Ryan Yard:“I recently set up a YouTube channel for a hobby and was amazed by the number of wonderful people I have met. One of these was Russ Green and we began talking about his experiences with PTSD. As a musician with my own mental health issues I felt very passionate about combining my music with his cause. After discussing his links with PTSD Resolution it seemed like the perfect cause to raise money for.”
“I set to work composing music for an album that would be a gift to anybody that chose to donate and in the process offer beautiful music that could be enjoyed long after donations had been collected. I have enjoyed the process greatly as music is a form of therapy for me and if it can raise money for a good cause whilst offering joy and happiness to others then I feel I will have achieved my goal. The album will be available to download for those that donated May.”
Biography: Ryan Yard is a composer, pianist and teacher living and working in Shropshire. He holds a first class honours degree in composition and is a qualified teacher. He has recorded many studio albums influenced by the likes of Mike Oldfield, Jean Michel Jarre and Ludovico Einaudi. He has worked with many influential musicians and producers, including Tom Newman, Rob Reed and Les Penning. Ryan teaches piano and music theory as well as producing books and transcriptions.
The O2 Silver Clef Awards return on 1st July! We’ll be honouring some of the biggest names in the music industry (including our O2 Silver Clef Award winner, the legendary Peter Gabriel!) All whilst raising hundreds of thousands in vital funding for Nordoff Robbins. Read more on who of your favourite artists have scooped an O2 Silver Clef Award, below! Read more on O2 Silver Clefs
Jamal Edwards MBE will be honoured at the Music Industry Trust Awards 2022 The prestigious MITs Awards 2022 will honour Jamal Edwards MBE. Jamal will be recognised for his outstanding contribution to the music industry. As a music entrepreneur, DJ and founder of the multifaceted music platform SB.TV. Read more about the MITs Tickets now available for Legends of Rugby 2023 The star-studded Legends of Rugby event will once again return, to bring music and rugby together! Raising vital funds for Nordoff Robbins. Congratulations to the 2023 Legends, Alex Goode and Emily Scarratt. Book your exclusive table, below! Buy Legends of Rugby tickets Get your tickets to the Rock N Roll Circus in Newcastle this June We’ve partnered with Rock N Roll Circus! The all-new touring concept that will touch down in Newcastle this June. Enjoy Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Libertines, Years & Years – as well as a first class circus experience. All in aid of your favourite music charity! Buy Rock N Roll Circus tickets Our Summer School for music therapists returns in July 2022 Are you a music therapist? Join our online Summer School to learn more about the Nordoff Robbins approach to music therapy. From workshops, seminars and discussions, to inputting on leading research. We’d love to see you there! Read more about Summer School
Thank youfor supporting Nordoff Robbins.
You are helping us to create a world where through music therapy, human potential is recognised, witnessed and celebrated – regardless of profound disability, illness or social exclusion.
This month Music for Dementia and UK Music released the Power of Music Report which outlines a blueprint to use music to help transform communities and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing. We also share Richard’s music therapy story and serve up a new episode of Behind the Base with PizzaExpress.
Power of Music Report Did you know music therapy reduces agitation and the need for medication in 67% of people with dementia? The Power of Music Report outlines some of the outstanding academic and scientific research which illustrates the true potential of music as a therapeutic and medical tool. Read the report
“He just began to flourish in music” Richard, a former singer, who suffered a life-threatening stroke last year, has rediscovered his voice thanks to music therapy sessions with Nordoff Robbins. Richard and his music therapist Jo spoke to ITV News Wales about the progress they made together. Watch on ITV News Behind the Base with L Devine Behind The Base with PizzaExpress returns with yet another musical talent. This month L Devine talks about about expression through songwriting, her first relationship and music that had strong influence, later taking to the stage to perform “Daughter”. Watch this episode Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust award Nordoff Robbins £4k We are delighted to announce that we have received £4,000 of grant funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to support music therapy at Erskine Care Home in Anniesland in the West of Scotland. Tell me more
On Sunday 13 February at 16:00 EST/21:00 GMT Get Ready to ROCK! Radio will be relaying the latest Josh Taerk livestream which this month is part of a world-wide “streamathon” called ShowHeart.
Variety Ontario works with children with disabilities and those who face developmental barriers to achieve their life potential. Variety is a world-recognized leader providing integrated sports and life skills programs, applied research and learning programs that change children’s lives and strengthen communities.
