Now - East Lothian Council

YOUTH MUSIC
September 08
EAST
LOTHIAN
Black Malcolm performing at The Bridge Centre
The aim of this report is to map the extent of current
music activity within the East Lothian area for
children and young people, aged between 0-25
years.
Introduction
Primary 4 Music Workshops with Dave
Trouton
East Lothian Youth Music
Forum (ELYMF) was established in
the summer of 2008 with funding
from the Scottish Arts Council. The main focus of the forum is to
develop a strategic approach to youth
music development and facilitate
networking for any individuals or
groups offering music activities for
0-25 year olds in both school and
community settings across East
Lothian.
The aims and objectives of the forum
are:
to develop a supportive network
for youth music activity to link up
existing provision
to promote showcase events at
local, national and international
levels
to develop a circuit of youth music
venues
to adopt a strategic approach to
the development of youth music
provision
The ELYMF commissioned Sheerface
Learning to undertake a full mapping
exercise to establish the extent of
current youth music activities taking
place across East Lothian.
The findings contained in this report
will help to contribute to a better
understanding of,
the range of opportunities available
to improve access to music
tuition, activities and facilities
to create links and pathways
between schools, colleges,
community based activities and the
professional music sector
to increase numbers of young
people accessing and enjoying
music
The Youth Music Initiative (YMI) funded by the
Scottish Executive was launched in 2003 is now about to
start the sixth year of youth activities in East Lothian. YMI
is administered by the Scottish Arts Council and is a key
contributor to delivery of the National Youth Music
Strategy.
In November 2006 a long-term strategy for youth music
in Scotland was launched which has encouraged a
the extent of equipment, venues
and resources available
the gaps in provision
perceived and real barriers in
delivery and participation
availability of local music tutors
coherent effort across all sectors of provision. The
strategy incorporates real choice. It strives for quality of
experience, progression through an integrated network of
musical pathways, availability of resources, and it
recognises the need for responsiveness to young people’s
aspirations. The Strategy is available on the Scottish Arts
Council website www.scottisharts.org.uk
CASE STUDIES
EAST
LOTHIAN
The following pages showcase some of the youth
music projects currently being offered in East
Lothian
Youth Music
Festivals
funded by the Scottish Arts Council
Youth Music Initiative, staged six live
outdoor youth music events during
the summer
of 2008.
Starting in May, the events took place
in each of East Lothian’s six
secondary school cluster areas –
Haddington, Dunbar, Prestonpans,
Musselburgh, North Berwick and
Tranent.
They involved a total of
approximately 25 youth bands. The
youth bands played to a total
audience of 2,000+ people during
the 6 summer events.
The Project has identified a local
company – Diggar Event Services
who hire out a double-decker bus
with a fold down stage ready
Rock Stop FINAL A5.pdf
28/4/08
equipped with drums, amps, PA and
sound technicians. The bus has
concealed electronics which makes it
possible for it to put on outside
performances even in the rain!
One of the benefits of the bus is that
it is already set up. This means that
all the bus has to do is drive to it’s
venue, plug in to one of the
generators and get a band playing.
The other key benefit is that the bus
can be used on the move. For
example: a steel band can play on the
open top deck of the bus as it drives
which is perfect for a parade.
For larger shows (such as The Big
Event in North Berwick) they use an
external generator as it is more
powerful .
Every event sounds and looks
professional due to the expert
knowledge of it’s crew.
20:26:00
The North Berwick Big
Event
The Big Event in the North Berwick is an
independently run music festival
organised by North Berwick Youth Forum
in collaboration with East Lothian Arts
Team.
The Big Event runs once a year in the
recreation park in North Berwick. It is a
great chance for young people in and
around North Berwick, to go and watch
live music in a festival like but safe
environment.
It is also a good opportunity for young
bands in the area to play an open air stage
with professional equipment and expert
support.
The festival begins at 2 in the afternoon
and finishes at 10 at night.
This year there was three performance
areas - “Rock Stop Bus”, DJ tent and the
“Main Stage”.
www.bigeventnb.co.uk
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Publicity for THE BIG
EVENT 2008
Publicity for THE ROCK STOP TOUR 2008
Phantassie Sound, is a band rehearsal space, a
converted barn in Phantassie farm in East Linton, run by Adrian
Girling.
This is a local membership based music project set up to ensure
bands and musicians have the chance to show their full potential. It
is an open space with a free spirit for people to express themselves
and have fun.
The project focuses on all the bands own material and encourages
them to write their own songs and not just cover other bands
songs.
Currently most of the equipment is “owned” by Adrian however he
considers them to partly belong to the community. The range
equipment includes a PA system, AMPs, mixing desks, drum kits and
guitars. It is recommended that you bring your own musical
instruments.
When you come along to your first session you will be given a
permission slip that you must get signed by your parents and fill in
your details. The following session, just bring the completed form
and your £10 ( going up to £15 for bands) for annual membership
and then you will be an official member of Phantassie Sound! The
membership fee contributes to the cost of utility bills and
maintenance of the barn.
Phantassie Sound has evolved over the last year from being a just a
place to practise for bands to becoming a recognised local
promoter.
To use the space you have to phone up weekly and book a practice
time. On weekdays the space is available 4-8pm. Weekends are
slightly different with the first bands arriving around 10am and the
last band leaving at around 6pm. Slots are usually an hour long with
Phantassie Sound run “Linton Live” gigs in East Linton Community
the exception on Sunday where there is currently the opportunity
Hall every couple of months for bands connected to the space and
for invited bands too. They use professional equipment, lighting racks to have up to 3 hours of practice.
and smoke machines and charge a nominate entrance fee.
All of the money raised at the gigs is put straight into the
“Phantassie Sound Fund”. Nobody makes any money for themselves
at such events and so everyone is there purely to enjoy themselves.
They also record and promote the bands on www.myspace.com.
They are in the process of trying to get funding to improve the
rehearsal space and create a recording studio for the bands and
musicians.
There are around a dozen bands of different tastes, styles and ages
rehearsing, gigging and soon to be recording with Phantassie Sound.
There are 60+ members from musicians to sound and light
technicians to photographers, gig workers and promoters.
Electronic Music Project and Youth
Festival
Kevin Craig from East Lothian Council Arts Service,
has been working part time as a Community Music
Co-ordinator.
His role is to link up existing out of school hours youth
music provision in East Lothian and to create new
opportunities for young people to participate in music
making using computer software programmes.
Kevin Craig continues to develop summer classes and
YMI digital music courses for children in S1 of our six
Secondary Schools. All S1 pupils are given the
opportunity to opt into an after school club that runs for
8 weeks. Pupils create tracks using ready made loops and
beats, add guitar, vocals or any live instrument, then mix,
master and burn to cd or send it to their mobiles to use
as a ring tone. Pupils can also create an internet ready
podcast using their music and add photos or short
videos with their own musical soundtrack. Kevin has
developed handouts and focus has been placed on
specific learning outcomes and tasks to be
completed during each session. for approximately a term.
