Alicia will be working for a third year for Curious Minds, supporting seven schools to incorporate learning for creativity in their curriculum.

Alicia has shown a talent for enabling people to reach solutions and maximise their potential via facilitation, good listening and active questioning. When we first interviewed Alicia for the role of Creative Agent in May 2008, she demonstrated an intuitive understanding of the teaching and learning for creativity ethos, particularly in terms of facilitating learning rather than imparting knowledge. She has shown a consistent eagerness to develop new skills such as coaching and creative evaluation.
Alicia is a self-reflector and demonstrates the ability to learn and grow from experience. She has the ability to communicate clearly and succinctly.
She has directness and honesty about her that is invaluable when combined with her positive approach to working.
I therefore consider Alicia to have great leadership potential, as she has a talent for unlocking creativity in others and maximising their potential. She understands the power of team work and the importance of the individual's ownership of a task. Her demonstration of leadership is about facilitating a team to achieve a goal, rather than a more hierarchical model of leadership.
When faced with a challenge, Alicia's flexibility and creative approach to leadership means that she will inevitably facilitate a solution to an apparently insurmountable problem. In terms of the action research she manages on the Creative Partnerships programme, she is aware that there is always some learning to be gained, no matter how fraught with problems a project may be.
Alicia is used to dealing with people ranging from primary and secondary school senior leadership to creative practitioners (often from the arts world). Her role as Creative Agent means that she is able to bridge the gap between radically different worlds able to "translate" the jargon into a universal language for the benefit of all.
Alicia is good at making connections. She applies her learning across her work in a holistic way.
She is willing to disseminate her learning and is keen for other people to benefit from what she has learned. She has also identified the benefit of working with others from whose experience and practice she can take some learning, via observation and questioning.
Alicia's enquiring mind and reflective approach means that her learning evolves and develops in a way that can only be useful to Curious Minds and the Creative Partnerships programme.
Alicia is self-analytical. She is fully aware of her skills and experience and willing to identify gaps and then take steps to address these.
Alicia's motivation and strong sense of purpose can enthuse and inspire her professional colleagues, she is passionate both about specific skills and the impact and benefits they have on the bigger picture particularly in terms of teaching and learning for creativity.

Jane Evans-Woodason, Programme Manager, Curious Minds

I am a community artist with seven years' experience in music and movement work. As well as my role as a Creative Agent for Curious Minds, I run www.amabadelo.org, a Liverpool-based community arts organisation.

I have worked on many different community arts projects across Europe. Here are a few examples: a music and movement resource pack for Liverpool City Council; a community consultation project using photography and music in Halewood; theatre projects with children in the Czech Republic; a leadership percussion workshop for Deutsche Bank in Berlin.

I specialise in music and movement education. My work is based on my training in Kodaly (a system that promotes musicianship through singing), Dalcroze (music through movement) and Jabadao (developmental movement play).

As well as workshops with children, I give training to teachers so they can include music and movement in their teaching. To support this work, I have developed a music resource pack, funded by Youth Music.

For the Aspire Trust I have worked on a teacher training project, training teachers to include music in their teaching through practical observation and a training day in the Williamson Art Gallery. I also led music and movement workshops in several Liverpool Children’s Centres and worked with an artist on combining music and visual arts in child led workshops in a pre school setting and primary school.

As well as my training in Kodaly, Dalcroze and developmental movement play, I have a degree in Community Arts and a masters in Arts and Cultural Management. I am also a qualified seminar leader for www.familylab.de, which aims to develop personal integrity, self-esteem, and responsibility in families and schools.

Alicia is an Associate Musician for the Aspire Trust and has developed some invaluable, imaginative and innovative programmes in the Early Years and Primary Schools.

She has run CPD days for teachers which have been received enthusiastically by all attendees. They appreciated the practical activities offered which could be developed in their classrooms and felt that the sessions gave them a lot of confidence in bringing music into other areas of the curriculum. A very insightful workshop that can bring some creativity back to my classroom was a typical response by many of the attendees.