Variety –the Children’s Charity of Ontario (VCCO) – as part of an international campaign will be hosting their first-ever ‘ShowHeart’ Charity Concert Series. This five-day international event will begin on February 13 and wrap up on February 18.
ShowHeart will be hosted on the global streaming platform Twitch and will feature unique around-the-clock entertainment. With over 50 musicians/bands performing 24 hours a day for the entire five days.
Variety – the Children’s Charity has over 40 chapters across eleven countries. This event aims not only to educate communities across the globe but also to connect like-minded individuals. But it also provides a unique fundraising opportunity. As guests stream the event, they will have the opportunity to give donations by simply clicking the donation buttons that pop up on the screen.
You better watch out, and you better not cry cause Taerkie Clause is coming to town! We’re doing a special Holiday edition of our GRTR! Sunday Sessions streaming live on Facebook and Get Ready To Rock! Radio!
Author, scriptwriter, podcaster & more…Mark Stay gives us the lowdown on his year and plans for 2022, plus some music, film & book recommendations…
The highs & lows of 2021… The highs… Going back to the movies has been great (even if we’re often the only people in the cinema wearing masks). We kicked it off by seeing the Lord of the Rings trilogy on the big screen, which our kids had never experienced before. Just magical.
Also managed to write more this year than any other. A couple of books, a few short stories, and a bunch of screenplays, and there’s also a TV thing happening that I can’t talk about. It’s been a productive year. I prefer to keep my head down and write rather than wail on social media these days. That’s where the lows are.
Read any good books lately… The audiobook of Rutger Bregman’s Humankind kept me sane over the summer. Humanity is not as bad as we make ourselves out to be. I can also recommend the audiobook of Seth Rogen’s Yearbook, which is hilarious, though your mileage may vary depending on your tolerance for stoner stories. I’m in the middle of a proof copy of Caimh McDonnell’s This Charming Man, the second in his Stranger Times series, which is joyful page-turning, gripping fun. Highly recommended.
For research, I’m listening to Get Tusked, which is about Fleetwood Mac making the album Tusk after Rumours became the biggest album in the world. Things get a wee bit strained as you can imagine. For film nerds, I loved My Life as a Mankiewicz, by the late, great screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz. One of the most gleefully gossipy books about movies you’ll ever read.
Films & TV series you’d recommend a watch over the Christmas & New Year break… I know the Ted Lasso thing is in danger of being overblown, but it really is like a warm hug. I got into it during the second lockdown and it will help restore your faith in humanity. You can balance that with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia which we’re loving, though we can only watch one episode at a time as they’re such despicable people.
Only Murders in the Building is the best thing Steve Martin has done since Bowfinger, and as a whodunnit it really keeps you on the hook. I’m really looking forward to Peter Jackson’s Beatles three-part documentary Get Back. I suspect I’m going to be watching that on hard repeat.
In our house, Christmas officially starts when we all gather to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol, and there’s a rumour that Disney might finally be releasing the full version with the song When Love Is Found.
Heard any good music recently… Ocean to Ocean by Tori Amos is my favourite album of hers since Scarlett’s Walk. Some of the best stuff she’s ever done. Wet Leg are a cracking duo from the Isle of Wight. They’ve only released two songs — Chaise Longue and Wet Dream — and they’re both belters. I stumbled across the video for Rumors by Lizzo and Cardi B on Apple TV and it’s like an R-rated version of Disney’s Hercules. It has to be seen to be believed and the song is an instant classic. And as a longtime Floyd fan I was delighted to get the CD of the 2019 remix of A Momentary Lapse of Reason (MP3s just aren’t the same). To hear Nick and Rick on the album as they should always have been is a real treat.
What have you got planned for next year and beyond… Busy year in 2022. My new film Unwelcome comes out on St Patrick’s Day in the UK and the USA. And the third of the Witches of Woodville books — The Ghost of Ivy Barn — is out in May. Hoping to do more festivals and book events and actually meet people!
Anything else to add… Unwelcome Trailer:
You can discover more about The Witches of Woodville books and even get some free short stories here: https://witchesofwoodville.com
GYPSY PISTOLEROS the swashbuckling renegade flamenco rock rumba punk ‘n’ roll pioneers are aiming for the Xmas No.1 spot with a cracking version of the world anthem, Livin la Vida Loca!