Kevin ran a YMI project and organised the successful
Youth Festival “Battle of the Bands” at Brunton Theatre
on Saturday 2 December 2007 which brought together 5
young bands from across East Lothian. The bands who
played included Zero Gravity from the Tranent area,
Havana Fayre and Nickotone from Musselburgh, Iris from
Dunbar and Edelweiss Pirates from Haddington. They all
played to an enthusiastic crowd and thoroughly enjoyed
the experience.
Lessons and live performances at Bridge Centre Music Project
The Bridge Centre Music Project
The Haddington based project, supports and encourages
young people to realise their full potential, and widen their
horizons through engagement in the creative music
process.
The Project meets 7 days each week and caters for over
100 children and young people on a weekly basis.
The programme offers young musicians opportunities to
rehearse, for tuition, access to good quality instruments including DJ equipment, computers for generating music, a
PA system, recording facilities – and opportunities to
perform in front of an audience.
Each programme will culminate with a recording session at
the Bridge Centre studio in Haddington, with every young
person taking part receiving a CD of their work. One years
membership for a band costs £15 and includes access to
the practice rooms and full use of the equipment.
Every few months, the Bridge Centre runs live gigs and
performances as a sort of showcase of all the work that
members have been practicing and invites youth bands
from other areas. These gigs are open to the public at a
minimal entrance fee of £3. The gigs are well staffed and
include lights and smoke machine adding to the
atmosphere.
They encourage bands to participant and perform at other
youth music events including Kaoss Tour 2007; Haddington
Music Initiative; North Berwick Big Event; and Linton Music
Project.
This year in collaboration with the “Rock Stop”, they
hosted a number of live youth music events on a converted
bus and hope in the future to run live youth music events
country wide at various gala day celebrations.
They have also:
Developed a graded guitar tuition programme in
accordance with the Registry Of Guitar Tutors for up to
35 young people studying guitar at the Bridge Centre
and for the young people studying guitar at their
satellite Project in Prestonpans. Lessons cost £3 each.
Offer dedicated song writing workshops each week
during school term time, lasting for 2 hours. These
workshops are also utilised when working with
vulnerable groups.
Developed a three day music-based programmes for
vulnerable 16-25 year olds including ‘The Bridges One
Door Project’ in Musselburgh, focusing on computer
generated music, drumming, DJ-ing, group percussion,
band work and song writing.
The best way to get involved with the centre is to phone
and ask for lessons or practice time. Then go along to the
next session and pick up a welcome pack and a copy of the
most recent magazine. Under 18’s are required to complete
registration form and parental consent form.
The Centre has a “chill out” area with soft drinks available.
There is also a larger hall which is used for gigs which can
hold approximately 160 people standing. The atmosphere in
the centre is very relaxed and fun but all young people
need to adhere to the centre rules.
Links have already been established with other Music
Projects in the UK.
The Bridge Centre has also recently been invited to
become involved with PopNet Europe; an organisation
which promotes the development of structures that enable
international music encounters and band exchanges.
Building on the success of the
“Rock N’ Roll Mayhem Tour 2006”, it is the Bridge Centre’s
intention to extend their network and further develop links
nationally and internationally with a view to promoting
exchanges between East Lothian and other European
Countries.
The Bridge Centre Music Project has a page on
www.myspace.com
Bridges Project working with young people on music initiatives
Regular music groups and multi-media groups
Bridges Project
Bridges Project is a voluntary sector agency which provides
services to disadvantaged young people throughout East
Lothian. Based in Musselburgh, the project aims to assist
young people in their journey towards self-reliance,
independence, tenancy management, education, training and
employment.
Staff and volunteers develop engaging programmes to
encourage young people to experience the world of music
in group settings and recent activities have included:
involvement in the Rock Idol Project, making CDs and
DVDs, attending classical concerts and meeting players
through the SNYO initiative and attending local gigs.
The project has a team of dedicated staff who run a range of
programmes to help young people to experience and build
knowledge, skills and understanding to set up home, gain
employment, develop personal and social skills and engage
with their community.
They work in partnership with local projects like The Bridge
Centre Music Project.
Music is one tool which is used to attract young people who
have a range of personal and structural barriers to
overcome in their pathway to inclusion. Mental health
problems, bereavement, poor school experiences,
homelessness and social isolation are only a few of the
problems confronting service users.
The project’s extensive groupwork and activity programme
includes opportunities for young people to experience
music through, for example:
DJ workshops
Music workshops
Podcasting
Drumming workshops
The young people do not need any musical experience to
participate in any of the workshops. The service is offered
free to young people aged 16-22 years.
The Project’s approach is to use a mix of intensive one-toone support and groupwork to meet the individual learning
and developmental objectives of young people. Music, new
technologies and the arts are key elements of the
groupwork programme. This work is complementary to the
one-to-one support which is delivered by specialist staff in
the areas of housing support, employability support, literacy
and numeracy tuition and personal development. Learning
and skills acquisition is carefully managed with the young
people to effect real and meaningful change. Action plans
are paced to meet the needs of individuals and involvement
in musical activities features highly for a large number of
project participants.
Haddington Music Initiative (HMI)
HMI is a registered charity set up in 1998 which aims
to promote live music in Haddington.
They run an annual music festival (Haddfest) featuring
both local artists and bands as well as more established
acts from around the UK.
They also support the Bridge Centre Music Project.
The put on countless gigs and music events such as
HMI Acoustic Night.
Publicity for Haddfest Events
Lamp of Lothian Concert
NYCoS in East Lothian
Season runs a Summer Concert Season
running from April to September. It is of the
highest professional standard.
The main style of music is classical however,
they will occasionally move into the fields of
jazz, fold and rock and pop once a year for a
concert as part of the Haddington Festival
They have in recent years concentrated on
engaging young artists at the beginning of
their careers.
Their seasons consist of 5 or 6 concerts each
year.
They are beginning to offer masterclasses to
schools.
The age ranges for the service is from 5 to 25
years and admission is always free to children.
Sessions take place at St Mary’s Church, Holy
Trinity Church and Knox Academy in
Haddington.
The days of the sessions vary but the sessions
are monthly over the summer at 8pm.
The Lamp of Lothian Concert Season are
seeking funding to develop the concert series
in parallel with setting up a Youth Orchestra
and Youth Choir in East Lothian.
Haddington Concert Society
was founded in 1986. Promotes six
professional classical concerts (winter season)
held mainly in the Town House, Haddington
(children are free), and a Gala Recital with
world-class pianist taking place March/April. .
Also holding `Food for Soul` free lunchtime
concerts at the Farmers Market - concerts
are informal, you don`t have to stay until the
end, and families are very welcome to help
introduce and promote classical music and
jazz to children and young people.
They also have a Bosendorfer Grand piano
available for anyone to use free of charge, at
the Town House in Haddington e.g. for
practising prior to exams - Bookings for the
piano can be made through East Lothian
Council.
