Given that ‘Talking Trash’ draws on areas of learning including, making music, musical theory and music across cultures, environmental issues, art and craft, team-working, confidence and listening, there is much scope to emphasise any of these as required; For example bringing out the craft element and creating a permanent ‘Junk Percussion’ set or, over a series of sessions, learning complex rhythmic theory, rudiments and reading drum scores.

Workshops support areas of the national curriculem be it music KS1 developing and listening, memory and physical skills, KS3 Musical Cycles and Soundscapes, to BTEC level recognising and using tabs and scores, as well as more widely Numeracy, Literacy and PSHE..

A typical 2-3 hour workshop will start with a selection of warm up activities and time-keeping games appropriate to age and size of the group.  Building on this, and using body percussion the group will be taken through some rhythmical patterns and drum techniques before being introduced to the ‘Junk’ and how to play it. Having recreated the learnt patterns, and more, on the instruments, participants might then make their own instruments or use a laptop (provided) to create complex recorded 'junk instrument' beat patterns and music. Alternatively they could go straight on to create their own live rhythmical piece or soundscape, complete with story or lyrics, ready to perform at the end!  

Workshops can be delivered as a ‘one off’, over a series of sessions or terms, across ages and group size, and have no technical requirements other than a group of people and a bit of space to make some noise!