Flux day on May 17th at the Space, Taachi Morris, Taunton with 4 Reel films, and Take Art's brilliant Step Changes project.
In the morning Count Me In will be playing a specially created piece to accompany a unique dance performance.
In the afternoon a dance and music workshop will alow others to join us to create music for dancers .... or work with the dance leaders. The event is free but you need to book ...... ring Michelle on 01460 249450

Horton Drumming Crew

Hi you lovely people, in the drumming world, hows it going Jane, Russ, Mike and Geoff, just a little note to let you know our drumming sessions are going well and I'm even remembering some of the great stuff you shown us and putting into the sessions. Then I forget for a week or so (but that is me, well I think so, can't remember) and another week comes the rhythm flows into my purple world and again the sounds drift into the sky and over the people, giving that very special moment that you only feel at that moment, living in the NOW with rhythm that flows in our blood of inner peace and inner love.

Sending you all inner purple love with hugs.

'METTA'
:-)X(-:

Last day with our best ever group

What an awesome day indeed.
Again, nearly 60 folk - and the music was even more powerful than last week!
Many surprises and lots of joy.

Thank you everyone for your generous and lovely feedback.

Good luck for the future.

Jane's training day, Feb 5th at Ilton

I wanted explain the reasoning behind the exercises last friday.
The session was about responding with sound – communicating – initiating with confidence :
Listening -
Intuiting -
Reacting
The warm up exercise was about physical response – i.e. 1 to 1 communication.
The soundscape was about listening, and responding with confidence .
The musical postcards were about describing or painting with music and sound. – introducing fun activities and finding ideas.
The descriptive passages were about ability to create atmosphere – or change atmosphere.
And the final 'drumming on chairs' was about inclusion, noticing, watching and listening. Team work.

Oh - a bit of fun thrown in too.

3rd Drumming Training Day at Ilton

Today was a wonderful day and we all just seem to be as one within each other, the rythm just flowed as the wind with the river towards the Sun, which than shined out that warm inner being of living in the moment of the sound of love, well that how I felt anyway, OK that's deep but I could say more, about my inner deep feeling about today, but at the moment I'm still in the inner being of the sound of today, so I may share with you at another time in my purple world.

Thank you so much COUNT ME IN sending hugs with love XXX

Open door session One

A great day was had by all. It was really nice to welcome guests, and see old friends from ArtsXchange days.
Nearly 60 people in a room - who could imagine this would work with everyone playing at once? But it did! Lovely gentle sounds, lots of listening and playing together.
Great leading by Ash, Shirley, Adam, John, Phil, Gail.....did I miss anyone?

Looking forward to next week.