They regularly promote opportunities for
young performers.
The Haddington Concert Hall is not geared
National Youth Choir of Scotland
YMI has continued to fund East Lothian Council and the National Youth Choir
of Scotland (NYCoS) to develop singing in all 35 Primary Schools.
Initially every pupil in Primary 3 in the 35 Primary schools in East Lothian were
given a taster session by a NYCoS trained instructor.
Following this a 100 primary 3 and 4 pupils were invited to attend on of the six
Area Choirs which have been formed in Prestonpans, Haddington, Musselburgh,
North Berwick, Dunbar and Tranent. Each choir meets weekly for one hour and
members receive 30 minutes of musicianship training and 30 minutes of singing
free of charge.
The musicianship training is based on the Kodály method and was devised by
the National Youth Choir of Scotland. Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian Composer
and Educator. He advocated that music education should start nine months
before the child is born,should be organised in a systematic and structured way
throughout school years, and should start with the most natural instrument in
the world, the voice.
All six choirs have begun using the Go for Bronze book, the emphasis at the
sessions is on fun and NYCoS have developed a series of singing games and
rhymes, which encourage children to play and sing together while at the same
time learning many basic musical concepts.
The importance of participating in these singing games cannot be
overestimated. Singing helps to develop many abilities including speech and
vocabulary,but the games also help develop social interaction and cooperation
with others.
This programme is used for NYCoS area choirs which are running in 8 local
authorities and cater for children from Primary 4 upwards.
The second term in 2007 concluded with a concert in Musselburgh Grammar
where over 160 pupils participated in a ‘World Music’ concert.
The partnership is hopeful that in the future this project will create an East
Lothian Primary Choir.
Childrenʼs Workshops
As part of Dunbar Traditional
Music Festival, 4 to 5 musicians
annually give young people from
the age of 5-15 years, basic
instructions on a variety of
traditional instruments. This takes
place at Dunbar Parish Church
Hall on 27th September 2008.
They also provide individual
musical tuition for older children
(8+) to Adults.
They offer opportunities to
practice, perform, accompany and
learn theory and are available for
hire to churches, weddings and
funerals.
Our Lady of Lorretto
Youth Players
They tend to run weekly term
time sessions at St Mary’s Primary
School and Haddington Church in
Haddington.
Run six months of weekly musical
theatre workshops/rehearsals
each year with Annual Production
in February.
They currently have a long waiting
list so will promote locally when
places become available.
Anyone aged 10-15 years from
Scotland can participate. The cost
is under £5 for enrolment.
Fisherrow Parent and
Toddlr Group
The sessions take place at Loretto
Church Hall in Newbigging
Musselburgh on Sundays between
2 and 5pm.
Music -Time
Music - Time is based in Dunbar
and is for children under 5 years
and their parents to come along
and sing well known nursery
songs and play instruments. The
sessions are weekly from 10-11
am at Parish Church Hall (Nr
Steamy Dreamy).
All the instruments including
drums, bells, etc. are provided. The
course costs £2.50 per family per
week.
Jo Jingles Provides
music,singing and movement
classes for pre school aged babies
and children.
A weekly service is run term time
in Haddington, Longniddry, North
Berwick, Prestonpans and Tranent
and coming soon to Dunbar and
East Linton.
Fingers and Thumbs
Based in Haddington, Fingers and
Thumbs, provide music
workshops for children up to 8
years through songs, games, dance
etc.
Meet every Tuesday morning at
10am until 11.30 in The Lounge at
The Fisherrow Centre, South
Street, Musselburgh.
They have a range of toys and
books for children to play with
and usually sing some songs
towards the end of the session.
£1.50 per family.
Musical Minis
The original pre school group
specialising in child development,
from 6 months+. Classes running
throughout the Lothians. Small
groups in a party atmosphere.
Library Fun
East Lothian Council have
funded a number of summer
time events in local libraries in
East Lothian.
This includes:
Ranting Rhymes at Port
Seton Library
Heads, Shoulders, Knees &
Toes Bounce and Tickle at
Longniddry Library
Story time: Puff, Puff, Chat,
Sing and Rhymes at
Haddington Library
Licketyspit
Licketyspit is a resident company at Brunton Theatre, and
is a new interactive theatre experience for 3-5 year olds. It
has been created and led by Virginia Radcliffe in
collaboration with designer Ali Macaurin and composer
Tim Brinkhurst in consultation with nursery children in
East Lothian. They company started its residency at
Brunton Theatre in 2008.
They offer expressive arts workshops and Drama/Music
workshops teaching songs and rhymes and games, using
basic instruments, dressing up, developing characters and
imaginary adventures and developing soundscapes for
devised stories. The workshops are run in tandem with
Show - this year it was Heelie-go-Leerie performed to
8000 across Scotland.
Set in the world of playground games and children’s stories
in several languages and dialects including Scots. Hellie-goLeerie has strong music and dance elements. African
drumming and bagpipes! It is an irresistible exuberant
highly physical show for children and their families
celebrating the riches of childhood and the energy, wit and
tenacity of children.
The play was developed through working directly with
children in Levenhall and Tranent nurseries and East Linton
Primary in East Lothian.
The content of the project connects with A Curriculum
for Excellence in encouraging children to be confident
individuals, successful learners, responsible citizens and
effective contributors. It is also relevant to Healthy Living
issues in relation to encouraging active play.
They will be launching Lickety Tales, based on Wee Wiches
and Molly Whuppie (available on audio CD) and are highly
interactive for up to 60 children.
The company plans to develop two focus groups, one of
families and one of teachers in East Lothian to consult
about the development of Licketyspit in return for tickets,
rehearsal visits and workshops.
Free education resource packs for teachers.
Shows cost £4 per person with 1 teacher free per 20
pupils.
NHS East Lothian Health
Partnership Music Therapy
Nordoff-Robbins Music
Therapy
schools, paediatricians, psychiatrists,
social workers, GPs and other
professionals. This can be done in
person or by email or telephone.
In 2005 YMI in East Lothian approached the
Music Therapy Children’s Service, a
partnership between East lothian Council
and NHS East Lothian Local Health
Partnership (ELLHP), to develop new and
innovative time limited group projects to
meet some of the needs of youngsters with
additional support needs.
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy was
established as a registered charity in
Scotland in December 1996.
Creative Music and Therapeutic Music
Sessions are offered weekly in
Haddington and North Berwick to
individuals and groups in the
community:
The first projects took place between May
and December 2005 and involved 16 weeks
of group music therapy for 3 groups of 6
children between primary one and four.
Music therapy is a client led intervention
based on the understanding that everyone
has a natural responsiveness to music. The
music that a child plays and the way in
which he or she interacts with the therapist
may give a broader, holistic view of the
child’s emotional life or ways of relating to
other people. In this way, the child’s
responses indicate the direction of work.
The guiding principle is that music has
the power to touch us all deeply and
this power is used in music therapy.
