We are lead by the belief that enemble playing can give opportunities for experiencing and making music in a different way from solo playing, together with a wish to enjoy the social aspects of music, bringing together players of what has for many years been thought of as a just solo instrument - the classical guitar. Increasingly guitar ensembles around the world are showing a different way.
We are developing a pyramid structure of guitar ensembles so that we can cater for different ages and experience, with a stepped progression through the different groups. You can join either one depending on your level - subject to suitability and an audition. Twango reserves the right to refuse unsuitable applicants. Regular attendance, as far as is possible, is expected and is a condition of membership. Music groups can hardly develop at all if members just drop in now and then.
We have duplicated the model on each side of the city, partly to allow for the fact that travelling across town during the rush hour is impractical for most children and their parents and partly to cater for the large numbers now learning guitar in primary schools. Twango is for more experienced players, generally although not always of secondary school age. Twangolitos is a group for less experienced players, generally although not always of primary school age. If there is enough consistent demand amongst advanced level players (Grade 6 plus) we will re-start another group, Kerrango, but at present this is dormant.
We sometimes invite guitarists who are not in Twango along to our workshops and often do concerts with other school guitar ensembles in the City, so there is a constant interchange of experience and enthusasm between our work in the Southamtpon City schools and the Twango structure. Twango is open to young people outside Southampton, and there is no £ charge for being part of Twango.
We offer not only regular rehearsals for learning new tunes, but also several public concerts a year, fundraising for ourselves and for charities, and guitar workshops and attendance at festivals.