In the Summer the garden welcomed local children and families for activity days. Photo @Paul Blakemore

Local children, including Tate, received activity packs during Lockdown. Photo via Twitter courtesy of Tate's Mum

"@HannahMorePri huge thanks to you and @TrinityBristol for the fantastic kit for the windowsill grow challenge! Tate really enjoyed potting them. We will keep you posted on their growth" Charlene L. Twitter

Since the Covid-19 lockdown, we have been working closely with local primary schools and Up Our Street to find ways to reach out to young people in the community who can no longer access our community garden and may have limited access to green spaces during this time.

The first batch of activity packs, filled with simple DIY windowsill gardening ideas and craft activities for families, children and carers to get busy with at home, went out in May/June 2020. Activities include sowing seeds, making bird feeders, scavenger hunts and more. A digital version of the pack is downloadable from our website.

“I think the biggest benefit is that it gives children and families who might not be able to get outside, the chance to engage in nature-based activities. Being around nature and doing tasks like planting and looking after plants are great for mental health and well-being and get children engaged in the world around them!”

Natalie Barker, Deputy Head, St Nicholas of Toletine Primary, June 2020

The garden team are also creating videos on everything from handy gardening tips to fun activities you can do at home - keep up-to-date with these on our social media channels or catch up here.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

Heather has worked for the BBC and ITV developing and creating content for clients such as The Mercury Prize. You can check out the podcast and some brilliant content she has created here https://www.instagram.com/neverseentheoc/ 

Thanks to our Making Tracks programme funders Youth Music for enabling us to create this brilliant top tips video.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

Before the lockdown a student takes part in a piano lesson in Trinity's music studios. Photo @ KoLAB Studios

When lockdown restrictions were announced Trinity's Music Team worked to move Making Tracks activity online.

So now instead of sessions in our building, young people meet with Tutors online for weekly music making sessions.

Since Mar 16, the team have worked with over 15 young people delivering music production workshops in: vocal tuition, guitar and bass tuition, songwriting, music production and skill sharing sessions. Tutors have also been creating online content, including short videos in industry skills and improving musical abilities. Emerging musicians from Making Tracks including Sam Neal have provided soundtracks.

"It's a lifeline. He loves it. It's really good for his mental health and autism to have these sessions scheduled during this time. It's really, really helping. Thank you so much'.

Parent of a Trinity Making Tracks young person

Partners ACE and Basement Studios continue to provide provisions, including checking in with young people online and providing workshops and bespoke masterclasses.

Trinity have hosted a virtual 3rd Space meeting, where organisations who provide music services for young people across Bristol come together and talk about ideas.

Making Tracks team members have also joined Youth Music’s online sessions; learning from and inputting to the wider sector transition to online working, safeguarding and working with young people who might not have access to equipment.

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders.

From his home, he has recorded this short video explaining piano triads and how to play Otis Redding's 'Lean On Me'.

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

Making Tracks Tutor Pete is a drummer, keyboard and piano, backing vocalist and percussion player who has industry skills and experience in live performance, touring, street performance, studio work, event promotion, sound engineering, stage coordination, festival booking and organisation.

Pete plays in Bristol based Hip Hop outfit Almatic, as well as hot jazz and swing band the Gin Bowlers, and Bluegrass and Country band Feral Mouth. As well as multi tasking the management of several projects including running a rehearsal studio, providing PA and backline to events around Bristol and Norfolk, he teaches drums from his studio in Bristol.

Here at Trinity, all the music tutors who work with the young people who take part in Making Tracks programme (teaching music to young people) are also professional musicians working in the industry.

If you have any questions, or want to know more about Making Tracks, get in touch with our Making Tracks Music Tutors at info@trinitybristol.org.uk

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

Since graduating from Southampton University in 2017 with a 1st in BA Music, Making Tracks Tutor Bethany has been a working professional multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer, and the creative director/song-writer of her own artistic project, STANLÆY.

"I like to teach practical music making, and experimentation"

Bethany is an avid producer, producing and recording nearly all of her own music and videos, and is keen to inspire other young women to get into producing their own music. She has toured the UK with her band, and played festivals such as Glastonbury, Boomtown, and Shambala.

Her latest solo EP has recently been featured on BBC radio 6. She is currently working on her next new full length album. Bethany has been working professionally as a teacher since graduating, at schools, with trinity, and as a private tutor (she also teaches piano, viola, violin, guitar, harp and vocals.)

She is an advocate of young people finding their own voice (be it vocally, instrumentally or in musical production) and offers an informed but creative space for young people to explore this in.

Photo @ Khali Ackford / KoLAB Studios

Max is a young man who has been coming to Trinity off and on for the past year. He started playing the drums at the age of 12 but in recent years had no access to a drum-kit so stopped playing.

Making Tracks has provided Max with weekly lessons, teaching him the rudiments of drumming for the first time and creating opportunities for him to realise songs he had written in his head for years.

