Education ViVA

Fever: Frosty's Musical Adventure
Royal Derby Hospital, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Nottingham Children's Centre and Rainbows Children's Hospice in Loughborough
10-11 December 2010

"It was fun and made me feel good." - Participant

Frosty's Musical Adventure was the theme of the latest ViVA: Fever sessions which took place on 10 and 11 December. Workshop leader, Lucy Forde (flute) along with ViVA musicians Hazel Parkes (violin) and David Ayre (double bass) led sessions at Royal Derby Hospital, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Nottingham Children's Centre and Rainbows Children's Hospice, Loughborough. At the workshops the participants had the opportunity to listen to, play and sing with and conduct the musicians.

"Very exciting session, themed but changed to suit children and everybody was involved." - Staff, Royal Derby Hospital

The workshops were based around the story of Frosty the Snowman and his adventures in the village. Hazel and David played lots of different pieces of music during the sessions and not just festive music. At the start of each workshop Lucy, Hazel and David played Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar they then told the participants about each of their instruments moving round the room to demonstrate them and for the young people to see and hear them close up. Many of the participants enjoyed feeling the vibrations of David's double bass as he played and some even tried it out for themselves.

"The workshops were lively and fun with lots of opportunities for the participants to join in. Through having fun, singing and playing the participants would have gained a better sense of wellbeing." - Lucy, Workshop Leader

At the sessions there was an array of percussion instruments for the participants to play that the musicians had brought with them, including drums, shakers, hand bells, glockenspiels, tambourines and even sleigh bells that added to the festive feel of the workshops. All these instruments came in useful when the musicians played Sleigh Ride - Lucy led the groups showing them when to play during the piece. The musicians also played music from The Snowman by Howard Blake and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker.

"My favourite was the drum because it made a lot of noise." - Participant

As Hazel and David played In the Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg the participants were able to control when they should play using a stop/go sign. The young people also got creative during a musical snowball fight, throwing musical themes at each other round the room. During the session everyone got into the festive spirit singing along to their favourite Christmas songs, the participants were able to suggest what they wanted instead of figgy pudding during We Wish You a Merry Christmas which was then sung by the group. The participants also joined in on hand bells and sleigh bells during Jingle Bells and enjoyed listening to Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.

"It made me feel good playing music with everyone." - Participant

The workshops were greatly enjoyed by all those who took part, providing a change of routine for the participants and staff and everybody got into the festive spirit during the sessions.

"Thank you it was great fun." - Participant

Fever is supported by The C Charitable Trust, The Thomas Farr Charity and Boots Charitable Trust.