She taught different ways of teaching different aspects of music which has led to teachers looking forward to going back to school to try out new ideas and approaches. The sessions provided a chance to recap on all the things that Alicia had covered in her sessions and to learn some new techniques. They found it particularly useful to put each activity into a different focus area. They especailly liked the refereneces to theory and research that supported the materials and activities. Meeting with teachers from others schools and LEA was also useful and interesting. One teacher realised as a result of the work with Alicia that ‘music is very important and must not be squeezed into a small space in the day.’

We were particularly pleased to be able to profile her work at this years Childrens Workforce Development Council national conference in London. Head teachers of participating schools reported that the CPD training on offer particularly helped their teachers set up opportunities for further creative development in the school by encouraging further singing and performing opportunities.

Dr Nick Owen
Director, Aspire Trust

"Alicia Banffy hat bei uns auf dem Land Theater Sommerlager veranstaltet mit Kindern von 10 bis 16 jahren. Sie hat die Kinder in der Woche total beschäftigt, ihre speziellen Neigungen, Begabungen und auch Ermunterungen erkannt und eingesetzt. Die Kinder fanden sich schnell zusammen als Gruppe, waren motiviert und das Ergebnis war immer ein bühnenreifes Theater mit ausnehmend kreativen Elementen. Denn nicht nur das Bühnenbild war selbst erstellt, sondern auch musikalische Einlagen und herrliche Theatralische Auftritte der Jung - Schauspieler".
Johanna Lobkowicz - Drahenice I, II, III in 2005, 2006 and 2007

From January - April 2010 Alicia will return to the PSS Centre to lead music and movement workshops for parents and toddlers. The project is funded by the Liverpool City Council to promote more movement in families.

September 2009 - July 2010
Curious Minds Merseyside
Alicia is working for another year as a Creative Agent in four schools for Curious Minds, formerly Creative Partnerships Merseyside. She is working with the schools to develop a culture of learning for creativity.
More about Curious Minds on:
www.curiousminds.org.uk

2004 - 2009
Training and CPD
Alicia is committed to continuously training and developing herself:

July 2004: Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, BA Hons Performing Arts / Community Arts
August 2005: British Kodaly Academy, Kodaly Sound Beginnings Course (Early Years Music)
October and November 2005: Jabadao, Developmental Movement Play Training
August 2006: Dalcroze Society, Dalcroze Summer School
August 2007: Dalcroze Society, Dalcroze Summer School
February 2008: Manchester Metropolitan University, MSc Arts and Cultural Management
March 2008 Bologna, Italy: 'Visioni di Futura' Conference on Theatre in Early Childhood
November 2008: Jabadao, Social and emotional learning through movement
September, October, November 2008: Dalcroze Society, Dalcroze Training Weekends
September and November 2009: Berlin, Germany: Jesper Juul / Family Lab Seminarleader Course

September 2009 - July 2010
Music Teaching at St. John's Catholic Primary School
September 2009 - July 2010

St. John's Catholic Primary School in Kirkdale, Liverpool, has asked Alicia back for another year to teach music to the children, from nursery up to Year 4. The lessons will build on last year's lessons, including Kodaly musicianship though singing, music and movement, developmental movement play, listening and composition excercises. All children will have weekly 30-minute lessons.

Recommended Books:

Dalcroze Today
by Marie-Laure Bachmann

Music in Preschool
by Katalin Forrai

Singing Games and Rhymes
by Lucinda Geoghegan

Hopping Home Backwards
by Penny Greenland

House of Games
by Chris Johnson

Out of our minds
by Ken Robinson

Interesting websites:

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

August 2009
Theatre-Music Projects in Munich/Germany
For the third time Alicia will collaborate with Selina Bador of the TheaterSpielhaus Munich/Germany, in two music-theatre projects for children. The projects will take place in August, one in the city centre in the TheaterSpielhaus (03. - 06.08.09), and one on Straßlach a suburb of Munich (10. - 14.08.09).

