Music
Forest Arts Centre is renowned for it’s high quality music provision and is home to the Walsall Music Service. Providing the rhythm of life to everything from Jazz to Samba from Heavy Metal to Indonesian Folk music, Forest Arts Centre is the place to come to listen, learn and enjoy music.
Jazz
Forest is home to Walsall Jazz Orchestra. The Walsall Jazz Orchestra is a 19 piece big band which, unlike the vast majority of big bands, plays contemporary, rather than traditional big band music. The band plays pieces written by well known composers such as Pat Metheny, Mike Gibbs and Chick Corea, as well as a number of original compositions.
WJO have released two CDs which have received rave reviews in the music press.
Forest also has a Youth Jazz Orchestra and hosts Jazz Musician Workshops.
Orchestras
Play the violin ? Flute ? Trumpet ? The best way to learn and keep learning is to play with other musicians. Forest is home to many great orchestras, catering for all ages and ability levels.
If you are a young instrumentalist and live in Walsall you are missing out if you don’t come to the Young Musicians Centre every Tuesday night at Forest. Hundreds of like minded young musicians playing together in groups of all sizes.
Your never too old to learn and certainly never too old to play ! Why not join our unique Senior Citizens Symphony Orchestra or if you fancy something a little mellower the Senior Citizens Swing Band.
Rock and Pop
Forest’s rock and pop academy is a national leader in the provision of professional support to young musicians and aspiring groups. Musicians selected to attend the academy enjoy expert tuition in playing, performing, writing and developing into unique music industry ready artistes.
Each year sees a new intake of talented young people who as well as specialist tuition enjoy the luxury of top quality rehearsal spaces, the opportunity to cut their own cd and music video to dvd.
All musicians have the opportunity to perform in front of a large audience at a regular concert to improve their stage skills.
Many of our groups have been selected to perform at the annual National Rock & Pop Festival at the National Exhibition Centre plus appear at events at the National Indoor Arena and Symphony Hall in Birmingham.
Special Needs Music
Forest Arts Centre has a fully accessible Music Technology Suite designed to provide maximum interactivity and participation for those with special needs.
Through the use of drum machines, sound beams, music computers, etc a rich, sonic environment can be created, performed and recorded.
Forest Arts Centre works in close partnership with all Special Schools in Walsall in providing music for those with special needs.
World Music
Forest Arts Centre looks to truly embrace World Music by going beyond it’s core provision of steel pans, Asian, African and Latin -American drumming by having a full size Indonesian Gamelan Ensemble, one of only a handful in the country.
Specially shipped from Indonesia this traditional ensemble of mettalophones, xylophones, drums, gongs, etc allows large groups to play together and encounter a new unique sound and cultural experience.
Contact 01922 654555 for information
This page was last updated on 19 November 2009