Guitar Lessons with Andy Rourke
LEARN GUITAR WITH ANDY ROURKE - THE SMITHS’ BASS GUITARIST - A HIGHLIGHT FROM THE LOWRY ACADEMY – A MAJOR NEW EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Legendary Smiths’ bass player, Andy Rourke is teaching beginners guitar and budding composer courses this Autumn, as part of the development of the Lowry Academy, a major new initiative involving a rolling programme of practical arts activity for all ages, complementing the work of the theatres and galleries.
The guitar lesson workshops with Andy Rourke of The Smiths run on Tue 13, 20, 27 September & 4, 11 & 18 October. Participants on both courses need to bring their own acoustic guitar. The Beginners Guitar course at 5pm – 6pm is aimed at ages 10 – 14 and provides the chance to learn chords and guitar styles. Tickets for the 6 week course are just £30 (£25 Salford residents). The Budding Guitar Composers course at 6.15pm – 7.45pm on the same dates is most suitable for ages 14+ and costs £60 (£30 Salford residents) for the course. Be the first to know when it goes on sale by visiting the web-site on www.thelowry.com/MyLowry and registering on the activity section under my preferences of MyLowry (advance notification).
From September, The Lowry will begin a series of practical informal arts workshops from The Studio facility, a dedicated home for Community & Education work, housing a studio theatre, two classrooms and rehearsal spaces. The Lowry Academy will provide a range of master classes, courses and projects within a dynamic building that presents world class and award-winning theatre and art. Participants won’t need any special qualifications, just the will to explore their inherent creative potential. The Lowry Academy will provide opportunities to practice and learn with some of the best regional national and international artists in the performing and visual arts. It will provide opportunities to act, dance, paint, draw design and sing, see their own work displayed and performed in The Studio, participate in workshops with master practitioners as well as get involved with long term Arts and performance projects.
Highlights for adults this Autumn include Drawing and Painting Processes, a Performing Arts course over 8 weeks, using ‘method acting’ principles, a Playwriting/Theatre-making workshop for LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Trans adults aged 18+) writers, professional dance classes, voice workshops and a practical introduction to Theatre Design. Youth activities (aimed at those aged over 10 but under 21) include Painting Techniques, introductory dance sessions and a FREE performing arts project with the National Youth Theatre over half term.
Head of Arts Development at The Lowry, Andy Farrell, explains: “We believe that everybody is creative. We want to develop a coherent accessible creative programme for young and old people and seek to provide the most inspirational dynamic creative practitioners to assist us in the delivery of this work.”
He also commented on the connection between LS Lowry and the philosophy behind the Lowry Academy. “As a working man, LS Lowry dedicated a considerable amount of time, effort and energy developing his abundant creative ability. He sought out and studied under the best teachers that the region could provide, including the great French impressionist and teacher at the Manchester School of Art, Adolph Vallette. It was his inherent creative tenacity that brought him many rewards. It is within this spirit that the Lowry Academy is emerging.”
For all those Smiths fans out there who aren’t budding guitarists, but enjoy the music, Some Girls are Bigger than Others, tours to The Lowry from 24 - 29 Oct. This sensational new piece of music theatre, features twenty songs originally performed by The Smiths and now arranged for six voices and a live string quartet, presenting the songs of Morrissey and Marr as you’ve never heard them before.
An array of mainstream music talent arrives during our amazing autumn season, kicking off with the return of legendary singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading, dropping in on a rare UK tour. Some of the country’s most prolific and popular songwriters join the impressive line-up not least an appearance from the ever popular Paul Carrack to perform all of his best known hits. Completing the sensational selection of shows are Bjorn Again, the infamous ABBA look and sound-alikes promising to bring some sunshine to a cold winters night.
THE LOWRY’S AUTUMN SEASON OF POPULAR MUSIC
• Joan Armatrading
Mon 26 September
• Ruby Turner
Sun 2 October
• Nils Lofgren
Mon 24 October
• Some Girls are Bigger than Others
Mon 24 – Sat 29 Oct
• Paul Carrack
Tue 25 October
• Glen Tilbrook
Fri 25 November
• Bjorn Again
Sun 27 November
If you want to develop your practice or explore your creative potential, or simply if you want to have fun then The Lowry wants to hear from you. For more information on the Lowry Academy, please register on the activity section under my preferences of MyLowry (advance notification) by visiting www.thelowry.com/MyLowry.
The re-development of The Studio was made possible with the support of The North West Development Agency and The Millennium Commission.
Posted on Friday, 01 July 2005 under Press