To book a place please email: aliciabanffy@amabadelo.org


Theater und Musik Workshop in den großen Sommerferien
im TheaterSpielhaus München

3. bis 6. August 2009

Spielerisches kennenlernen verschiedener Ausdrucksformen:
Eintauchen in Theater, Perkussion, Improvisation und Spiel, das
Leben in Kostümen, hinter und auf der Bühne, mit einer
Abschlussvorstellung vor Familie und Freunden.
Dabei lernen die Schüler sich und andere neu kennen und verstehen
und sie entwickeln Mut, Spontanität und ihre kreativen Begabungen.

Ort: TheaterSpielhaus München, Rottmann Str. 7a im Hof, 80333 München.

Gruppe I: 10-12:30 5-8 -jährige
Gruppe II: 14-16:30 9-13 -jährige

am 6.8. gibt es eine Aufführung um 16:00

Teilnahmegebühr: 60 Euro mit Ferienpass
70 Euro ohne Ferienpass


Theater & Musik Workshop
in Straßlach bei München

10. bis 14. August 2009

Spielerisches kennenlernen verschiedener Ausdrucksformen: 5 Tage eintauchen in Theater, Gesang, Perkussion, Improvisation und Spiel, das Leben in Kostümen, hinter und auf der Bühne, mit einer Abschlussperformance vor Familie und Freunden im Bürgersaal Straßlach.
Im Workshop geht es uns darum, dass sich die Kinder selbst neu kennen lernen können, Mut bekommen sich zu präsentieren, lernen sich gemeinsam auf eine Sache einzulassen, sowie ihre eigene Phantasie, Kreativität und Begabungen zu entdecken und zu entwickeln.

Gruppe I: 10.00-13.00 für 5-8  -jährige
Gruppe II: 14.00-17.00 für 9–13 -jährige

Teilnahmegebühr: 95 Euro

Am 14.8. gibt es eine Aufführung um 16:00

Leitung: Alicia Banffy und Selina Bador

Anmeldung:
Anmeldung per email: aliciabanffy@amabadelo.org

weitere Informationen über die Leitung finden Sie unter folgendem Links:
www.amabadelo.org und www.theaterspielhaus.de

February 2009 - April 2009
PSS Parent and Toddler Group
Alicia is leading music and movement workshops for a PSS parent and toddler group leading up to a celebration in the Easter Holidays in the children's centre in the Dingle/Liverpool.

January 2009 - April 2009
Aspire Trust Music Project
The Aspire Trust has employed Alicia to lead music workshops in three primary schools in Wallasy/Merseyside. The project also included three CPD training days in the Williamson Art Gallery for participating teachers in how to include music in their teaching. The training days included practical teaching ideas, overview of the benefits of music for children's learning, an introduction to the musical aims appropriate for the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, music and movement excersises, and percussion.  
The project is funded by Youth Music.

November 2008
Music and Movement Play Resource Pack
As a result of a year long teacher training project in Windsor Street Primary School in Liverpool AMABADELO has developed a new resource pack.
Building on the previously developed pack on how to teach 10 minutes of music a day these four laminated pages contain ideas in how and why to encourage movement play and music in teaching. The pack is aimed at early years teachers and practitioners up to Year 2.

To order a copy of the pack (8 laminated A4 pages)
send a cheque over 20 Pounds to:
AMABADELO
2, Elm Hall Drive
Liverpool
L18 1LF
or
email: aliciabanffy@amabadelo.org

September 2008 - April 2009
Resource Pack to Encourage Movement in 0 - 3 Year Old Children
In collaboration with Pam Stevenson of Sport Linxx/City Council Liverpool, Alicia is working on a resource pack aiming at reducing and preventing obesity in young children. Alicia is developing the music (traditional and new songs and rhymes) which support specific movement aims of the resource pack.

September 2008 - July 2009
Music Teaching at St.John's Catholic Primary School
September 2008 - July 2009

Alicia is teaching music to children from nursery up to Year 4 at St. John's Catholic Primary School in Liverpool.

July 2008 - July 2009
Creative Partnerships Merseyside
Alicia is working as a Creative Agent in three schools for Creative Partnerships Merseyside. She is working with the schools on developing a culture of learning for creativity.
More about creative partnerships on:
www.creative-partnerships.com

August 2008
Theater & Musik Workshop in Straßlach bei München
04.08.08 bis 08.08.08

Spielerisches kennenlernen verschiedener Ausdrucksformen: 5 Tage 
eintauchen in Theater, Gesang, Perkussion, Improvisation und Spiel, das
 
Leben in Kostümen, hinter und auf der Bühne, mit einer 
Abschlussperformance vor Familie und Freunden im Bürgersaal Straßlach.
Im Workshop geht es uns darum, dass sich die Kinder selbst neu kennen 
lernen können, Mut bekommen sich zu repräsentieren, lernen sich 
gemeinsam auf eine Sache einzulassen, sowie ihre eigene Phantasie, 
Kreativität und Begabungen zu entdecken und zu entwickeln.

Gruppe I: 10.00-13.00 für die Altersklassen 4-7  
Gruppe II: 14.00-17.00 für die Alterslkasse 8 - 12

Teilnahmegebühr: 95 Euro

Am 8.8. gibt es eine Aufführung um 16:00

Leitung: Alicia Banffy und Selina Bador

Anmeldung:
Anmeldung per email: aliciabanffy@amabadelo.org



weitere Informationen über die Leitung finden Sie unter folgendem Links:

www.amabadelo.org und www.theaterspielhaus.de

April 2008
Music Resource Pack for Reception and Year 1 teachers
AMABADELO has developed a music resource pack aimed at nursery, reception and year 1 teachers in primary schools. The pack consists of four laminated A4 cards full of ideas and activities of how to include music in teaching the National Curriculum (it covers ideas for example for PE and story telling).
To order a copy email: aliciabanffy@amabadelo.org and send a cheque payable to AMABADELO over 20 Pounds to: 
AMABADELO
2, Elm Hall Drive
Liverpool
L18 1LF

AMABADELO has worked for and with:
• Ashton-under-Lyne Art Gallery
• Aspire Trust
• Bronte Youth and Community Centre
• Bev Hayes Photography
• Common Ground Sign Dance Theatre
• Catalyst Performing Arts
• Creative Partnerships Merseyside
• Deutsche Bank-Direkt, Germany
• ICARUS Collective
• Liverpool Personal Service Society (PSS)
• Liverpool Lighthouse
• Learn Direct
• Merseyside Dance Initiative
• National Football Museum
• Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO)
• Sports Linxx Liverpool City Council
• Sure Start and Children's Centres
• TheaterSpielhaus München, Germany
• many nurseries, primary and secondary schools

February 2008
Music and Movement workshops for the Aspire Trust
The Aspire Trust has employed Alicia Banffy to lead Music and Movement workshops in the Clubmoor Children's Centre for parents/carers and their young children.

February - May 2008
The Aspire Trust employed Alicia to lead Music and Movement workshops with a child centred focus. In collaboration with a visual artist she was working in the Tab Pre School and Hope Valley Community Primary School in Liverpool.

January - July 2008
Windsor Street Music project
AMABADELO has recieved a grant by Youth Music to train teachers to include more music and movement in their teaching. Alicia Banffy is currently working with four teachers and teaching assisstants (Reception and Year 1) of Windsor Street Primary School in Liverpool. The teachers receive regular supervision and guidance to build their confidence and knowledge and to enable them to include music in their teaching by the end of the project. In May guest musicians from the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will visit the school to introduce their instruments. As part of the project AMABADELO will further develop their Early Years Music resource pack which asissts teachers in including music in the teaching of the National Curriculum.

September  - December 2007
PSS toddler and nursery group
The PSS has employed Alicia to lead Music and Movement workshops for a mother and toddler group and the Nursery Class of St. Nicholas Catholic Primary School in Liverpool. Alicia has been working with these groups for the past two years.

Recommended books:

Dalcroze Today
by Marie-Laure Bachmann

Music in Preschool
by Katalin Forrai

Singing Games and Rhymes
by Lucinda Geoghegan

Hopping Home Backwards
by Penny Greenland

House of Games
by Chris Johnson

Out of our minds
by Ken Robinson