SWeet! Recorder Consort C.I.C.

Dynamic Recorder For The New Generation

How would you describe your experience with the recorder at primary school? Many people don't realise that it's possible to train to play the recorder professionally, and even gain postgraduate qualifications in recorder performance!

Here in the London Borough of Lambeth, we know that many children are unable to learn to play a musical instrument because their families cannot afford it. Instruments, music lessons, exam. fees, and all the hidden costs that crop up, are simply out of the reach of many families.

SWeet! provides a professional training in playing the recorder to Lambeth schoolchildren aged 8 to 18 years. Each child receives 90 minutes tuition every week from a professional recorder player. Our mission is that no child will be disadvantaged because of money worries at home. Our fees are about one third to one quarter of the market rate, and there are also Bursaries and Scholarships available for children in particular need. All instruments are loaned to students free of charge, and there is an expenses fund which provides for extra costs such as travel expenses and accompanists' fees. At SWeet!, everyone really can become a real musician! See for yourself here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgxnCK98REg&t=64s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxKdxPILbvc

Our children succeed! Many obtain Grade 5 (equivalent to a G.C.S.E.) before leaving primary school, and some go on to achieve the Grade 8 qualification (equivalent to an A-Level) before the end of Key Stage 3. They also perform regularly in ensemble on five different sizes of recorder, and have won awards for their consort playing with Music For Youth, the Beckenham Festival, and Coulsdon & Purley Festival.

Every year, more and more children join us and the project grows. Currently, demand for classes is outstripping what we can provide. We are currently raising money to fund another professionally qualified tutor, so that we can expand our work and help even more disadvantaged young people to become young musicians.

We need £3000 to fund our new tutor for two hours per week for one academic year. Anything you can give, however small, will help our young people to realise their musical dreams!

Thank you.