Our October Scholar of the Month
Genesis at our Awards Day in September
This month we are celebrating one of our brand new 2022-26 Scholars! Genesis from Barnet plays recorder, ukulele, saxophone and piano, and is also a talented singer and beat-boxer.
He was nominated for the Scholarship by his primary school after learning the recorder as part of whole class ensemble tuition, extra-curricular recorder club and then in 1-1 lessons. His teachers immediately spotted his natural musicality and love of music. Genesis showed perseverance with his recorder playing when lessons stopped during the pandemic, continuing to practise at home.
In his Scholarship nomination, Genesis’s head teacher wrote: “Music provides Genesis with an extremely powerful way of expressing himself. He loves to perform. This scholarship would provide a huge boost in allowing him to develop his obvious natural talent for the future. He would most definitely take full advantage of this scholarship if given the opportunity.”
Since starting his Scholarship Genesis has taken up the saxophone and is making brilliant progress already. His mum describes the saxophone as “his new love”. Genesis attended our new Scholars’ Awards Day at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall in September. He played a fantastic solo in the performance. Everyone was blown away by his technique, confidence and musicality, and couldn’t believe he had only just started learning!
We asked Genesis a few questions about becoming a Scholar…
How do you feel about being awarded with a London Music Fund Scholarship?
I feel great because I can’t believe it will be myself doing this. I’m going to practise all the instruments that I play. I feel a little bit scared but I just can’t believe I’m playing saxophone now. When my old music teacher used to teach me the recorder I found it hard at first but I got to a higher and trickier level like this (demonstrates the recorder by singing very high!) I want to thank her because if I didn’t play recorder then I never would be playing saxophone.
Can you tell us a bit about the Awards Day?
The Awards Day was just amazing, I was using my imagination and it was like film music and scary music. I had to follow the conductor’s orders and play a tune on my saxophone that went “da da da duh da dah, duh da dah da dah” (sings a jazzy tune). I felt amazed. It was such a big place which I wasn’t expecting, and there were so many other kids.
What do you love most about the saxophone?
I love the music. It’s such a great sound (imitates saxophone sound). I improvise and I also memorise songs. I can’t believe I get to practise it for four years.
What is your favourite piece to play at the moment?
I like to play “March” which I learnt from Mr Sharp. When we’ve finished learning it we’re going to play it in a concert. There’s 5 or 6 kids in my group, and they play clarinets and trumpets. I can’t believe it’s like my own jazz band.
Do you have any goals for your music?
I want to do great saxophone pieces like really fast music that goes like “doodle-oodle-oodle-oodle-oo” (sings a very fast and energetic melody, imitating jazz improvisation), in a concert on a big stage. I would also like to write my own songs that go like “doo do doo do doo do doo dooo” (demonstrates a beautiful slow tune).
What are you most looking forward to about your Scholarship over the next four years?
I can’t wait to be focusing and doing the right thing and doing lots of songs. I love this song I play with Sophie (sings one of his saxophone tunes).
This interview was transcribed from an audio file which Genesis and his mum recorded at home.
Genesis’s mum, Sandra said: “I just want to say thank you so much for giving Genesis this opportunity. He’s going to be playing with neurotypical children as well as other fabulous autistic children. It’s a mix of all the talents and abilities and things children can do. I’m so proud of him because he’ll work on his social skills, his communication skills, making friends. He’ll be working with lovely people and children who love what he does, working with different instruments in a band and meeting new fabulous teachers like Mr Sharp. I love the way they give him all these wonderful opportunities to learn and build up his music book, which helps him grow and makes him smile.”
It was clear in this interview that Genesis’ love for music is absolutely infectious, and that his spectacular singing voice is his favourite way to express himself. We are so proud to be supporting him and can’t wait to see him blossom as a musician over the next four years. Watch this space for a soon-to-be superstar!
The 2022 Scholars from Barnet show off their certificates, with Alexis Ffrench, Artistic Director of ABRSM. From left to right: Leo, Genesis, Rae, Ruby, and Ella-Mae.