Guitar making using cardboard boxes!

During the weekend of 6 and 7 November, the Barbican offers a chance for everyone to try out instruments, make instruments, to join a choir or an ensemble or to play along to a silent film.

6 November
The weekend begins with “Be Musical”

• Families are encouraged to bring their own instruments along, to choose from a selection available or to make a brand new one on the day.
• Five free music workshops for beginners take place throughout the day all around the Centre, including a wide range of drop-in activities.
• Together with professional musicians children can try out instruments and explore classical music, rock, folk, jazz and percussion instruments.
• In three separate Make Zones visitors can discover how sound is made and build their own instruments.
• Architects Jonathan Pugh and Douglas Murphy reveal their Percussion Buffet; Carina Levitan leads in string instrument making and Neil Luck in wind instrument making.
• Tickets £2 each

Throughout the day people can drop in at two music installations for free

• Play Me - encourages children to create music in different ways – from pressing buttons to conducting a trio, and to interact with musicians and technology
• Cast Your Note – allows children to be part of developing a live music piece by casting a note.

As part of the London Children’s Film Festival children can join in on a Sing-a-long to Beauty and the Beast, and at the end of the day they can bring along their instruments, or the instruments that they have just made, to Play-a-Long to a Laurel and Hardy classic.

• Tickets £3 each

7 November
On Sunday there will be a wide range of free workshops takes place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

• The day is designed for both young people and adults who play an instrument, used to play an instrument or have always wanted to play an instrument.
• There will be a possibility for players of any age to play together in ensembles such as the Scratch Ensemble led by musicians of the Urban Folk Quartet (no music reading required), a rock band led by the Lazy Habits drummer Ross McDouall, or a Percussion Beats workshop exploring different percussion instruments with Guildhall Percussion Ensemble in residence, Sankorfa.
• There is also a chance to try out the piano in small groups of six, and to join a choir for the day, coached by teachers from Sense of Sound.
• All activities are free but as places are limited, pre-booking is essential.

Barbican Centre
Silk Street
London EC2Y 8DS