The Funky

Philharmonic!!

🪈 What instruments do you accept?

Absolutely ANY instrument welcome, including any brass • woodwind • recorders • strings • piano/keyboard • guitar • percussion and more - If you can play or are learning to play any musical instrument, we’ll find it a place!

🎶 Come and join The Funky Philharmonic this Easter Holiday!!

Goring Village Hall

Tuesday 31 March - Thursday 2 April (2pm -4pm)

Calling ALL musicians of ANY age on ANY instrument who want to develop or revisit the experience of playing as part of a group - Join us this Easter for three fun‑filled afternoons of music‑making, creativity, and group playing!

🎵 What standard do participants need to be?

✔ Suitable for all playing levels as parts will be carefully assigned to match each participant’s ability:

• Very Easy – Only a few notes; suitable for near beginners and no music reading skill required

• Easy (Grades 1–2) – Simple notation suitable for those who are familiar with reading straight forward parts

• Intermediate (Grade 3–5) – Published band parts of varying difficulty according to experience; solos are available for the brave!

🎷 Is it just for children?

Not at all!! The course is designed for both the young and the young at heart! It will suit:

• Musicians of any age who have recently started learning an instrument. Recommended minimum age is 8 but....

• Children under 8 who are very keen? Contact us to arrange a chat and we'll try to find something that can work for you!

• Parents accompanying their children can attend for FREE — and are warmly encouraged to join in with their own instrument or to give our percussion instruments a try!

• Adults returning to music after a break who want a friendly, supportive environment in which to dust down their instrument and rebuild confidence.

🎻 What will happen on the day?

Each afternoon includes several different interactive sessions (30–45 minutes with a short break in between each one) as follows:

• Participants will be assigned a seat in the backing band next to an experienced player and learn to play warm‑ups & ensemble skills as a band

• Every player will be given a part tailored to their level, with guidance throughout.

• The band will focus on a performance piece each day in a different style

• Each day will also include a special themed workshop:

  • Day 1: Samba drumming

  • Day 2: Intro to Jazz

  • Day 3: Perform like a professional!

• All sessions are led by experienced teachers and tutors and supported by a 20-piece ensemble and a professional rhythm section.

📅 Do I need to attend all three days?

We would very much encourage you to attend all three days to get the full experience, but recognise that life can often stand in the way! Attending individual days is not a problem however, as each day is designed to work as a "standalone" day with independent activities taking place.

🎫 This sounds great - how do I book?!

🪙 How much does it cost?

Children - £25 for three days (or £10 for individual days). Accompanying adults are FREE!

Adults - £50 for three days (or £20 for individual days).

Excellent!!! Please click on the button below which will take you to our booking site. Numbers are necessarily limited so book early to avoid disappointment!!!

🎺 I'm an experienced player - can I help with your backing band?

Thank you so much - we'd love to hear from you!!! Do get in touch via our Contact Us pages

Featuring:

Tuesday: We kick off the course with a high‑energy Samba Drum Workshop led by professional local drummer, Paul Glover! Using surdos, agogôs, cowbells, shakers and tamborims, you will learn the driving rhythms of Brazil through fun, fast‑paced group exercises and understand the freedom of playing music without written notes... Small teams take on different instruments, building into the full, powerful sound of a Brazilian samba band!!

Wednesday: For 14 glorious years, Maff's legendary "Funky Friday" has been lighting up St. John’s Primary School in Wallingford with the irresistible pulse of Funk, Soul, Jazz, Blues, and Disco. Now the Funky Philharmonic is taking things up a notch with a special mid‑week edition at this - and trust us, you’ll want to be there!!

Maff will help you: discover the giants of Funk, Soul, and Jazz, why life always gets better when you lean into the offbeat and more!!

Every day: Each day will feature a training session where you will join a fully formed 20-piece backing band to create the Funky Philharmonic - the "orchestra" that welcomes any instrument! You will learn warm-ups and perform short pieces across a wide range of styles - including jazz, classical, pop and rock. Led by directors experienced in working with all abilities, we have different graded parts for each piece - and can accommodate those who can play just a few notes to highly experienced players. There will be opportunities for improvised solos for the brave - but if you are happy just to build your experience as a small cog in a big machine, then this is the perfect place for you too! The final day will feature a mini-concert for friends and family.

Frequently Asked Questions

Suggested minimum age of 8 but do contact us if you would like to discuss this further

🎷 Why do this ?!!!

✔ Performing music is one of those rare activities that welcomes and rewards everyone regardless of their age, ability or confidence. Performing with others takes this to a whole new level! Unlike school-based or instrument-specific music groups, we have developed this series of workshops where all the activities are carefully designed to work with a mixed-ability group of any instruments, accommodating novices to professionals. Playing with experienced musicians lifts your skills much faster than playing on your own, boosts your confidence, and makes every session more exciting and motivating.  Experience musicians will always have something to learn from novices.  Most of all, you will learn to feel the energy and FUN of collective music‑making — the kind that will make you want to keep coming back for more!

Samba Drum Workshop

Maff Potts'

"Funkiness of everything"

Join the band!