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Drake Music seeks creative team for London Season4 Aug 2008
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The Prospectors' new EP 'Silver and Gold' now available from Drake Music7 Jul 2008
Stockport band The Prospectors, who performed their first major gig at Manchester's Urbis Centre on 06 July, have now released their new EP Silver and Gold. To buy a copy from Drake Music (suggested donation £8) contact Lis Murphy.
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Drake Music seeks composer and musical director26 Jun 2008
Drake Music is seeking to commission a musician to compose and direct the performance of a new work on the theme of Connecting Across Difference. A central component of the composition process is the facilitation of a season of creative music workshops with young musicians from mainstream and special schools, at primary and secondary levels in the borough of Tower Hamlets. The season will culminate in a mixed media masque or opera at Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, co-created and performed by all participants in March 2009.
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Join The Prospectors for Herbis at Urbis24 Jun 2008
New band The Prospectors will shake up a sunny summer’s afternoon when they perform Herbis, music inspired by the Urban Gardening exhibition, at the Urbis Centre, Manchester, on Sunday 6 July, 2pm.
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Back2Reality benefit gig for Drake Music21 Jun 2008
On August 03 SecondLife will stage Back2Reality in aid of Drake Music.
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Stephen Wade16 Jun 2008
Stephen Wade, who worked with Drake Music in the 1990s, has died aged 71 following a stroke.
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Hear The Prospectors at Manchester's Urbis Centre9 Jun 2008
On Sunday 06 July at 2pm, Urbis, Manchester’s exhibition centre for city life, plays host to The Prospectors. The group are supported by Stockport CP and have worked with Drake Music for a number of years. They will perform tracks from their latest EP Silver and Gold, plus new pieces inspired by Urbis’s Urban Gardening exhibition. For more information contact {{1842}}Lis Murphy or visit Urbis. To hear The Prospectors check out http://www.myspace.com/drakemusicorg
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Drake Music is moving2 Jun 2008
From 10 June our national and London teams will be based at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA. Our telephone number will be 020 7739 5444.
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Sing for Joy23 May 2008
Poet and comedian John Hegley and singer Carol Grimes are to star alongside community choir Sing for Joy at their annual benefit gig on 5 July.
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Top northern venues to showcase Drake musicians' work14 May 2008
Gallery Oldham and Manchester’s Urbis exhibition centre are to showcase Drake musicians this summer.
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Help us create a better website13 May 2008
We will shortly be redesigning our website. We want to know what users would like to see and be able to do on the new site, and how we can make it as accessible as possible. To take part in our short website survey please {{1482}}email us by 23 May.
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Want to work with us in the north west?13 May 2008
If you are a creative, enthusiastic musician, digital artist, dancer or technologist and would like to work with us as a trainee, volunteer or associate, then we want to hear from you. Join us at our recruitment event, held in association with Musicleader North West, on 04 July at Zion Arts Centre, Hulme, Manchester. Places are free (a £10 refundable deposit is payable when you book).
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Marathon Woman and The Boyfriend raise money for Drake Music23 Apr 2008
Drake Music’s London Marathon runner, Alina Listopad, has now raised over £1,200 for us. Huge thanks to Alina and all who supported her. Our thanks also to the University of Gloucestershire’s musical theatre group who are donating the proceeds of their debut performance – a production of tongue in cheek musical The Boyfriend – to Drake Music.
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Drake Music supporters to get 50% off entry to AIM digital music trade fair, 28 April 20087 Apr 2008
The Association of Independent Music (AIM) is staging a one-day digital music trade fair on 28 April in London. The event will feature stands hosted by digital music companies including eMusic, PPL, Shazam and Orange, as well as presentations and panel discussions on key digital music business matters.
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Graeae and Suspect Culture present 'Static'4 Apr 2008
Graeae and Suspect Culture present 'Static' by Dan Rebellato. “A contemporary, touching discussion on music as life, as communication, as everything" British Theatre Guide.