“I've never really had the facilities and encouragement to do this before, but I'm making these steps, and although they're not speedy they’re at a pace that I’m comfortable with and I'm really enjoying the journey.” Max

During the course of the year Max has found it easier to retain musical information, and both his confidence and musical ability have improved significantly.

He shows great insight into the value of projects like Making Tracks and the benefits they offer to young people like him who may suffer from anxiety or self-doubt and therefore not push themselves forward: “I think it's important that that's what these places do, they try to encourage people who aren't fully out of their shells or fully know what they want to do, to explore things and just have fun with it, because it shouldn't be a stressful thing, not knowing what you want to do.”

Photo @ KoLAB Studios

“I just learned to channel my anger, emotions, my energy in a good way, so I could create something I could be proud of... I'm just going to keep following that path of love, loving what I do and loving how I do it and just see where it gets me, coz that’s all I can do.” Miss Tee

Tenisha is a young single parent whose situation has turned around over the last two years with support from Trinity.

From being someone with very little confidence who described herself as ‘a negative person’ Tenisha has used her involvement with Making Tracks to develop a positive approach to life, both personally and professionally.

Her lyric writing, singing, microphone use and music production skills have improved significantly. She has become increasingly independent and her confidence has blossomed, evidenced in her three live performances in front of large crowds this year.

“They (Trinity) showed me I could do more with my music, that I am my music, and to embrace my music. They made me understand that context, and the confidence helped me build it too... It’s a big step for me, and it’s scary too, but they've helped me every step of the way and I'm so grateful... It’s made me more independent and that is making me overcome a lot of other fears. The whole coming out of my shell, being who I really want to be, and doing what I love...”

Tenisha has developed a strong musical relationship with Trinity staff who have challenged and supported her in a way that has encouraged her growth, personally and musically, her self-discipline and self-belief.

Having now joined PRS as an artist in her own right Tenisha’s next steps include producing an EP of original music and releasing it across multiple platforms. She’s also keen to mentor other young people, pushing them forward in a way she feels she was never pushed until now.

“Overall we're incredibly pleased with her. I'm really happy for her because it's going to keep going, it’s not the top of the hill yet, so she will stay involved.” Al Howard,Trinity staff member

Photo @ KoLAB Studios

Joan is a young women who has been home schooled. She struggles being around groups of young people but really enjoys the opportunity to play one to one with a music teacher. Joan now plays the bass and until her introduction to Making Tracks mainly played alone.

“Trinity as a whole seems to be a safe space for Joan. She seems quite nervous when I've seen her mix with people outside, but when she is mixing with people inside Trinity she's really open. So I think it's important for her to have a space like that... it really seems to be benefiting her.” Bridget, Trinity music tutor

Having taken part in group sessions at both Basement Studios and ACE where she struggled in integrate with other young participants she was offered one to one bass lessons at Trinity.

“Even though I have a bass at home I like playing music with people, so it's given me an opportunity to play music with people, which then gives me more inspiration to play at home. I’ve definitely been taught a lot that I wouldn't have learned if I just played on my own. I've got a lot more confident with playing music and I feel like I understand my instrument more than I did before.”

Her experience at Trinity has marked a significant improvement in Joan’s musical ability, her confidence and her motivation.

When she started lessons she described herself as playing “only one song on one string of the bass” whereas now she has mastered “a whole playlist of songs”. She has developed a good relationship with her music tutor, who she feels understands her and responds well to her individual needs.

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders.

@ Paul Blakemore

@ Paul Blakemore

@ Paul Blakemore

@ Paul Blakemore

Making Tracks is a life changing music making project delivered in partnership with Trinity and leading youth providers Basement Studio and ACE.

Making Tracks offers young people who are facing challenging circumstances the opportunity to access music making opportunities. Ranging from 121 music making sessions to opportunities to perform a city-wide festivals (Harbourside, St Paul’s Carnival) to Q&A’s with professional artists. Young people are able to receive support and training bespoke to their needs - so they can take the next step into their future.

"It was interesting to see all the other students performances and it shows how far you can get with Making Tracks. I was pleased to see vegan pizza provided and meet lots of friendly people too." Joan, 15

The end of year celebration event is an opportunity for young people, their parents, careers and friends to celebrate the achievements and hard work of everyone who has taken part in Making Tracks over the year.

Taking place in Trinity's main hall the evening included performances from some of the young people who take part in the project. Performers included Chloe Thorn (Basement Studio), Miss Tee (Trinity), Sam Neal (Trinity) and Tom Meadley (Trinity).

The celebration is also an opportunity to network/ meet others who take part in the Making Tracks project as well as other young people from across the city. We were delighted to welcome 15 young people from Hartcliffe who came along with their youth workers to experience more creative opportunities in the city, joining 60+ others for the evenings activities.

Community members who take part in activity at Trinity also had an opportunity to showcase their talents. Flash-mob style dance interventions came from some of the young women who took part in the Let Us Dance project and liver music was performed by members of WECIL Collective,  whose members attend regular group music sessions with tutors at Trinity.

