Preston Music Workshops

Music workshops for businesses, communities and schools in and around Preston

Music workshops for businesses, communities and schools in and around Preston.

I’m a Preston-based music workshop leader who loves to deliver accessible and fun workshops for people of all ages and all levels of ability. With a PhD in music composition, 20 years experience as a music lecturer and +10 years experience as a community arts practitioner, I run ongoing music groups and deliver short courses and one-off music workshops for community centres, corporate away days and training days, and schools in and around Preston.

Music workshops I deliver include:

Singing
Song bath
Samba drumming
Djembe drumming
Drum circle
Gentle drum circle
Body percussion
Seated body percussion
Handbells
Boomwhackers (patterns and tunes with plastic tubes)

Workshops can be anything from less than an hour to several days, one visit or multiple visits, one group or a series of groups. Feel free to enquire about other musical activities. Themed and bespoke music workshops can also be prepared. I'm flexible, reliable, affordable and experienced.

Email Jon Aveyard on JonAveyard1@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the mailing list to hear about offers and new music workshops becoming available.

Music workshops for schools

I can provide accessible and fun music workshops for children of all ages. Whether you want some samba drumming to celebrate the start/end of term, some body percussion to get your group moving, a workshop using songs to represent the different seasons, a boomwhacker workshop that covers the physics of the sound production, or a drum circle that teaches pulse and meter, I am happy to bring an ‘off-the-peg’ workshop or work with you to create one.

Email Jon Aveyard on JonAveyard1@gmail.com to discuss content and prices.

Music workshops for corporate away days and training days

Are you in need of an entertaining icebreaker, a post-lunch lift or a triumphant closer for your day? Maybe you want to incorporate a fun activity that promotes the use of teamworking, communication and creativity. I can deliver a variety of music workshops for away days and training days tailored to your team and your preferred outcomes in order to help boost staff morale and increase productivity as a part of Continuing Professional Development. These workshops are all-weather and take place at a location of your choice.

Email Jon Aveyard on JonAveyard1@gmail.com to discuss content and prices.

Community music workshops

I welcome approaches from community centres and other venues wanting someone to provide content, existing groups in need of a new leader, or people who would like to set up a new group. Current groups are as follows (details correct at time of publication). Email Jon Aveyard on JonAveyard1@gmail.com to discuss content and to confirm details.

Worldwise Samba Drummers. Learning high energy Afro-Brazilian percussion pieces. Open to anyone regardless of ability or experience. Wednesdays, 6.15pm-7.45pm in the UCLan Media Factory, Kirkham Street off Fylde Road, Preston. First time free then £5 per session (£3 concessions).

Preston Scratch Band. Open to anyone regardless of ability or experience, we meet to sing and play pop songs from music books. First and third Saturdays of most months, 1pm-3pm in The Larder community cafe, 50 Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 1DD. £5 per session.

Beginners' Ukulele. With guidance on playing provided, we learn by playing well known songs using easy chords with those who want to singing along as well. Mondays, 12pm-1pm in Cottam Community Centre, Haydocks Lane, PR4 0NY. £5 per session.

Preston Handbell Ensemble. Learning simple patterns and pieces on provided handbells. Open to anyone regardless of ability or experience. Mondays, 1pm-2pm in Cottam Community Centre, Haydocks Lane, PR4 0NY. £5 per session.

The Good Day Sunshine Recorder Group. Playing three-part arrangements of Beatles songs with very simple harmony parts for beginners and more complicated parts for more experienced players. Mondays, 2pm-3pm in Cottam Community Centre, Haydocks Lane, PR4 0NY. £5 per session.

The Green Choir. Occasional gatherings amongst the trees and reedbeds of Dobcroft nature reserve, 49 Whitby Avenue, Ingol, PR2 3YP in which we learn simple unaccompanied songs about nature. 2023 dates: Sundays 12 March, 16 April, 14 May, 18 June, 9 July. £8 (£5 low income concessions).

Music Box. Occasional events which bring together adults in fun music-making activities such as boomwhackers, body percussion, song baths and more.

The Preston Jazz & Improvisation Festival. Having worked with them in previous years, I will be providing five free music workshops for the 2023 festival, each leading to low-pressure performances at Winckley Square and the Ferret open mic night.

The Soundskills Acoustic Scratch Band - Skiddle, Facebook

Djembe Jam - Skiddle, Facebook

Samba Funk Workshop - Skiddle, Facebook

Bell-ringing for Beginners - Skiddle, Facebook

Simple A Cappella Singing - Skiddle, Facebook

Quotes from workshop participants:

"I've never been musical and here I am banging a drum, performing and having a great time with lovely people in a completely unpressured stress free atmosphere."

"The music flows through you and out of you Jon and it's fabulously infectious! Haven't laughed like this in ages."

"I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and felt extremely blessed and privileged to be part of such a group. Thankyou from the bottom of my heart for the musical opportunities you are creating and for the fun and joy you bring to each session."

Jon Aveyard and his cargo bike laden with instruments.

Wherever possible, I use my renewable energy powered cargo bicycle or public transport in order to deliver music workshops. I support the Preston model and encourage other Preston-based businesses to do the same.