YolanDa’s Band Jam
Spreading the Love of Music
YolanDa Brown is the double MOBO Award winning saxophonist that most of you will know from her successful CBeebies series ‘YolanDa’s Band Jam’, or from her many other television and radio appearances. I was lucky to catch up with YolanDa – via Zoom, of course! – to chat about her passion for music and the wonderful new resources she has created for everyone caring for young children, in conjunction with the launch of her debut children’s album YolanDa’s Band Jam.
Along with Band Jam on CBeebies, YolanDa has a regular show on Jazz FM, is a presenter for BBC Proms, BBC Young Jazz Musicians on BBC Four and the annual Young Voices event, plus she was appointed Chair of Youth Music in 2018. With a relentless work ethic, YolanDa is making it her mission to provide resources and key learning materials to schools, teachers and parents around the UK to ensure that children at KS1 have access to music learning resources. She is determined to make a positive impact, particularly on young people, and strives to bring music education to wider audiences in a fun and accessible way and for children in challenging circumstances.
YolanDa is missing touring – she was about to embark on a 10 Year Anniversary world tour before the pandemic put a halt to plans, so she is very aware of the challenges with coping with lockdown. Consequently, YolanDa is giving the opportunity for every child to be able to access online materials, videos and music to enable them to continue their music study, both at school and outside the classroom. Where lockdown has affected young people’s mental health, music can be a form of therapy to help children rediscover their confidence and bring learning to life.
The teaching resources include both pupil activity sheets and ‘teachers’ lesson plans and are available free online (at www.twinkl.co.uk/Yolanda). They are intended to be used in conjunction with the new album, Yolanda’s Band Jam. The new album is a collection of musical numbers aimed at young children.
YolanDa adds: “I hope the new album will encourage children to discover the joys of music through dancing, singing and playing. YolanDa’s Band Jam will expand children’s knowledge about music and instruments, attune children’s understanding of different musical sounds and styles, and inspire them to discover the wonders of music making.”
YolanDa’s Band Jam, is now available on all streaming platforms via Sony Music UK’s children’s and family label, Magic Star. Stream the album here: https://smarturl.it/LetMeSeeYou_YolanDa
