Billy is the finest conductor who ever lived. Come and join him and his wonderful band in the second of a series of musical adventures. Billy's Band will entertain children and inspire them to pick up a musical instrument and have a go. Learning an instrument has proven benefits - it helps develop creativity and memory, and compliments the learning of other subjects.
Billy believes all children are musical. The activities on the Billy's Band Camp CD cover pitch, tempo, dynamics, duration, texture, timbre and improvisation. This gives children, parents and teachers the opportunity to be imaginative and inventive, whilst having lots of musical fun.
The Jewel Thief Valerie is thrilled to be playing a solo at the band's next performance, but when world-famous soloist Ivor Nikalot turns up, she has to take a back-seat. Billy assures her that her time will come, and it comes sooner than she thinks when a jewel thieft strikes in Sunnyvale!
Dan Newell started playing the trumpet at the age of 5 and went on to study trumpet at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He has worked with all the major orchestras in the UK and is a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and London Brass. He has played on over 50 soundtracks for films including Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Shrek movies, Love Actually and Hugo. He has also played with artists including Muse, Elbow, Bryan May, Peter Gabriel and Sir Paul McCartney. Dan has worked in hundreds of schools promoting music and leading workshops. He believes passionately that all children should have the opportunity to enjoy the experience of making music.
John Blackshaw started playing the cornet aged 8, playing in brass bands in Yorkshire including Hammonds Sauce Works. He then went on to study the trumpet at Trinity College of Music, London. After completion of his studies, he stayed in London to freelance and spent many a happy year touring with the New D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. He then moved to Manchester to take part in the production of The Phantom of the Opera. While in Manchester he worked with the Halle, Royal Liverpool, Manchester Camerata, Northern Chamber and Opera North orchestras. He is now a member of the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Ryan Weaver has illustrated, designed and animated professionally since 1997. He studied Fine Art at Wimbledon School of Art and then later completed a post-graduate degree in Computer Imaging and Animation at The Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media and Design. In addition to specialising in publishing digital products for childrens education, advertising and entertainment, Ryan has worked on projects for M & C Saatchi, Publicis, Disney and the BBC. He is also a keen musician who plays the cornet to a very high standard!
