The latest updates, news and insights from Musical Beacons London Waltham Forest
Why did you start playing the lute and theorbo? These instruments evoke such a rich and beautiful palette of imagery which I found really enticing as a teenager. They are visually striking and also crafted very delicately which are attributes that really attracted me. How often do you play?I play every day! It is one …
Why did you start playing the recorder? My parents were both musical (they actually met in a Brass and Reed band!) and wanted my sisters and I to enjoy a musical education from a young age. The recorder is always a good way in to the music world, isn’t it? Little did I (or my …
Why did you start playing the drums? As a young child, I was very inspired by Animal, from the Muppet Show and the movies of The Marks Brothers, who were all multiinstrumentalists and used music in a comedic way to communicate. I tried learning some other instruments, but the drum kit just inspired me the …
Why did you start playing the bass? I started playing bass guitar after a period of being addicted to the video game ‘Guitar Hero’. I thought, “if I’m this good at pressing these buttons, maybe I oughta try playing on a real instrument”. So I started lessons at school back in 2011! How often do …
Why did you start playing the harp? I first asked when I was 2 years old and my parents said no. (Nobody knows how I came to understand what a harp was at 2!) I then saw a girl playing on Blue Peter children’s programme when I was 9 and nagged my parents again. I …
Why did you start playing the clarinet? I started playing the recorder in year 1 and I loved it. Then, when I was in year 4, my mum found an old clarinet under her bed! So I played it, and because I really liked the sound it made, I kept playing, and have been playing …
Why did you start playing the french horn? I started playing the french horn a few terms after starting the tenor horn. I loved the look and the sound of it and knew it was more likely to get me in an orchestra and playing the music I wanted to play. I carried on with …
Why did you start playing the trombone? I loved the silliness! It’s so slidey and is such an animated playing experience. I have now grown to enjoy some of the more gentle and tender sounds the instrument is capable of, but when I was 9 years old. (19 years ago!) all I wanted to do …