Through improvising and creating
music together, a trusting relationship
is built up as the therapist helps the
child or adult to find renewed self
confidence, self esteem and improved
quality of life.
“The overall aim of music therapy is to
actively engage individuals in their own
growth, development and behavioural
change and for them to transfer
musical and non-musical skills to other
aspects of their life, bringing them from
isolation into active participation in the
world. We create music through
improvisation or composition
specifically to meet the needs and
capabilities of our clients”
The main focus of each project was to
develop participation in group music
making, communication and language skills,
social/personal and emotional well being.
They believe that music is an intrinsic
part of all of us. Pulse and rhythm are
found in our heartbeat, our breathing
and our movement, melody is created
in our laughing, crying, screaming or
singing.
Evaluations of the pupils by their teachers
and parents showed that music therapy
helped to improve pupil’s communication
skills especially their ability to listen, built
their confidence, enabled them to
contribute suggestions and lead activities
and were less distracted.
The whole range of our emotions can
be held within the rhythms and
harmonies of different musical styles
and idioms. These intimate connections
with music can remain despite
disability or illness, and are not
dependent on a musical training or
background.
Emma Pethybridge is a music therapist who
works for the Music Therapist Department
at Herdmanflat Hospital in Haddington. She
provides music therapy group work and
some individual work to children (0-11
years) in East Lothian in weekly blocks
during school time.
Because of this, music therapists in
East Lothian use music to help people
young people from 5-15 years who
have a wide range of needs iincluding
autistic spectrum disorders, learning
disability, profound and multiple
disabilities, or those with mental health
problems. Emotional, cognitive and
developmental needs can be addressed
through interactive music making
within a secure relationship offered by
the music therapist.
They use a range of instruments including a
piano/selection of percussion instruments
(tuned and untuned), reed horns and tone
chimes.
In East Lothian young people can be
referred for Music Therapy by parents,
Mondays at Law Primary School,
North Berwick
Fridays at St Mary`s Primary
School, Haddington
The service has a charge of £36-40 per
hour plus travel expenses.
A range of percussion instruments,
piano, keyboard and others are used.
Lastly, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy
in Scotland is greatly involved with the
delivery of the MSc in Music Therapy
(Nordoff-Robbins) training programme
which has recently relocated to Queen
Margaret University’s new campus in
Musselburgh.
African Drumming
Using 30 drums and percussion
instruments for every session, the
tutor for the African drumming
sessions ensures that every child gets a
chance to play together.
Each child discovers the three main
‘voices’ of the drums – bass, slap and
tone. Gradually building on elements
of rhythm, song and movement, the
class creates a 4-5 minute cycle that
brings together all the elements of the
workshop.
This YMI project has been particularly
successful with youngsters with
additional learning needs and took
place at Meadow Park SEN and Ross
High School Special Unit as well as a
number of mixed ability groups in
primary schools.
Longniddry Youth
Music Group
The project offers two free
programmes for young people
aged 12-25 years:
YMI Nursery Music Initiative
Dialogue Youth was created in
2002 as a partnership between Young
Scot, the National Youth Information
Agency for Scotland and the Convention
of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA).
The initiative is funded by all 32 local
authorities in Scotland and the Scottish
Government under the banner of the
Modernising Government Fund.
Dialogue Youth is about making sure
young people can access information and
influence public services provided for
them. It tries to work with young people
to encourage them to make services
more responsive to them and explore
ways of having young peoples views
heard at both a local and national level.
They provide a range of service in
Haddington, Musselburgh, North
Berwick, Tranent, Dunbar and
Prestonpans for young people aged
between 12-18 years, to become fully
involved in the community planning
process.
They support young people to plan
youth music events in East Lothian
including the Rock Stop Tour and
Lewisvale Park in Musselburgh.
Dialogue Youth promotes the
opportunity for East Lothian young
people to become involved with PopNet
which is an organisation that promotes
the development of structures that
enable international youth music
encounters and youth band exchange
between East Lothian and other
Countries.
They have also encouraged young people
to participate in the Youth Music Action
Zone, taking place October 2008 in
Toulouse.Young people attending will be
given tools to enable them to organise
high quality actions in the music/youth
field; to share and learn within the
experience; to provide the opportunity
for pan European co-operation; and
promote their conception of active
citizenship and mobility.
They promote the Smartened Cards
which includes a concessionary travel
scheme to make getting to a youth
music event more affordable for young
people; get money off on music and
DVD purchases; and even discounts at
over 1800 retail outlets.
Digital Music Courses supported by
YMI in partnership with East Lothian
They have trained up their youth
workers and purchased equipment to
enable young people to record and edit
podcasts of band interviews and live
youth music performances; learn to DJ
or shoot a music video.
They advise young people about youth
music opportunities across Scotland, for
example - Pitlochry's brand new Youth
Festival which offers young people from
different areas the chance to meet up
and exchange ideas, see bands and other
live acts and have fun!
Council Arts Service
On a Monday, professional
musicians work with young
people to explore
improvisation and alternative
styles of music including song
writing, they then stage a mini
performance to parents and
friends at the end project.
On a Wednesday and Thursday
they have a visit from The
Bridge Centre Outreach
service to give guitar, bass,
drums, keyboard and vocal
tuition, culminating in a band
forming, and making a CD at
Bridge Centre recording studio.
Many styles of music are offered
including: Classical, Jazz, Folk, Rock
and Pop and Traditional.
Activities are free to 12 -25 year
olds in the area and depending on
funding will continue continue
from March 2008.
Holly Trinity Handbells
Holly Trinity Handbells provides
training and practice for young
people from 12 years upwards to
learn to play traditional handbells.
The sessions take place at the
Trinity Centre, Church Street,
Haddington on the 1st, 3rd and 5th
Mondays of the month September
to May at 7.30 to 9.30 pm.
All the equipment is provided and
each sessions costs £2 per person.
Worship
Young people from 16 years
upwards are invited to attend
worship and participate in singing.
This is held at Prestongrange
Church in Prestonpans the last
Sunday of each month at 6.30pm
Brunton Theatre and East Lothian Councilʼs Art Team
Brunton Theatre is situated within
Brunton Hall, a civic building located
on the western side of Musselburgh.
The Theatre seats 296 in tiered
seating.
Brunton Theatre promotes and
presents an annual programme of
theatre, dance, music , film and
comedy. The music programme has
received funding from the Scottish
Arts Council and now encompasses
a wide range of music including
traditional, jazz folk, rock and pop,
world and classical.
The Brunton Theatre's education and
outreach programme includes music
workshops for schools and
community groups. Many of the
workshops are linked to performances presented in the
theatre.
Music workshop programmes for
young people linked to companies
performing at the theatre add value
to the performances and enhance
young people's understanding and
enjoyment of music.
The Brunton Theatre also hosts
performances by children and young
people including those presented in
association with the Youth Music
Initiative such as Fischy Music and
Scottish Opera.
