National Youth Orchestra Courses Inspire Music Students

Inspiration for learning can come in many guises but, for musicians, perhaps the ultimate motivation to better yourself comes from playing with peers at the very top of their game, and seeing that you can do it too.

That’s precisely what two of The Sixth Form College’s top Music students have been doing with the National Youth Orchestra, whose programmes look to encourage and enthuse young musicians to reach their very real potential.

First years, Tom Swainston and Ed Carew, have hooked up with the NYO to further their already burgeoning talents in the brass section, with both students set to secure A grades in Music come August results.

Tom, who joined us from St Anselm’s College, applied for a programme called ‘NYO Inspire’, which aims to give breakthrough experiences of orchestral music to teenagers of all backgrounds through peer inspiration and leadership.

Music student Tom, who also studies Maths, Physics and Applied Science, said: “I filled in the form and answered questions along the lines of ‘why should we pick you’ and ‘how do you stand out’. I was lucky enough to be accepted with the answers I gave.”

Having attended the course in Nottingham, trumpeter and pianist Tom explained: “We played three pieces whilst I was there: Shostakovich’s Jazz Suites No1 & No2 and Anna Clyne’s Night Ferry. The day was split into four parts and we started with all the brass playing together, followed by just the trumpets. Then we moved to a full orchestra rehearsal before ending with a concert.”

The NYO also say that they look at how their young musicians interpret the music and only select the most committed musicians for Inspire, which Tom clearly already demonstrates in his studies, but now has a definite understanding of how to progress in his field.

Naming some as his influences as all-time greats Harry James and Louis Armstrong, Tom said: “I can appreciate now that individual practice and hard work improves the bigger picture, and I can relate that to my college work by concentrating on smaller topics and features to raise the overall level, rather than thinking about whole sections of work at a time.

“I feel like this has given me a very real idea of what is expected of a professional musician, in the work ethic and attitudes as well as just the standard of playing.”

Fellow trumpeting first year, Ed Carew, who also joined the college from St Anselm’s last year, and was shortlisted for the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year Award, is currently still with the National Youth Orchestra on a two week residency course which focuses on teamwork and shared approaches to practice and playing.