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London season launches with 'Into the Light'13 Mar 2008
Drake Music’s 2008 London Season launched on March 12 with ‘Into the Light’, a magical light and sound installation at Kew Palace, Surrey. Partnered for the first time by Historic Royal Palaces, Drake Music commissioned Chas de Swiet to create five haunting melodies to accompany a meandering, lantern-lit walk through the palace gardens.
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The light shines on25 Feb 2008
Drake Music has partnered Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) for the first time on a magical light and sound installation at Kew Palace, Surrey. ‘Into the Light’ takes place from dusk on 12 March in the Queen’s Gardens behind Kew Palace, once the home of King George III. For the event, Drake Music and HRP commissioned composer Chas de Swiet to create a site-specific soundscape that draws inspiration from ‘Music for Fireworks’ by Handel – one of King George III’s favourite composers.
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Professional Development Seminar for musicians 25 March13 Feb 2008
Drake Music is staging a free, one-day professional development seminar in London on 25 March for disabled and non-disabled musicians interested in working with us.
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Podcasting technologies course for 11-25 year-olds13 Feb 2008
Arts organisation The Hub is staging a five week course on podcasting technologies for young disabled people aged 11-25.
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Drake Music Showcase - 14 February, 1.30-5.00pm, The Castle, Wellingborough5 Feb 2008
An exciting mix of music that fuses classical, rock, dance and electronica with live vocals, dance and visuals, the Drake Music Showcase is an event not to be missed.
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Drake Music appoints two new trustees11 Dec 2007
Two new board members have joined Drake Music, both bringing with them a wealth of expertise.
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Charlotte’s £25k skydive 26 Nov 2007
Eighteen-year-old Drake musician Charlotte White has raised a massive £25,000 in a sponsored skydive for Drake Music and St Rose’s School, Stroud. Charlotte originally set herself a target of £3,000. “I’m now up to £25,000 which is pretty incredible – people’s generosity has been unbelievable,” she said.
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Drake Music appoints composer for Into the Light21 Nov 2007
Drake Music and Historic Royal Palaces have appointed composer Chas de Swiet to create a soundscape to celebrate the relocation of the Temple of the Imagination installation to its new home in Kew Gardens, Surrey.
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Professional development seminar for disabled musicians, London, 04 December 0076 Nov 2007
Drake Music is staging a free, one day professional development seminar for disabled musicians on 04 December at the Rich Mix Cultural Foundation in London.
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Boost for disabled musicians in the East Midlands25 Sep 2007
Arts charity Drake Music is to offer disabled musicians more opportunities to create and perform music in the East Midlands.
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Disabled composer sought for site specific commission25 Jul 2007
In March 2008 Drake Music will create an intimate soundscape for the Temple of the Imagination installation at Kew Gardens, Surrey, in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces. We want to commission a disabled composer to work with Into the Light’s artistic director, Sofie Layton, to create a piece that evokes Kew Palace’s history and musical links. The deadline for submissions of interest is 3rd September.
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Drake Music seeks disabled trustees20 Jul 2007
Drake Music is looking for three disabled trustees to join its board. As a trustee, you will influence our new direction and vision, and contribute your skills, energy and experience to a small, dynamic organisation with big ideas for the future. You must have good, independent judgement, be a creative and strategic thinker and an effective team member.
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Drake Music and ESP launch Compose World Create4 Jun 2007
A new software program that gives both disabled and non-disabled young musicians the chance to explore and compose music has been launched jointly by Drake Music and Expressive Software Projects(ESP).
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CasaJay to perform at London's Cafe Royal on 06 June30 May 2007
Drake musician Jason Dowling (also known as CasaJay) is to perform at the Café Royal in London’s West End on Wednesday 06 June (7.30pm onwards) as part of the City Showcase festival.
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Job vacancy: Trustees1 May 2007
We are now looking for trustees to expand and diversify our board, and particularly welcome applicants with a strong track record in the arts, disability, technology or the voluntary sector.