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders.

Performances by young people marked the end of the two day sessions Photo by Jack Offord

Miss Tee taking a break from music production Photo by Jack Offord

Saffron Records hosted insightful conversations about the role on women in the music industry Photo by Jack Offord

Trinity staff hosted workshops in music making Photo by Jack Offord

Students joined in conversations hosted by Saffron Records Photo by Jack Offord

Young people have the opportunity to take part in 121's with music professionals Photo by Jack Offord

Making sound from found sound with Access Creative College Photo by Jack Offord

Over two days young people, who take part in the Making Tracks youth music project, came together to explore new musical possibilities and gain industry insights.

Following on the success of last years sessions we invited Access Creative College back to deliver workshops in music production. This year was all about experimental sound and students went around the building, recorded found sounds that were then sampled and then used to create unique sounding beats.

We also invited Ngaio and Kayla Painter from Bristol based Saffron Records, who work to create more representation of women in the music industry, down. They hosted two motivational discussion based workshops exploring the current roles and opportunities available to women within the music industry.

"Coming here has given me something to look forward to and has helped me with my mental health especially interacting with others. It helps me have a voice." 
Kevin, Making Tracks Participant

Trinity tutors were also on hand to lead sessions in song writing and recording alongside supporting young people during the final live performances. 

Over the two days 28 young people came along – some coming "to meet other musicians and collaborate" and others well,  "because music is life".

These sessions form just part of the many music making opportunities available to young people as part of the Youth Music funded Making Tracks project.

If you are a young person or know a young person who would like to take part in the Making Tracks project then get in touch with Dave Thomas, Trinity’s Youth Activities Manager.

Young people performed at this years Trinity Garden party - you can catch more performances across Bristol this summer. Photo @Alexa Ledecky

Where you can find Making Tracks performances this Summer:

Bristol is always buzzing with Festivals over the Summer so it is great that the Making Tracks partners have teamed up with the three leading festivals to provide opportunities for young people to showcase their talents.

St. Paul's Carnival - Sat July 6th

Youth Music 'Making Tracks' partners ACE have are managing the Unity Stage at this years St Paul's Carnival. St Paul's Carnival is one of Bristol's seminal events attracting a huge crowd across the day. Young people aged 12- 21 will have a 30min slots to perform on the stage presenting an array of talents spanning vocal and DJ sets.

Bristol Pride - Sat 13th July

Making Tracks partners Basement Studios will be managing the 'open mic sessions' at this years Bristol Pride Celebrations on the Downs int dedicated 'youth area'. Expect open mic performances from young people across the day.

Bristol Harbourfest - Sat 20th July, 2pm-3pm, Millennium Square

Trinity Centre are proud to be hosting the Trinity Presents: Bristol Dances stage at this years harbour festival. Harbourfestival is attended by over 300,000 so this is a fantastic opportunity for young people to showcase their talents. Performers on the day include: Miss Tee and Kevin McKechnie.

Good luck to everyone performing!

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders.

Trinity Presents: Bristol Dances, will include young people from Making Tracks performing. Photo @ Alexa Ledecky

Older people dance group Gerry's Attic will perform. The group are supported by Trinity through the community initiative scheme. Supporting community groups with over 4000 hours of free or subsided hall hire. Photo @ Gerry's Attic

 

Award winning youth urban dance outfit Hype will perform alongside other Bristol performers. Here they perform during Trinity's Annual Garden Party. Photo @ Jessica Bartolini

2 O'Clock Beauty Queens

BollyRed Dance Company: Bollywood with a twist

Swing  Dance and Bristol Swing Dance

Trinity Presents: Bristol Dances Stage

Head to Millennium and get ready to experience dance in its many forms this year at the first-ever Trinity Presents: Bristol Dances Stage (Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July 2019).

The programme offers an exiting selection of performances and workshops from some of the best dance companies and communities thriving in Bristol - from Hip Hop, street dance, Bollywood, swing, salsa, Brazilian styles, funk, cabaret and drag.

Not to be missed moments include a swing dance party hosted by both Bristol Swing Dance and Bristol Swing Riot, a Ceilidh Dance with Mr Medler, and a cabaret and drag extravaganza curated by Eat Sleep Drag Repeat.

Gerry’s Attic, an older peoples dance company who are known for their Dance festival Full Bloom, and the award winning young people’s street dance Hype Dance Company feature on this year's programme. Both are community groups that use Trinity to run regular activities - supported through our Community Initiative a scheme that offers over 4000 hours of free or subsidised hall space each year.

There is also an opportunity for young people who take part in our collaborative music making project Making Tracks to showcase their talents on the Making Tracks Showcase. The project is a partnership between Basement Studios, Aspiration Creation Elevation (ACE@Docklands) and Trinity who offer young people in Bristol who are struggling with challenging personal circumstances life changing music making experiences.

There will also be plenty of chances for younger visitors to move their feet thanks to family-friendly sessions each morning.

Check out the full Harbourfest programme here.

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders.