Joyful Urkestra Workshop

Joyful Urkestra is an inclusive music-making session that uses improvisation, storytelling, and humour to encourage children to explore their own imagination and the joy of making music together for fun.

No prior musical knowledge is required. Each child gets the chance to play all the available instrument and also to “conduct” the Urkestra.

All children are welcome. Ideal age p3 and above, but younger children are welcome (and their musical adults too).

More about the workshop leader

Roberto Cassani is an Italian-born double bassist, improviser, researcher and educator based in Scotland, whose work explores improvised music as a practice of joy, freedom and collective resistance. Rooted in deep listening and human connection, his approach rejects virtuosity as spectacle in favour of sound as encounter: spontaneous, vulnerable, communal and alive.

For Cassani, improvisation is not simply a musical method but a social one. His ongoing artistic and research output focus around Music for the purpose of Joy, and investigates how collective improvisation can generate empathy, trust, freedom of expression and genuine community. Drawing equally from free improvisation, folk traditions, jazz and experimental music, he treats the double bass as both rhythmic force and emotional voice — capable of lyricism, noise, silence and raw physicality.  

‘Make it Yourself’ is a 5 day celebration of do-it-yourself culture and local community, running during the October half term (October 14th - 18th). 

This hyper-local festival hosts a rich offering of curated events, workshops, music, and art exhibitions, fully utilising the potential of our community space - Pianodrome Bruntsfield Community Hub - and celebrating our core ethos of upcycling and creativity through innovation, inspiration and working together.

For more info and full listings head to pianodrome.org/make-it-yourself-festival

Pianodrome Bruntsfield is at The St.Oswald's Center at 41 Montpelier Park, Bruntsfield, Edinburgh EH10 4NB, just parallel to Bruntsfield Place and next to Bruntsfield Primary School.

The Pianodrome is based in a 130 year old ex church building, and currently the space is unheated, so please remember to wrap up warm.

Concessions

We do not check your right to a concession or name your price ticket. If you feel you can afford the full price please select this ticket. However, concessions prices are there to help anybody attend the show - if you need a lower cost ticket you are in the best position to determine that. No questions asked.

Accessibility

There is ramped access to the main hall of the Pianodrome. We have an accessible toilet and space for wheelchairs. Most of our performances are relaxed performances. If you have any access requirements please feel free to email us at boxoffice@pianodrome.org.

Babes in arms

You do not need a ticket for babies, but if your child is likely to take space in a seat then please book them a ticket.

Non-human visitors

Pets are welcome if they are well behaved.