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Job vacancy: Programme Development Manager, East Midlands1 May 2007
We are looking for a proactive and experienced arts manager to join our team for a minimum of 18 months, to develop and implement our Arts Council-funded programme in the East Midlands.
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Music Engine steams into Manchester3 Apr 2007
19th century steam technology went head to head with 21st century music technology at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry on 31 March, when seven disabled musicians performed their own new work, accompanied by a live steam engine.
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CasaJay picked for City Showcase3 Apr 2007
Drake musician Jason Dowling (aka CasaJay) will perform at the prestigious City Showcase music festival in London from 4-8 June. The festival gives hot new music talent the chance to perform at major London music venues and support to break into the commercial music business.
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Drake Music appoints new head of development2 Apr 2007
Johnny O’Reilly is Drake Music's new head of development.
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Inclusive Music Making Through Technology: 29 May-1 June 200726 Mar 2007
Learn how to use the latest mainstream and assistive music technology to give everyone the opportunity to make music.
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Drake Music tests new inclusive music software21 Mar 2007
Drake Music has started testing Compose World - Create, the new, user-friendly, accessible music software that has been developed with specialist music software company ESP Music.
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Drake musicians picked to audition for City Showcase festival5 Mar 2007
Drake musicians Jason Dowling and Lyn Levett have been chosen to audition for the prestigious City Showcase festival, which gives hot new music talent the chance to perform at major London music venues and make their mark on the commercial music industry.
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Specialist Schools and Academies Trust to fund Drake Music project5 Mar 2007
The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust is to sponsor a year-long Drake Music project at Bristol's City Academy. The grant, worth over £6.5k, will be used to fund inclusive music-making at the City Academy for students who benefit from using assistive music technology.
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Drake collaborates with Manchester Metropolitan University on research project.12 Feb 2007
Drake NW is working with Clive McGoun at Manchester Metropolitan University exploring issues around technology, communication and creativity.
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Coming soon - new Drake Music e-newsletter26 Jan 2007
Drake Music will shortly launch a brand new e-newsletter featuring up to the minute news about our work and upcoming events. Watch this space!
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Job Vacancy21 Dec 2006
We now seek a pro-active and experienced fundraiser to devise and implement all aspects of Drake Music’s fundraising programme, specifically around a major event in 2008 celebrating the charity’s 20th anniversary, establishing a diversified sustainable income for the longer term.
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Music Engine steams into Manchester19 Dec 2006
19th century steam technology goes head to head with 21st century music technology at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry on 31 March, when seven musicians perform their own new work, accompanied by a live steam engine.
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Drake Music featured on Disability Arts Online19 Dec 2006
Drake Music has been profiled on the leading disability arts website, Disability Arts Online. The feature highlights Drake Music's achievements and plans for the future, as well as Drake Musicians and Tongue and Groove.
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2007 dates for Inclusive Music Making Through Technology course in Manchester and Birmingham18 Dec 2006
Drake Music has announced two more dates for its popular Inclusive Music Making through Technology course. The course will run in Manchester (30 January, 27 February, 27 March and 24 April 2007) and then in May/June (dates to be confirmed) in Birmingham.
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Freelance Vacancy - East Midlands Programme Development Manager7 Sep 2006
Are you passionate about the arts and music in particular? Do you thrive on creating and managing diverse and innovative opportunities for people to explore, learn, perform, and compose music?
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SoundJunction: New and accessible opportunities to explore and create music online11 Aug 2006
Drake Music is collaborating with SoundJunction, the ground breaking composing and music learning website, to further fulfil Drake Music's mission to "provide disabled people with inspiring music opportunities at every level using technology and a wide range of other creative solutions".
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Jools Holland Auctions Tour Piano for Drake Music3 Aug 2006
Jools Holland OBE, the UK's most popular pianist and bandleader, has announced that he is to sell the piano he has toured with for the last five to six years, with all proceeds going to Drake Music, of which Jools is patron. It will be sold without reserve at Bonhams' Autumn sale of Fine Pianos at 101 New Bond Street, London.
