Children aged between seven and 14-years-old will have the opportunity to play brass and woodwind instruments at a winter school holiday workshop.
The workshop will be run by the Gippsland Symphony Orchestra and Warragul Municipal Band.
Held at the Bruce Armstrong Bandroom in Warragul, the workshop will run over Monday, July 8 and Tuesday, July 9 between 9am and 2pm, concluding with a concert performance.
Run by local music specialists Niels Bijl and Beth Morgan from the GSO and Emma Nicholson from the Warragul Municipal Band, the two-day workshop aims to increase access to music for children in Gippsland.
"The main objective is to create easy access for kids to play whatever (instrument) they want," Niels said.
The workshop will cater to children with no previous musical experience and those with experience up to AMEB grade three. Clarinets, saxophones and flutes will be provided as part of the workshop.
Niels said he hoped the workshop would help foster an interest in music.
"The entire aim (of the workshop) is that kids should just come along, we will provide all the instruments," he said.
"Our goal is to get kids who have never even considered playing an instrument to come along and have fun for two days. It's all about creating opportunities for kids."
Niels said the workshop would provide a space for children to develop their teamwork skills and learn what it takes to make music in a group setting.
"The kids will be able to get the community feeling of making music together," he said.
"It doesn't matter what instrument you play, through playing together, you trigger different parts of your brain, learn about teamwork and work on personal expression."
Niels also encouraged music teachers to attend the workshops to learn more about teaching brass and woodwind instruments to young children.
"Music teachers are more than welcome, if you want to come and be a fly on the wall, just let us know," he said.
The workshop cost is $95 with registrations closing on Friday, June 28.
Visit nielsbijl.com.au/edu to register or email nielsbijl@gmail.com to find out more.
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