Student music performances

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Music students contribute to the local community with performances for all ages

This academic year, MA Performance (Music) students have performed for over 400 primary school children. During these school visits, Bath Spa University students Natalie Mills, Ruizhen Ma and James Macdowall-Scott delivered a series of workshops, in which they collaboratively created pieces of music with the pupils, showcasing their instruments and voices to the younger audiences.

Reflecting on the performances, Ruizhen said:

“During the music workshops I sang opera arias, Lieders and ancient Chinese poetry songs. This is the first time I have performed in front of audiences of a specific age and was a brand-new experience for me. I was a little nervous before the performance, but the feedback from the audience was very good and they were immersed in the songs.

As a performer, these two performance workshops not only made me accumulate practical experience but improved my confidence and abilities for future performances. I've also learned how to choose suitable songs and performances for audiences of a specific age.”

The trio have also recently performed at Bamfield Care Home, entertaining the residents with a series of cello and piano pieces.

Natalie commented:

“The experiences I have had playing music in primary schools and care homes this academic year have made me love what I do even more. To be able to see the impact music has on the wider community reminds me of the reason why I do it and has given me a clear indication of the direction I would like to go in the music industry. Without experiences like this, I don’t think I would know what part of music I love, which is sharing music with as many people as possible, no matter their walk of life.”

In a similar vein, third year BA Music students recently visited Midford Manor Care Home, building on the newly developed relationship with the home by performing for the residents. The relationship first began when residents of the home visited the Michael Tippett Centre, Newton Park campus, to watch a lunchtime concert put on by BSU Music students.

Commenting on the relationship, Kerry Huggins, Wellbeing Co‑Ordinator at Midford Manor Care Home, said:

“Our Residents were pleased to have the students from Bath Spa University sing and play music for them recently. They loved to hear the various genres of musicality.  It was nice for the residents to encourage students and to applaud them.  We look forward to seeing the next group in the Autumn.”