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New Project Coordinator for Drake Music North West Region31 Jul 2006
Drake Music, the charity which provides disabled people with inspiring music making opportunities using technology and a wide range of other creative solutions, announces the appointment of Lis Murphy as Project Coordinator for their North West Region.
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Drake Music Appoints New Chair17 May 2006
Drake Music, the charity which enables disabled children and adults to create music through assistive technology, announces the appointment of Bryan Heiser as chair of its Board of Trustees. Bryan has been a Drake Trustee since 2004.
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Tongue and Groove Debut CD on Sale NOW!3 Apr 2006
Thank you to everyone especially The Mayor of Northampton, Councillor Sally Beardsworth and representatives from the Arts Council of England, East Midlands who attended our unique musical event celebrating the launch of Tongue and Groove’s debut CD – ‘Note 4 Note’ last month.
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Drake Musician performs at the legendary ‘Beautiful Octopus Club’.3 Mar 2006
‘3-D’ Drake musician Dele Fakoya who is on Drake Music London’s ‘Generate’ scheme recently wowed a packed Albany Theatre crowd at Heart n’ Soul’s ‘Beautiful Octopus Club’.
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Tongue and Groove Launch Debut CD20 Jan 2006
In a unique musical event celebrating the launch of their debut CD, Tongue and Groove, six musicians from Milton Keynes, are delighted to announce two live performances.
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Extraordinary Talent at St Roses20 Jan 2006
St Roses School will be presenting an hour of music created by their pupils in association with Drake Music Project on Tuesday 28 March 2006 at 2pm.
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The imminent release of a new Frankie Miller album11 Jan 2006
After almost 20 years since 'Dancing in the Rain' Frankie Miller launches a new album and a new website.
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Lloyds TSB helps Drake Music's young musicians31 Dec 2005
The Drake Music Project and Lloyds TSB have teamed up to enable disabled children to explore, compose and perform their own music.
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Yorkshire Charitable Trust supports activities in the East Midlands31 Dec 2005
East Midlands Region Gets Support
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Make a New Year’s resolution – for charity31 Dec 2005
As the year reaches its close the Charity Commission, the charity regulator for England and Wales, asks people to think about supporting charity as part of their New Year’s resolutions.
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Vicky Richardson interviews MAT FRASER6 Dec 2005
Tune Into ACCESS ALL AREAS every Thursday morning 11-12 on ALLFM 96.9 the only show on radio featuring the skills talents and exploring all health issues of the disabled communities locally, nationally and internationally.
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Drake Music relaunches website to raise profile of disabled musicians5 Dec 2005
Drake Music Project, the charity which enables disabled children and adults to create music through assistive technology has relaunched its website www.drakemusicproject.org with design and development of the site driven by November 5th Web Solutions. Drake Music provides access to a wide range of high-quality training, research and development and outreach initiatives to enable severely disabled people to participate in music making.
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Training in Assistive Music Technology for Inclusive Music-Making4 Dec 2005
Drake Music is one of the UK’s leading providers in assistive music technology.
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Drake Music welcomes new Chief Executive30 Nov 2005
New CEO brings over 15 years of experience and vision to Drake Music Project Drake Music Project, the charity which enables disabled children and adults to create music through assistive technology, announces the appointment of Carien Meijer as chief executive officer. Between 1998 and 2005 Carien managed and directed the work of Epping Forest Arts Epping Forest District Council’s arts unit where she commissioned a wide range of participatory arts initiatives, including site-specific projects.
