New Creative Project Brings Coding To Life

Derby-based regional orchestra and Grammy-nominated Sinfonia Viva has launched an innovative creative project that will use the power of music to bring coding to life for young people across the city.

The project, entitled ‘AlgoRhythms’ is Viva’s latest annual creative project in partnership with Rolls-Royce plc and Derbyshire Music Education Hub to take a creative approach to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.

Around 80 students at Firs and Becket primary schools, The Bemrose School and Derby College joined an inspiration day at Rolls-Royce Leisure where they joined Viva musicians and STEM ambassadors from a community projects team at Rolls-Royce for a day of workshops.

These included sessions focusing on music making, programming miniature robots and problem solving aeroplane flight paths and will now be followed by a series workshops with Viva.

Young people will compose their own music, write songs and learn new pieces inspired by coding which have been commissioned by the Orchestra.

They will then come together for two performances at Derby Theatre on Tuesday March 12 – sharing the stage with a Sinfonia Viva chamber orchestra.

As well as playing alongside the young people, the 14-piece orchestra will perform feature pieces by famous and influential classical composers across the ages from Bach to Terry Riley to show how integral coding has been in musical creation.

There will also be a new piece by Josephine Stephenson responding to the themes of coding and computer programming.

Viva composer and workshop leader Raph Clarkson explained: “There are many links between coding and music with software developers and musicians alike working with a specific 'language', whether that is a type of computer code (e.g. Java or HTML), or musical notes on a score.

“This project is therefore a fascinating way of de-mystifying the STEM subject – exploring the background, theory and applications of coding through songs and music whi ch aims to bring the subject to life for participants and the audiences alike.”

Paul Broadhead, Head of Community Investment and Education Outreach continued: “We are always looking for more creative and engaging ways to inspire young people to learn explore and enjoy Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM) subjects.

“AlgoRhythms is a fantastic way of bringing the creativity and performance of arts together with the science and technology of coding and flight and is set to be to another great success in our long-term partnership with Viva.”

Sinfonia Viva Education Manager Marianne Barraclough concluded: “As an Orchestra with a national reputation for education work, we pride ourselves on taking truly collaborative approach to our work.

“Education projects such as these not only provide a wonderful creative and learning experience for the young participants – they also enable teachers to further develop their own artistic and leadership skills and to take these beyond the life of the project.”

Tickets for the evening performance cost from £6 and are available at www.derbytheatre.co.uk

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