Silver Strings
Always wanted to play a musical instrument?
Then Silver Strings is for you!
Silver Strings, Brighton & Hove’s very own later-starter community string band, has been running since early 2013 and throughout the pandemic via Zoom. So far we have introduced 200+ older people to playing stringed instruments and numbers are growing. We meet weekly to choose, play and devise music together: we play a wide range of material including folk tunes, classical themes, and popular melodies.
We perform several times per year – Brighton Bandstand and Pavilion Gardens, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Stanmer Park’s Apple Day orchard stage, Patchfest and many other social events. Highlights include Brighton Royal Pavilion for the Mayor‘s Christmas drinks reception, a wedding at Stanmer House, and being filmed for Sky TV’s ‘The Secret Life of the Brain‘.
FREE TRIAL SESSIONS: first Tuesday of every month, 9:30-11:30am, at the Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton – complete beginners are very welcome and we even provide the instruments! Booking essential via our contact form.
Cost: weekly cost of sessions is £13.50, payable monthly. NB: a limited number of bursaries are sometimes offered for people on low incomes (supported by Brighton & Hove City Council).
Silver Strings is co-ordinated and facilitated by Isabel Emerson, professional cellist and Goldsmiths’-trained community musician, and has kindly been supported by the Brighthelm Small Grants Scheme, Cooperative Membership Fund, and The Homity Trust.
“Starting from a total beginner, you have brought me on to the point where I can play. Joining Silver Strings has changed my life, now making music is part of my everyday and I’m loving it!”
– MB
“Good for the brain & a great feeling of achievement!”
–SC
“I was very proud of our joint efforts at the wedding, I got quite lost in the moment!”
– PG, participant