PHOTO OPPORTUNITY - WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER<br><br>Top rock drummers the likes of Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts and Meg White had better watch out because schools in Islington are producing a whole new generation of primary percussionists.<br><br>And these guys don’t need expensive state of the art drum kits to make groovy rhythms and funky beats – ice-cream tubs, tin cans, yoghurt pots, saucepans, pipes and chair legs will do just fine.<br><br>Children aged 9- 1 from six local primary schools are taking part in a series of Scrapband workshops where they make their own instruments and create their own rhythms for a grand Junk Jam performance showcasing their talents.<br><br>It’s all part of Islington Council’s A1 Borough Schools Environmental Project which seeks to involve children in issues relating to their local and global environment. <br><br>Junk jamming encourages pupils to re-use things people have thrown away and inspires them to create totally new rhythms on their unique instruments – all relating to National Curriculum subjects Science, Music and Design & Technology.<br><br>"We've come a long way with recycling in Islington - more and more people are getting into the habit.<br><br>Recycling is easy - and as Junk Jam shows - can be fun, too. <br><br>Raising awareness of the three Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle – is a key way to teach children how to take responsibility for their environment - and that benefits everyone." said Islington’s Executive Member for Sustainability Cllr Bridget Fox. <br><br>The community scrapband workshops and Junk Jam performance have been organised and run by a creative partnership of Islington Council, teachers and parents from six primary schools – Grafton, Sacred Heart, Pooles Park, Yerbury, Montem and Pakeman – Steve Barbé from Community Scrapband and junk percussion duo Bang On!<br><br>You are invited to send a reporter/photographer to:<br><br>Junk Jam<br>Grafton School<br>Eburne Road <br>London <br>N7<br><br>Wednesday 30 November at 2pm - attended by Cllr Bridget Fox and the Mayor, Cllr Jonathan Dearth. <br><br>Please confirm you are coming by contacting Charles Dean Communications Officer Tel: 020 7527 3224<br><br>Notes to editors<br><br>Energetic percussion duo Bang On! use a homemade drum hit including dustbins, watering cans and saucepans for their funky beats and outstanding display of technique and showmanship. For more information go to www.bangon.net <br><br>Islington’s A1 Borough Schools Environmental Project is an innovative and unique approach to involving schools in environmental and social issues relating to their local environment. <br><br>As part of Islington’s ongoing A1 Borough project, it demonstrates the council’s commitment to dramatically improving the quality of life for everyone who lives works or studies on or close to the A1 in Islington from Angel to Archway over the next 10-15years.<br><br>Funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, the schools project has so far involved 9 local schools with the aim of making pupils, teachers and parents proud of where they live, go to school and play and bring positive effects for the whole community by taking responsibility for their environment. <br><br>The project targets three themes of litter, recycling and anti-social behaviour along the A1 corridor.<br><br>Ends
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009