Brunton Theatre also has three
resident companies - Catherine
Wheels Theatre Company,
Licketyspit and Curve Foundation
Dance Company that provide a
range of workshops and
performances for young people.
Much of this work incorporates
music elements.
Brunton Theatre has a strong
education policy and works in close
collaboration with East Lothian
Council Arts Service to deliver a
wide ranging programme of
activities. This enables them to
integrate resources and expertise
and provide schools with a range of
projects and activities that support
key curricular areas.
Recent music projects which East
Lothian Council Arts Service have
been involved in include:
A wide variety of music
workshops co- ordinated by the
Arts Service Cultural
Coordinators who work closely
with the Council's YMI Coordinator to deliver a high quality
programme of music activities for
schools.
Creative health programmes with
music for primary schools
providing song writing sessions
called "strolling on song" with the
aim for the young people to write
a song which promotes healthy
living.
Garage Band, podcasting and
Youth Band activities which take
place on a regular basis for young
people both in school and after
school hours.
Good Vibes, a dance and music
project exploring the science of
sound.
Project Y 2008 which brings
together the best young dancers
Scotland has to offer in an
exciting programme of new
contemporary dance work.
Y Bands Project 08, a project
which offers young people who
are in a band the chance to
rehearse and record for free.
Rock Stop, the project offers the
chance to watch and perform live
music at various different venues
in East Lothian on the fold down
stage of a double decker bus.
The Youth Theatre Network
which supports young people
from around East Lothian to learn
theatre skills and to perform main
stage at the Brunton.
The Big Event (North Berwick)
which is one of the Rock Stop
events. A small music festival
featuring young bands from
around East Lothian.
There is a great opportunity for
young people to develop skills and
ideas under the guidance of
professional actors, dancers and
musicians. The projects are aimed at
offering a new perspective to
support curriculum subjects as well
as extending participants
experiences beyond their
imagination.
Summer activities include:
Digital Music course (12+) Using
a software package called Garage
Band, where participants learn to
create tracks and even ringtones.
They can also write and record
their own song using any electric
instruments that they own.
Music Making for younger
children (6-9 years old.) offering
the chance to make music and to
have fun.
Radio Production (12+)
encourages young people to
write, perform and record their
own radio show which they can
take away with them at the end of
the course.
Dance Workshop (6-13+) works
with young people to learn funky
beats and hip hop tricks.
Ugly Bug Ball Performance
Project (9-12) allows young
people to work with a
professional director to create a
mini production of The Ugly Bug
Ball and showcase it at the
Brunton Theatre.
Young people who would like to be
involved in the youth theatre courses
can ask for bursaries from the
Friends of Brunton Theatre. The
cost to come and see performances
can be free like Y bands or can cost
up to £12.50 for shows in the
auditorium
East Lothian Youth Dance
Company (ELYDC)
The Youth Theatre
Network (YTN)
East Lothian Youth Dance Company
is open to young people aged 13-21.
They perform at Brunton Theatre
twice a year and at youth dance
events throughout Scotland.
Previous dance experience is
preferable but not essential. Entry to
the Company for young people who
live in East Lothian, is by audition.
Boys are particularly encouraged to
apply.
East Lothian Council Arts Service set up
the YTN in 2005 to help children who
wanted to take part in the BYT but
could not make the journey to
Musselburgh to rehearse.
East Lothian Youth Dance Project
YTN is open to most ages. The age
ranges of the Network are 5-8, 8-12 and
12-15.
The dance development programme
presents a wide variety of creative
dance classes and courses for young
people throughout the Lothians.
Theatre Date for Dancers
(East Lothian News, 8th August 2008)
The urban jungle provides the setting
for an apocalyptic drama when BYT
and ELYDC join forces in August 2008
to perform Discontented Winter House
Remix. Based on Bryan Lavery’s play, it
chronicles the struggles between
opposing social groups using powerful
mix of dance, physical theatre and a
gritty techno and hip hop soundtrack.
Directed by Heather Marshall and
choreographed by Beth Noble, the show
is funded by East Lothian Council Arts
Service and Brunton Theatre. With 30
performers aged between 12- 18
years, as well as live DJ’s.
YTN takes place in several towns
including North Berwick, Haddington,
Tranent, Preston Pans, Musselburgh and
Dunbar, with taster sessions in Gullane.
It normally happens on week nights
between 6pm-8pm in the local
community centres.
At YTN participant devise and rehearse
a piece of theatre that is performed
annually at “The Showcase”, a
performance where all of the different
networks come together at the Brunton
Theatre to perform on the main stage.
the year other small performances are
put on for parents and guardians at the
rehearsal space. These performances are
called “A Sharing of Work”.
All members of the Network have the
chance to audition for the main BYT
and all of its stage classes and senior
groups, which allows them to perform
in main stage shows and possibly in
Fringe.
Strolling on Song
East Lothian Council Arts Team are
working with various primary schools in
Musselburgh, Haddington, Aberlady and
Pentcaitland, providing song writing
sessions called “strolling on song”.
The aim is for the classes to write a
song with the objective of promoting
healthy living. This generally leads to
songs about the environment, animals
or eating healthy.
He has also helped classes to write
school songs.
He provides three sessions for each
school, each lasting between 1-2 hours.
There is a sessional charge for these
sessions.
Brunton Youth
Theatre (BYT)
BYT offers young people aged
8-18 a fantastic opportunity to
learn a huge range of theatre
skills through workshops,
rehearsals and performances in
a fun and supportive
environment. The groups meet
weekly in Dunbar, Haddington,
Musselburgh, North Berwick,
Presonpans and Tranent and
are arranged by age 8-11 and
12-15.
The emphasis is on the
process as much as
performance. Young people are
supported by experienced
drama tutors to develop a
range of ideas using a variety
of drama techniques.
BYT also work with a
selection of visiting drama
tutors to develop acting
techniques, production skills
and so on.
BYT performs regularly on the
main stage at Brunton
Theatre. The productions are
directed by freelance directors
who work with young people.
BYT receives generous
discounts on tickets for
selected performances at
Brunton Theatre, visits to
other theatres and
opportunities to perform at
other venues.
benchtours is a leading Scottish
international touring ensemble. Their mission
is to present challenging and engaging work
that will entertain and entice audiences,
creating a lasting impression and a desire for
more.
Throughout the past ten years benchtours
has been involved in a wide range of
education and outreach projects. These have
included large scale community
performances, residences, workshop
programmes and discussion forums: have
involved people of all ages and all abilities:
encompassed work in community centres,
colleges: schools, day centres, mental health
projects, youth theatre & art centres; and
operated on both a national and
international scale.
benchtours most recent outreach work has
included “The Invisible Man” a large scale
mixed ability community project which
toured East Lothian in 2006.
The performance was a multi media
production including music, drama, dance,
film, love and the occasional bicycle. Over 30
performers drawn from the local community
performed in the production.