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Switch On Sound Performance28 Nov 2005
“Switch on Sound” – an inclusive music technology project funded by Awards for All, Manchester Music Service and a consortium of Manchester schools in partnership with the Drake Music Project. PERFORMANCE 30 NOVEMBER 2005 10.30AM OR 1.30PM at Lancasterian School, West Didsbury, Manchester 0161 445 0123 7 MANCHESTER SPECIAL SCHOOLS + 3 MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS Each school will perform a gamelan style backing track to accompany a shadow puppet show recorded in workshops integrating music technology into music activities. This exciting music technology project involves seven special schools and three partnership mainstream schools.
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Music, Moves n Grooves @ The Albany Theatre9 Nov 2005
Celebrating the rich and diverse music made by disabled musicians The Drake Music Project in association with The Deptford Albany will present an evening of Music, Moves n’ Grooves in celebration of the music and creativity of Drake Musicians in London.
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Call for musicians15 Aug 2005
Are you a musician / performer / compere and disabled? Do you want the opportunity to perform live? If the answer is yes to any of the above then read on! The Drake Music Project believes everyone should have the opportunity to create and perform music.
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Latest news in the SW Region30 Jul 2005
The Drake Music Project has been working in the Bristol area since 2000.
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Software designed for disabled pupils30 Jul 2005
Information about our new software to enable disabled and non-disabled primary school pupils to work side by side, composing and performing their own music.
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Job Vacancies30 Jun 2005
Chief Executive Up to £50k + pension + benefits Closing date 18th July Preliminary interviews 21st July Finals 28th July Drake Music has built a reputation as one of the UK’s leading exponents of assistive music technology, allowing musicians to play and compose music even though they cannot access traditional musical instruments.
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Made In Deptford Festival3 May 2005
DRAKE MUSIC PROJECT SHOWCASES MUSICIANS WORK As part of the Made in Deptford Festival, Drake Music Project’s musicians will be showcasing their work at the Deptford Albany on Saturday 21st May 2005 from 2pm.
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Year Long Plug IT Project starts20 Apr 2005
Friday 15th April saw the start of a year long schools project - ‘Plug IT’ is a new pilot project, funded by Youth Music; which will be delivered with three schools across the capital.
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Switch on Sound Performance on 26th April 200512 Apr 2005
“Switch on Sound” is an accessible music technology project based at the Lancasterian School in Manchester, which is being developed by the Drake Music Project and Manchester Music Service as a centre of excellence for inclusive music technology in the North West Region. Over the past eight months, 124 children from special schools and partnership mainstream schools have been composing, playing and performing in a group using a range of music technology equipment and conventional classroom instruments in the “Switch on Sound” workshop.
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Japanese Sound Garden back by popular demand.13 Jan 2005
Back by popular demand. ….
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We are recruiting a co-ordinator for our London projects22 Dec 2004
LONDON PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR Salary £24- 28,000 pa FT (+ stakeholder pension) Closing date 4th January 2005 (interviews w.c 10th January) The Drake Music Project is the only national arts organisation delivering music technology based projects with disabled people.
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Channel 4 programme features Drake NW musicians6 Dec 2004
Channel 4's 'Making Music with Technology' programme - featuring Drake NW musicians - was broadcast on 16th November 2004.
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Switch on Sound Project, Drake NW6 Dec 2004
The Switch on Sound Project is a major educational inclusive music project linking Drake NW, Lancasterian School in West Didsbury, and Manchester Music Service - funded by Youth Music. The idea of this project is to develop Lancasterian School as an Assistive Music Technology Resource Centre - a centre which other schools in the area can use and access.
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Drake working with ABRSM on accessibility for 'Soundworlds' project9 Nov 2004
The Drake Music Project are working with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music on their 'SoundWorlds' project - developing an interactive digital learning tool for music aimed primarily at young people aged 13 to 18, and freely available on the internet and on a CD-Rom.
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Jools Holland to attend Theatregoers' Choice Awards, with Drake as adopted charity19 Oct 2004
The Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Awards are the only major theatre awards to be wholly voted for by the paying public.
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3-D: new free music workshops in London14 Oct 2004
Starting in January 2005, ‘3-D’, is a new programme of free music workshops for physically disabled people across London.
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