| Specifications | |
| Location(s) | Throughout the UK |
| Key Stages | EYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 |
| Special Schools | Yes |
| Public Liability | 10,000,000 |
| Enhanced DBS | Yes |
| Fees | Please contact us with details of your requirements |
| Administration Service | Administered by the provider |
| Website | http://www.jomaypercussion.co.uk/index.htm |
More about this Workshop/Service and the Provider
About
Jo May trained as an orchestral percussionist at the Royal College of Music, and began her career working with orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra and English National Ballet, performing at venues around the UK including the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
A trip to Sidmouth Folk Festival sparked an enthusiasm for traditional music and led to Jo's involvement in various folk lineups, as well as study trips to Senegal (exploring drumming and balafon playing) and her participation in many Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban courses run by One Voice Music.
Jo is an experienced percussion teacher and workshop leader. She currently runs spoon playing workshops for schools, teachers' conferences, festivals and community groups around the UK, as well as abroad. Highlights include the Music and Drama Education Expos in London and Manchester and a recent appearance on CBeebies.
Spoons Workshop
Jo’s spoons workshops can be flexible in order to suit your school day. Usually the sessions are for one class at a time - the length varies depending the type of workshop and the requirements of the school. Often Jo will do a short demonstration/introduction in an assembly at the beginning of the day, and/or a sharing/performance at the end of the day where some of the classes perform what they have learnt.
Jo has a particular passion for spoon playing and is keen to pass it on to others!
Jo provides an assortment of metal, wooden, plastic and joined-up spoons and she teaches a variety of techniques and rhythms, often incorporating songs and body percussion too. Spoons Workshops are accessible for all ages and abilities, and help to develop many skills including rhythm, co-ordination, fine motor skills, creativity, copying, listening, performance and teamwork. Workshops can be tailored to suit your event so do get in touch to chat about different options.
Jo often works with another musician, usually a fiddle player, who provides a fantastic accompaniment for the spoon playing.
Testimonials
Thank you both so much for a truly fantastic day! We all thoroughly enjoyed your sessions and I feel our children are so lucky to have had the opportunity to experience your workshop. Having live music is such a treat and I know it will have been the first time that many of them will have heard it first-hand and playing such unusual percussion instruments as the spoons will be something they will never forget! So thank you, thank you! We all admired the level of enthusiasm you managed to maintain throughout the day too (and in this heat!) - well done! And I haven’t even mentioned the learning! Aside from the rhythms, sounds, skills they learnt in playing the spoons you covered just about every 'physical' objective there is going: body awareness/bilateral integration/crossing the imaginary midline/hand-eye coordination/hand dominance/muscular strength/sensory processing and so it goes on!
Extract from an email from Anna Clow (École Internationale Bilingue, Paris)
Spoons are the ideal instrument for all ages! Great for hand-eye coordination, crossing midlines, subdivision of the beat, dynamics and ensemble percussion skills, and you can play at home! Lots of my children have been playing at home thanks to Jo! Couple that with an introduction to wonderful folk music and everyone goes out smiling, including me!
Maureen Mather (Music Lead - St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, Guildford)
Availability & How to Book
We are ready to organise your special event for you and answer any queries you may have.
Please complete the enquiry form below and someone will get back to you.