The two year scheme provided three artists
residencies in installation, film and music, coordinated by benchtours and run in
conjunction with community groups in East
Lothian. It provided over 250 local people
(young adults +) with learning disabilities
with the opportunities to participate directly
in the arts.
Previous projects include: “Mayhem” and the
Millennium Festival funded “Moon over
Musselburgh”, in collaboration with The
Brunton Theatre.
benchtours have a range of technical
equipment and theatre resources that can
be hired.
www.benchtours.com
Martha Production was performed at Primary
Schools across East Lothian in 2008
Creative Workshops by Catherine Wheels Theatre
Company
Gill Robertson set up Catherine Wheels in 1999, collaborating with practitioners Jay
Manley and Annie Wood (now Director of Polka Theatre) to create the company’s
first production, Martha.
The response to the show was so immense that it has remained in the repertoire
ever since, performing at theatres throughout the UK, Ireland and North America,
taking in Broadway on the way.
In 2002, Catherine Wheels produced Lifeboat by Nicola McCartney, winning the
Barclays Stage Award for Best Show for Children and Young People. The Company
developed other fantastic stories including Arthur – The Story of a King, Labyrinth,
Peter Pan, Lifeboat, Cyrano, The Story of the Little Gentleman, Cinderella’s Sister sand
The MacRobert: The Happy Prince. These successes have established Catherine
Wheels as a leading producer of theatre for children and young people.
Supported by the Scottish Arts Council, Catherine Wheels is a resident company
based at the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh where East Lothian
Council provide office and rehearsal space, and a starting point for tours.
In 2006 and with the support of YMI they ran a number of creative workshops with
primary 6/7 pupils to explore how music works to make us feel differently,
understand why music can make us feel happy, sad or scared?. The pupils were
introduced to the science of sound (the harmonic series: major and minor modes and
dissonance) and demonstrated how our innate responses to music can be harnessed
in order to help tell a story. Using a wide range of musical genres as example, the
class explored their own responses to music, and then went on to tell a well known
story by creating their own music as underscore.
This year Catherine Wheel Theatre Company ran performances of “Martha” at
Brunton Theatre, Martha is a wonderful story about friendship, trust and a goose.
They also touring East Lothian schools with The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk.
This year they will tour their highly successful theatre-in-schools programme, A Town
called Elsewhere to eleven different regions in Scotland and in addition primary 2s
will have pre performance drama workshops led by East Lothians Council Arts
Service Drama Teachers.
A resource pack is available for teachers and includes a range of learning and teaching
resources.
Mayhem Production in Brunton Theatre
www.catherinewheels.co.uk
Musical Youth
Showcase
Oliver
High School Musical
Showtime
Musical Youth and Encore
Musical Youth was founded by Peter and Heather Antonelli in May 1992 with the aim
of providing an outlet for the singing, acting and dancing talent of local children.
When over sixty children turned up for the first rehearsal, they realised they had
tapped into a real need in their local community. Since that day, Musical Youth hasn't
looked back and they always have an eager group of youngsters keen to join. They
do singing as well as musicals.
Guys and Dolls
Encore
Copacabana
Their first "Showtime" concert took place in November 1992 at Prestonpans
Community Centre and, in June 1993, their first full-scale musical - "Calamity Jane" - hit town and played to packed houses.
Rehearsals take place at St Gabriel’s School in Prestonpans weekly in the evenings.
Anyone from 5 years to 17 years can take part, you don’t need any experience and
only need to pay £1 a week. Through popular demand they have also set up Encore
for everyone over the age of 17 years.
The group has great support from the local community and parents and has
developed strong links in many areas. They perform at Brunton Theatre and various
community venues in East Lothian including annually for the residents of Leuchie
House, a holiday home for M.S, sufferers. Also they raise money every year for the
Radio Forth "Help a Child" appeal and "Riding for the Disabled" and regularly sing
to the residents of many of the local nursing homes and church guilds.
www.musicalyouth.co.uk
Crazy for you
Dunbar School of Dancing
Ballet, Jazz and Scottish dancing is
available for children aged 3 and upwards.
They hold classes for
Pre School, this is an introduction to
dance for young children aged 3-5. The
main aim of the class is to learn basic
movement while having fun. This includes
different dance styles and lots of stories.
Pre Primary to Grade 1 - children cover
the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD)
syllabus, improving co-ordination and
building up strong techniques in
preparation for further classical training
of beginning modern jazz. Classes start
with Scottish for a warm up and finish
with dancing for fun in different styles.
Grades 2 to 8 - children progress
through the RAD grades. This level
requires lots of hard work and
dedication. Whether children wish to
become dancers or not, their training in
classical ballet will improve their
posture, co-ordination and confidence.
Morag Alexander
School of Dancing
The Annual Show takes place in
June, with over 700 children taking
part over the two week duration of
the show.
Classes are held at Hallhill Healthy Living
Centre, Dunbar Leisure Pool and
Masonic Hall throughout the week.
The company is based in
Musselburgh and offers RAD
syllabus.
All children need to purchase their own
uniforms.
Singing and dancing from e.g. Oliver,
Wizard of Oz, Scottish Music, and
young children singing Colours of
the Rainbow.
They put on a Christmas Show for family
and friends and donate all profits to The
Sick Children’s Hospital.
Rehearsals start at Easter for June
Show at Brunton Theatre.
Their is no charge for the sessions
for anyone age 3-18 years.
Costumes are supplied to all
children who appear in the show for
a very small hire charge.
www.moragalexander.co.uk
Photographs of Dunbar School of Dance by
Ron Taylor Studio, Musselburgh 0131 6532700
The Curve Foundation Dance Company
Brunton Theatre’s resident dance company presented new work this year
by Morgan Runacre Temple, who has been a dancer with the company
since 2006. The company performed Beyond Prejudice by Jonathan
Watkins danced to the music of Prokoviev and Preveen.
The 60 minute free workshops suitable for S1-S6 pupils ran over 4
months. The workshops covered warm ups, dance techniques as well as
dance material in relation to music.
The workshops encouraged confidence building, strength physicality,
development of movement mechanisms, increasing understanding of the
relationship between movement and music, exploring creativity and giving
reference to world music and dance.
www.curvefoundation.org
Centre Stage Theatre
Company
Based in Tranent, they are a
Theatre group who present a
Christmas Pantomime and a
Summertime Special Show
(Children’s Showcase).
This may include children dancing
and singing songs from musicals
e.g. Oliver, Hairspray, High School
Musical and Shout or toddlers
(3+) singing Little Mermaid.
They rehearse at the Loch
Centre every Monday and
Tuesday starting end of August
for Pantomime and beginning of
February for Summer Show.
They have four different age
group. The cost is £4 a night and
a half sessions for babies costs
£3.
Fly Right Dance Company
The Company is based in Longniddry Library Studio and
is the only professional dance performance and
education company based in Scotland that specialises in
traditional afro-american dance styles including
Charleston, Lindy Hop, Jitterburg and jazz.
