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The Big Connection
A unique opportunity for future workshop leaders
Between 2005 and 2007 the research group Lifelong Learning in Music & the Arts organised two inspiring and artistically special projects for the professional integration of young musicians. The municipality of Groningen subsidized the initiative within the framework of 'Groningse Nieuwe' a programme for young artists at the beginning of their career. The selected musicians developed an artistic product on international level, coached by a number of guest teachers of international renown. Business and marketing coaching was offered as well. The activities took place in the city of Groningen, sometimes in unexpected locations, and were open to the general public. The musicians selected had to be under 35.
Final concert in Groninger Museum
The Big Connection enabled a group of four highly qualified, already graduated, students to train in creative leadership within various social contexts. This led to a number of artistic productions which became part of the student’s professional integration and widening of their professional practice, which would also bring new impulses to the community of Groningen concerning the reinforcement of social cohesion with musical activities. The Kick-off of this project took place in the second week of December 2005.
Introduction to the project
Project description
Coaches Big Connection 2005-06
Workshop leaders Big Connection
Singer Brenda Frans and guitarist Wil Schmal, both graduates of the Prince Claus Conservatoire, were selected as workshop leaders in the project the Big Connection. For the duration of six months they worked on their skills as workshop leader in various social contexts. In 2001, the year she graduated, Brenda Frans won the National Jazz Vocalist Concours. ‘My singing teacher always said, ‘You are born a singer’ and I felt he was right. The award seemed a kind of confirmation of this.’ Guitarist Wil Schmal began her career touring with the band Jammah Tammah and performed on national and international stages. Jammah Tammah made several cd’s on which some of Wil’s compositions appeared as well. Both Brenda and Wil were working as teachers in ensembles and in projects at the time of the project.
Improvisation and multidiscipline
What set Brenda and Wil apart was the diversity of their skills and the way they were socially engaged. Both worked on projects with ama’s (young asylum seekers) and older people. They also worked with artists from other disciplines. Wil for example worked on a project with poets Diana Ozon and Bart F.M. Droog. Brenda: ‘Musical practice forces you to choose a different angle. And this approach also matches that of a workshop leader.’ Will adds: ‘Improvisation is crucial in this. And that is the reason why the philosophy of the Big Connection appeals to me so much. I feel that it is a logical continuation of the things I am working on already.’
Sean Gregory, Wil Schmal and Brenda Frans preparing a workshop together
Shared leadership
What both Brenda and Will appreciated very much was the English input in the Big Connection. Sean Gregory, at the time of the project still head of Professional Development of the Guildhall School, provided them with insights into the art of workshop leading during the start seminar of the Big Connection, together with five other workshop leaders. They discovered for example how important shared leadership is. Brenda: ‘It was great to see how the workshop leaders created this feeling of participation and shared responsibility in the group during the start seminar of the Big Connection. The trick is to have a good idea of what is going on in a group. That means for example that good input from someone who tends to keep himself in the background, is not disregarded because other participants have more audacity.’
Future workshop leader
The question what Brenda and Wil hoped to achieve with their participation in the Big Connection led to some discussion. Wil: ‘I am exploring what I can do and want to do with it, and the next six months will help me get a clearer picture of this. I also see it as a development of my personal skills. The philosophy about how a composition comes into being in a group has great appeal to me and I want to start using this in practice. My goal is to improve the quality of everyone’s input and I intend to do this by looking at the person behind the participant, or student. Because also as a teacher I think I will profit from the Big Connection. And it does not matter whether my students will be asylum seekers, staff of companies or whatever.’
Brenda: ‘The connections that are being made, the members of the ensemble with each other, but also with the audience, are very important. So the ultimate goal is communication, but also the joy of working together, making music, working on an artistic project. And for me personally the intercultural aspect is important as well. The word ‘mission’ sounds perhaps a bit serious in this context, but to show you what I mean: in ten years' time perhaps I might be a workshop leader for Doctors without Borders in Asia or Africa, to work with the people there and their own musical identity.’
Start seminar Big Connection December 2005
The kick off of the Big Connection consisted of two informative and especially practical seminars, in which participants learned all about the phenomenon creative workshop. These seminars were aimed specifically at teachers at music schools and in private practices, music teachers in schools and musicians working in orchestra’s.
Workshop leading: Wednesday 7 December 10.00 – 12.30
This workshop was presented by Hanno Tomassen and its theme was Learning by Doing. Participants could join in with their instruments. The idea was to make a composition by improvising together. It was important for participants to learn to deal with different levels of competence in heterogenic ensembles and within various contexts.
Workshop Community music: Friday 9 December 15.00 – 17.00
This workshop was presented by Sean Gregory, at the time head of Professional Development at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Peter Renshaw, arts consultant. Both are researchers of the Research Group Lifelong Learning in Music & the Arts. They presented the project Connect, creative workshops with schoolchildren from various areas in London. A film about the project was presented as well. The last speaker was producer Saskia van de Ree, who spoke about the Yo! Opera Festival that took place in October 2005. She also showed a film about the community projects that were done for Yo!
Project week April 2006
An inspiring week and a success in every respect. That was the conclusion at the end of the first project week of the Big Connection, which took place from 18 to 21 April. Singer Brenda Frans and guitarist Wil Schmal worked intensively under the guidance of Sean Gregory of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in Londen. During the week a number of workshops in different social contexts and a final presentation in the Groningen Museum took place.
Sean Gregory with Brenda Frans and Wil Schmal Tuesday, April 18
Afternoon and evening: preparation by Sean Gregory with Brenda Frans and Wil Schmal of the workshops in the children’s day care centre (Wednesday morning) and in the old people’s home (Tuesday morning). From 17.00 to 18.00: meeting for students who have come to the day care centre and/or the old people’s home.
Workshop in day care centre for toddlers
Wednesday April 19
10.00 – 11.30: workshop in day care centre "de Grote Smurf" for all participating students.
13.30 – 16.00: presentation and introductory workshop NNO-members; presentation by Sean Gregory about projects he did with orchestra’s in the UK and introductory workshop for members of the NNO: ‘an introduction to creative workshop practice as a participating musician and as a leader’. Students and anyone interested were welcome.
17.30 – 19.00: rehearsal of the Big Connection ensemble conducted by Brenda Frans and Wil Schmal, supervised by Sean Gregory.
The Big Connection Ensemble at work in the Andrea Elkenbracht Hall Thursday, April 20
10.00 - 12.30: Sean Gregory works with Brenda and Wil.
14.00 – 15.30: workshop in old people’s home Hunzerheem.
17.30 – 19.00: rehearsal BC ensemble conducted by Brenda and Wil, supervised by Sean Gregory. Location: Andrea Elkenbrachtzaal.
19.15: presentation by the BC ensemble of their compositions.
BC Ensemble in Andrea Elkenbracht hall
Afterwards: a discussion with Sean about ‘creative workshop practice’, open to everyone present Location: Andrea Elkenbracht hall.
Workshop in a recreational centre for the elderly in Groningen, Hunzerheem
Workshopleaders Brenda Frans and Will Schmall
Friday April 21
Morning: Meeting Sean Gregory, Brenda Frans and Wil Schmal, finishing touches.
Afternoon: Presentation by the Big Connection Ensemble in the Groninger Museum, Pavilion Coop Himmelblau. Entrance free.
Programme
1. Compositions of the Big Connection Ensemble, conducted by Brenda and Wil
2. Composition by a Connect Ensemble live from the Guildhall School London, to be seen directly on a big screen in the museum.
3. Improvisation with BC ensemble, Connect ensemble and the audiences in Groningen and London, interactive, conducted by Sean Gregory.
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