In 2011 Youth Music announced that their funding programmes were changing. The focus of the funding was reviewed & devised in order to fit with the different climate we are now operating in. There are significant changes that will affect children and young people’s access to music education. The National Music Education Plan was published outlining the new process of funding formal music education. It has been a big shake up for all those providing music making opportunities for children and young people, in and outside of school. The overarching aim of that is to ensure a more cohesive, consistent and inclusive offer for all children and young people to enjoy making music.

Youth Music has been the primary funder of CYMAZ since 2001 and the yearly investment has enabled us to lever in significant additional resources to make the money go further. This has led to many extremely successful and fruitful partnerships with a range of agencies over the years. Since 2001, CYMAZ has attracted around £2m for young people’s music making in Cornwall. We would like to thank everybody who has worked with us and helped to make such an impact to so many thousands of young lives and the communities they live in.

Whilst CYMAZ is no longer delivering the YMAZ programme, we have been very lucky to secure funds for the period 2012-2014 to deliver a new module for Youth Music. This is called Musical Inclusion. We are among 5 organisations in the South West to receive this funding. The primary aim of this funding module is about strengthening the sector, improving standards and targeting resources through effective partnership work to areas of most need. We will work across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The main areas that CYMAZ will focus on to deliver this work are;

• to create and support a Network of organisations and individuals working with music and children and young people in challenging circumstances, linked to regional and national networks

• to work across a range of agendas and forums at local and regional level to communicate benefits of music making for children and young people in challenging circumstances, feeding knowledge and learning into national strategy and policy

• to offer strategic support to a number of partners, organisations and people in order to strengthen the sector and provide a more consistent service for young people

• to work in partnership to gather an overview of what music making activity exists in their region, identifying ‘cold spots’ and areas to support emerging practice or expertise around music making with children and young people in challenging circumstances

• to align with the Music Education Hub, complementing and adding value to the plan for young people’s music making provision in Cornwall

• to contribute to addressing the CPD needs of music educators in partnership and complementary to local, regional and national priorities

Between April and September 2012 CYMAZ is in a period of transition and restructure therefore the Musical Inclusion programme will launch after September 2012.

Please note that this means that there will be very little actual delivery of music making sessions taking place within this time other than those already committed to or purchased by another organisation/agency.

For more information on Youth Music and its funding programme go to www.youthmusic.org.uk

There are a number of useful resources and research papers also available on the website.

For more information regarding CYMAZ please contact jane@cymaz.co.uk and emily@cymaz.co.uk

Kristoff (Snatch The Wax DJ) has just confirmed alongside The Hong Kong Ping Pong Club DJs, Daytoner and Ashley Reynolds who’ll be providing an hour of FREE hints, tips and advice on the subject of online music promotion.

Tell your friends as we’d like as many budding young DJs, Musicians and Producers as possible to come along.

The Masterclass will be held at dBs Music, Cornwall College, Pool, TR15 3RD on Wednesday 14th March, starting at 6pm.

They’re just £3.99 and the profits are shared between Barnardos and the young people who’ve created them which they’ll receive in the form of gift vouchers. The young people will also be selling these cards in person at Barnardo’s high street stores in Penzance (Tues 13th 10am-12pm) and Saltash (Weds 14th 2-4pm) and at the Nine Maidens School Christmas Fayre at Murdoch House, Truro on Weds 14th (10.30am-12.30pm).

We hope you’ll agree that engaging 14-16 year olds, excluded from mainstream education in positive / work related activities whilst simultaneously boosting their confidence and self-esteem should be encouraged in these tough times.

All enquiries for orders can be directed to steven.cantrill@barnardos.org.uk

http://soundcloud.com/cymaz-radio/cymaz-radio-podcast-56-cymaz

Jane Staffieri (Director of CYMAZ) said ‘this night is really big for CYMAZ, some of these young people don’t get very many opportunities and we want to nurture and support their talent. The stage at Livewire is a platform that so many young people aspire to play on and we’re delighted to have helped make that happen for some young people. It is testament to the work of the CYMAZ Music Leaders and the youth workers who help to make this possible.’

Inspiration and information on how to enter is at www.edenproject.com/brightyoungthings and Eden is delighted to be working with friends at the Arts Award on this year’s event.

As the showcase event takes place in 2012, the year of the London Olympics, the chosen theme is Gold, to inspire this year’s entries.

Please check out the website, spread the word and get in touch with the team at Eden if you have any questions or would like hard copies of the poster.

The next CYMAZ Annual General Meeting will be held from 6:30pm on Thursday 13th October 2010 at W13 Krowji, The Old Grammar School, West Park, Redruth, TR15 3AJ. The AGM will be followed by an exciting line up of young musicians from across the county next door to the CYMAZ office in the Melting Pot. This is part of a series of CYMAZ Nights across the county and is open to members of the public to come and see the talent and achievements of young people CYMAZ works with.

The AGM is open to all members of the community who have an interest in the activities of CYMAZ and further details can be obtained by contacting us on 01209 211155 or e-mailing emily@cymaz.co.uk