Their primary aim is to provide the chance to dance to
everyone, no matter their age, location or social situation
and spread the word that dance is a fantastic way to
keep fit physically and mentally.
They have developed a dance school for school children.
This includes a series of workshops in social dances of
the 20th Century. The instructors take a fun approach,
and use popular, recognisable examples of dance music of
the time. Typical sessions during 2006-7 included the
following themes: 1930s - ShimSham; 1940s - Jitterbug
and 1950s - Sixties dances (most suitable for P1-P3)
Each workshop includes informal questions and answer
sessions, discussing the children’s perspective on dane
music, and addressing some of the issues which might
put them off participating. They can introduce some of
the historical aspects of dancing, at a level appropriate to
their stage of development. Each session can be tailored
to complement classwork in other areas of the
curriculum, and can be supported b y various learning
material, including extensive video material.
East Lothian Council are
about to publish its Youth
Music Initiative Newsletter
with information about the full
range of YMI activities that took
place in 2007/08.
The newsletter is illustrated with
photographs from classroom
sessions and performances and
includes quotes from pupils,
teachers, musicians and parents.
The newsletter is distributed to
the parents of every primary
school pupil in East Lothian and
additional copies are made
available through public libraries,
secondary school libraries and
music departments.
As well as using the newsletter to
inform all parents of primary aged
They are currently working on developing a train the
teacher programme so that they can introduce teachers
to several simple dance workshops that they can deliver
supported by resource material.
They run weekly classes for example Tap Classes (5-7
and 8-12 years) and cost £3 per session.
www.flyrightdanceco.com
21st Century Dance Academy
21st Century Dance Academy is a dance school at heart
with a number of highly successful students wishing to
follow a career in the profession.
The children are required to sing and act as well as
dance. They teach singing through the estile method and
acting improvisation & script work.
They don’t really consider themselves a music school
though they do teach musical theatre to support their
budding dancers rather than to produce musicians.
They have students this year alone attending Scottish
Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Knightswood, Stella Mann
College, Birds College of Performing Arts, London Studio
Centre, & Performers College.
They are also taking their students to Poland to dance
with the Russian Ballet & also to perform at Disneyland in
Paris.
21st Century is a results school and passionate about
providing rewarding and fun opportunities to perform at
professional standards.
children about YMI activities, there
have been a number of
opportunities for parents to
discover more about specific YMI
projects during 2007/08. This has
included invitations to attend
performances of projects at
schools and at the Brunton
Theatre, specific request for
feedback through evaluation
processes for projects and
opportunities to volunteer to join
staff as helpers for the National
Youth Choir of Scotland project.
The involvement of classroom
teachers in the various projects has
also ensured that feedback to
parents on the impact of YMI has
been integrated into the normal
parental consultation process
which takes place at parent
evenings.
In addition to this, a number of
music projects in East Lothian have
attracted the interest of the media
which has ensured that parents and
others have been made aware of
the success of the many music
projects. The Scottish Opera
project was covered by Scottish
Television and BBC Radio Scotland
and the visit of HM The Queen to
the Bridge Centre was covered by
local and national press.
For pupils in receipt of
instrumental music service
lessons, there is direct contact with
parents at all key stages and the
involvement of parents is
supported through the East
Lothian Instrumental Music
Handbook.
Musselburgh Amateur Musical
Association (MAMA)
The group has fun acting and singing at Burgh School
in Musselburgh every Tuesday from 7-9pm and
perform a show annually at Brunton Theatre in
January/April.
The Society does not solely cater for young people
and membership ages range from 8-75 years old.
Members are considered adult from 16 years old and
pay an annual membership fee of £20 whilst it is £6
for Juniors.
Junior members are recruited for specific shows
such as "Oliver" and "The Sound of Music".
Juniors do not always take part in the annual show,
however, they usually play a part in their annual
Revue in January.
Publicity for MAMA production 2008
Musselburgh Congregational Church Junior Choir
Musselburgh Junior Choir takes place at Musselburgh’s Its an informal choir and although the children are taught
Congregational Church. It provides a safe and fun how to do breathing exercises and harmonies, it’s more
environment for any one from the age of 5 and over and about having fun and enjoying singing in a group of people.
gives them the chance to go along and sing.
The choir collaborate with other choirs, this year they
Children are welcome and you don’t have to belong to sang with the Hardmount Choir from Cockenzie.
this church or any church.
Uniform costs are kept minimal, just a white shirt and
The choir, currently contains 16 members, the youngest is black skirt for a girl or black trousers for a boy.
primary school age and the oldest is 22.
The choir do a big show in the Brunton every April and
The choir is led by Jane Fairnie, who won Musselburgh tickets cost family £17, adult £6 and child £3.50.
Citizen of the Year for Youth Work in 2007, along with two
other volunteers .
They hold concerts for the elderly, in Church Halls, link up
with Highland and Irish Dancers, do carol singing at the
Everyone gets the chance to to sing lots of different songs turning on of the Christmas Lights. They also hold a big
including Scottish, Junior Praise, Andrew Lloyd Webber, show in April at the Brunton Theatre.
Disney and even christmas carols.
The choir has been running for over 28 years and has
never had any funding apart from one year when they
were sponsored by a private business man.
The choir is held every Thursday from 4 till 5:30 during
term time, with a cost of 30p for juice, although this is not
a fixed price and you are welcome to give donations.
Young choir member of Musselburgh
Congregation Church Junior Choir
Pipe Bands in Dunbar
Dalkeith & Monktonhall
Brass Band
Offer young people from 5-25 years
old the opportunity to join a youth
brass band playing all types of music.
Young people would also receive
individual tuition and access to the
ensemble.
The sessions take place at
Bandrooms in Mill Wynd,
Prestonpans.
The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland is a non-competing cutting edge
performance pipe band for 10-25 year olds in Scotland.
Launched in 2002, the National Youth Pipe Band is the first and only organisation of its
kind to bring together Scotland’s most talented young musicians at a national level.
Membership is drawn from the 32 councils, and young pipers and drummers come from
an array of different competing pipe bands and musical backgrounds, brought together
as a collection of the very best chosen to play for their country.
The NYPB provides unique development opportunities for its young members and an
exceptional musical experience for its audiences. They have a senior band and a new
development band. The NYPB performs throughout the world and has appeared on
television.
East Lothian Pipes &
Drums Trust provide a Schools
Programme and a Community Pipe
Project. They offer a school programme in
Prestonpans and Haddington area,
providing tuition in traditional highland
chanters and drums.
The tuition mainly takes place within
school hours, being offered in parallel with
other musical instruction. Typically at least
a half a class lesson every week. There are
around 200 pupils getting lessons in
school.
It will provide qualifications but the
activities are mainly for fun and also to
help to develop pupils’ social skills. Tuition
is currently available in two cluster
schools only.
There is no previous musical experience
needed to take part in the lessons.
Chanter and drum pads are used initially
(pupils pay for); then pipes and drums.