These sleazers are unashamedly going for a Christmas hit, with a Day of the Dead‘ inspired video which will be available very soon. This Xmas No.1 Campaign begins today (Nov 2nd, Dia de los Muertos Festival) and is fully released on 17th December. It is backed by the Guru of Xmas Hits Jon Morter. With all proceeds going to Shelter.
Jon Morter is best known for his gatecrashing of the music industry in 2009 with his phenomenal Rage Against The X Factor campaign, sweeping Rap/Metal band Rage Against The Machine into the sought after UK Christmas No.1 spot. This success opened the door for Jon to work on campaigns for some big artists in the industry including Nirvana, Sex Pistols, Rod Stewart, David Essex, a No.1 album for The Rolling Stones,AC/DC‘s highest-ever chart placing in the UK singles chart, Rik Mayall’s 2010 World Cup single (which incidentally Jon campaigned for again after Rik’s death making the UK No.7 in 2014), and the 2012 Christmas No.1 campaign for The Justice Collective.
Gypsy Pistoleros may be best described as being the ideal house band for the fictitious Titty Twister bar of Rodriguez’s From Dusk Til Dawn. Between the nods to Morricone’s tense, tumbleweed atmospheres and the Gypsy Kings’ manic Mediterranean energy, a New York Dolls raw glam spark and a surplus of prime G ’n’ R attitude!
The sound is flamenco & rumba in a head-on collision with punk/rock riffs, pounding bass and thrashing drums. The songs span madly in the best rock ‘n’ roll tradition with big hooks, attitude, and sleaze. Yet those flamenco breaks got into your head and refuse to leave – this unique hybrid rocks.
Taking place at 7pm on Tuesday 14th Dec 2021 at St Luke’s Church, Chelsea, the welcome return of the Nordoff Robbins Carol Service showcases a star-studded line up including Sir Rod Stewart – one of the most important and best-selling artists of all time, the magnetic Irish singer-songwriter Imelda May and chart-topping saxophonist and presenter Jess Gillam. With Christmas carols sung by some of the music industry’s most celebrated artists, from music giants to and coming young talent, the evening will also feature a host of celebrities giving festive readings.* Tickets are available from carols.nordoff-robbins.org.uk, priced £50.
Following the music therapy charity’s first virtual Christmas event in 2020, Nordoff Robbins is also offering music lovers who can’t attend the church the opportunity to come together to experience the Christmas magic by watching ‘The Stars Come Out To Sing At Christmas 2021’, hosted by the iconic Nile Rodgers. The free-to-view streamed concert will feature carols and readings from St Luke’s Church along with exclusive additional performances from stars around the world, which fans can access at 7pm GMT on Sunday 19th December via carols.nordoff-robbins.org.uk. Donations are encouraged throughout this very special festive evening to enable Nordoff Robbins’ dedicated music therapists to support those who need it most to experience the joy and power of music – helping communication and reducing isolation.
Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy is delighted to have Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited as a funding partner for the second year.
The online concert will be supported by London Stock Exchange through streaming on its Issuer Services Spark (https://www.lsegissuerservices.com/spark). Spark is a digital platform that enables London Stock Exchange clients and partners to distribute a range of digital and thought leadership content.
According to a new survey published this week by UK Music and taken by pollsters Public First, music has played an integral role in reducing the stresses of the majority of UK citizens over lockdown.
It was the largest poll performed since the music industry’s initial closure back in March 2020, and was orchestrated to find out what role music played in the lives of the British public during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The key findings of the wide-ranging poll revealed:
57% of adults said music had helped them cope with lockdown
Around one million adults say they have taken up an instrument during lockdown
71% think music makes them more productive at work/studying (From a personal perspective music & shows on BBC Sounds have kept me focussed at work & WFH. It helps my anxiety issues so much – in a good way!)
The Importance of Live Music & Venues To The Nation:
Despite Covid-19, 43% of the public are interested in going to a live concert, gig or festival this year
Two-thirds (66%) said they planned to attend as many or even more gigs than before Covid-19 hit
Among 18-24 year-olds, 38% say going to a music festival or gig is one of the things they are most looking forward to
Almost half the public (45%) are worried about the financial viability of their local music venues due to the impact of Covid-19
The idea is to have a whole host of gigs/events mention via their social media posts the work of the Nordoff Robbins charity on and around the 8 February each year
Fifty Gigs In A Day 