What comes to mind when you think of Bollywood music?

Is it upbeat, expressive sounds? Colourful costumes? Perhaps huge and complicated dance routines?

Well, soon it might be…Gravesham.

Kent Music are thrilled to be partnering with the Bollywood Brass Academy on a brand-new project for schools in the Gravesham area. The Bollywood Brass Band will work in three primary schools, and pupils will be introduced to playing Bollywood and Carnatic music – both styles which originate from India.

Pupils will learn brass instruments and violin under the guidance of their own Kent Music tutors alongside workshops, video resources and tutorials from BBB members themselves.

The project includes the creation of newly composed music for beginner brass and strings by BBB composers Sarha Moore and Kay Charlton with virtuoso violinist – Jyotsna Srikanth , which will complement that on the band’s EP ‘Carnatic Suite: A Day in Bangalore’, which was performed in WOMAD’s Siam tent in 2018.

The project will culminate with all the pupils coming together to perform alongside members of the Bollywood Brass Band in a celebratory concert in July!

Area Manager for Dartford & Gravesham Cara McCormick is running the Kent Music side of the project and is really excited for the opportunities this will bring to young people in the area.

We’re so excited to be partnering with the Bollywood Brass Academy to bring these new opportunities to young people in Gravesham.

We’ll be sharing news and updates throughout the term, and can’t wait to share the final performance with the world.

Find out more about the Bollywood Brass Academy and our project at these links:

http://bollywoodbrassacademy.co.uk/

www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/features/article/a-sonic-and-cultural-palimpsest-indian-brass-bands