Pupils from Renfrewshire Council schools are being invited to jazz things up a bit in 2012.

Renfrewshire Instrumental Service, in conjunction with Strathclyde Youth Jazz Orchestra is offering free workshops with internationally renowned musicians to young people in Renfrewshire.

The project, funded by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative, is calling for pupils who can play to roughly grade 3 standard and/or are able to play chromatic scales on their instrument. All instruments are welcome, even if they are not traditional “jazz” instruments.

Councillor Lorraine Cameron, Convener of Renfrewshire’s Education Policy Board, said, “This will be the second year of the project following on from last year’s highly successful partnership. It offers a fantastic opportunity to our pupils to be creative and to work alongside a highly acclaimed Orchestra and I’m really looking forward to hearing them perform together in the Spring.”

Renfrewshire also celebrated last year when former Paisley Grammar pupil, Neil Paton, returned to his old school to be presented with one of the most prestigious music awards in Scotland. Neil was chosen as the winner of the Young Scottish Jazz Musician Award for the under 17 category in awards organised by the Scottish Jazz Federation.

So for pupils who would like to follow in Neil’s footsteps, workshops and rehearsals will take place at Paisley Grammar school on Thursday evenings from 4:30-6:30 from 26 January and will culminate in performances at the Annual Spring concert series as well as a ‘side by side’ with Strathclyde Youth Jazz Orchestra, one of Britain’s most highly regarded jazz ensembles.

To register for the workshops, please contact Youth Music Initiative Development Officers on: 0141 840 8925, or by emailing hamish.whittle@renfrewshire.gov.uk or emma.anderson@renfrewshire.gov.uk for consent forms and a rehearsal schedule.

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