They also offer a community pipe band
programme providing tuition in chanters,
pipes and drums to young people, by
supporting existing local community pipe
bands at the invitation of the Pipe Majors.
To get involved you need to go to one of
the venues which are normally held in
local schools in Musselburgh,
Prestonpans,Tranent, Haddington and
North Berwick
There is no charge to the Pipe Bands for
this tuition as long as it is given to young
people between the age of 5 to 25 years.
Pipes, chanters and drum are provided by
the Pipe Bands or the individuals
themselves.
You would need to contact the Pipe
Major of each Pipe Band regarding
borrowing or sharing equipment and
resources.
The pipe band plays at community events
and during galas.
There is a cost for entering for
grades and a minimal charge of £2 a
session. All the equipment is
provided.
Tranent and District
Pipe Band
Offer young people from 5-25 years
the opportunity to learn piping and
drumming and perform traditional
music at galas and other events.
They practice weekly at Rannoch
House, Tranent every Wednesday
7-9pm and perform approximately
12 times annually.
There is no charge for sessions but
chanters; pads; sticks are required.
North Berwick Pipe
Band
Band open to new members for
experienced to beginners.
Piping and drumming lessons are
provided along with uniform and
instruments. In return a reciprocal
level of commitment is asked for in
attending Wednesday evening
practices at North Berwick Scout
Hall and supporting all band events.
In addition, Haddington,
Musselburgh and
Dunbar have a Pipe
Band and Prestonpans
has two.
Thick Skinned
Production Ltd
Thick-Skinned Productions Ltd offer
high quality creative services to
musicians, educators, venues, city
councils and arts organisations.
Specialising in jazz, improvised music,
rock / pop and recording, they have a
comprehensive, one-stop service for
large and small-scale projects,
workshops, recording and concert
performance.
Sponsored by Scottish Art Council and
the Youth Music Initiative they led a Jazz
Development project and provided
professional development for
instrumental teachers, live concert
performances at Dunbar Grammar and
a follow up of 10 week workshop with
music pupils on jazz and improvisation.
Y Bands is a music project organised by the Arts Service and
funded by the Scottish Arts Council through the YMI Informal Sector Funds, for
young people aged 14+ that focuses on bands and rock music.Young people
from Tranent meet weekly to rehearse in the recharge youth centre.
Participants are given the opportunity to learn an instrument including bass,
guitar, drums and keyboard. Many come as part of an existing band and others
have formed bands through the project Each band is given the opportunity to
perform at gigs throughout the year including the Rock Stop events as well as
gigs hosted by Y bands themselves. There are also opportunities for bands to
record their work through visits to professional studios and also with the
garage band software that the Arts Service has installed on ibooks. The project
also offers the opportunity for two trainees to learn about the process of
becoming a tutor. Working alongside tutor Kevin Craig the trainees learn to
plan and facilitate sessions with young people.Y bands summer school offered
workshops in Guitar, Voice, Percussion as well as recording opportunities.
For further information please contact Heather Marshall, Community Arts
Officer on 0131 653 5263 or email hmarshall@eastlothian.gov.uk.
They have also carried out a 6 week
Signing Drum Project at over twenty
primary schools in East Lothian. The
programme looked at creating sound
pictures using percussion (including
tuned percussion), the body and voice.
Themed on the Rain Forest with
emphasis on listening, creating sounds
and working as a team, the children had
fun learning rhythm games, how to
conduct and control a group using hand
signals and using narrative. The end
result was presented as a concert to
the whole school on the final week of
the project.
They are currently developing courses
so that they can offer SVQ certificates
but at the moment they are a fun way
to learn about music, a useful tool for
music pupils in developing composition
skills and hands on experience for
budding pop stars of the future.
Involving professional
musicians
East Lothian Council Arts Service have
involved freelance musicians which has
been particularly important for creative
music making sessions.
This has included individual composers
such as Dave Trouton and the creators of
the Scottish Opera project. Other
professionals have included Dougie Hudson
(African drumming), Edinburgh String
Quartet and musicians employed by Fischy
Music and Feisian nan Gaidheal.
Y Band
Thick Skinned Production Youth Music Projects
Concert Party
Music In Musselburgh
Offer signing, acting and dance for children
over 8 years from Musselburgh,
Prestonpans and Haddington. The style of
music is a mixture of choir, theatre and
pantomime.
Learn to play the recorder or tin whistle.
Learn to play early music, baroque,
classical, 20th century, modern and
traditional folk style.
The sessions are all free and run in the
evenings at Pinkie School and St Ninian’s
Basement.
Learn to play the basics of music and play
at the same time, or just learn by ear to
get started. Lessons at own pace or
tailored towards Associated Board exams.
Telephone Fiona at 0131 653 0601
The group puts on theatre and musical
shows every year, and have involved young
people from the age of 5 years.
Rehearsal times vary but take place at
Dunbar Day Centre.
Andrea Mannionʼs Dance
School
Andrea Mannion’s Dance School for
children holds classes every Tuesday
between 3.30 and 7 pm at the Bridge
Centre in Haddington.
The classes which include ballet,
modern/jazz and show work, help to
build confidence as well as improve
rhythm, poise, co-ordination and fitness.
Aberlady Community Hall
Offer young people and children the
opportunity to come along and sing.
They use a range of musical
instruments.
They usually try and put on an annual
concert or Christmas show.
The youth worker and local volunteers
welcomes anyone over the age of 5
years to take part and have fun.
The sessions are free to participants
once their funding is secured.
Revel/InterAct (Christian
Worship)
Revel is led by St Peter’s Church in
Musselburgh, it is a bi-monthly youth
worship service which has a band of
young people traveling around East
Lothian leading worship and developing
skills.
InterAct is a day of dance/drama/video
and music workshops which takes
place once a term, and is put together
into a worship service. The musical
workshop encourages the young people
to come together for a day and choose
music, practice and lead others.
Music Project
Red School YC is based in
Prestonpans offering youth activities
for 5-25 year olds.
Offer guitar classes
Band sessions one evening per
week
Day music sessions during school
holidays
Classes £1:50 per person per hour
Guitars Bass, need to be returned
after each session.
Musselburgh East
Community Learning
Centre
Offer music workshops to senior
youth club members (12 to 15 years)
who have an interest in guitars and
drumming.
They plan to offer drumming
workshop over the summer of 2008.
School
They run a drum school from
their base in Studio 2, The
Loch Centre in Tranent,
They run beginner taster
sessions, beginner course,
intermediate course and
advanced courses.
The beginners course runs
over four weeks. During this
time you will learn: basic rock
pattern and the single stroke
roll; basic blues patterns and
triplets; basic shuffle patterns
and triplets variations; and
basic jazz patters. The costs
is £6 per session with a £10
deposit.
The Countess Centre is based in
Dunbar.
The intermediate course is
designed to achieve Debut
level and Grades 1 to 4 using
the Rock School Series
which has been approved by
Trinity College, London. On
completion of each grade the
students get the option to sit
the grade exam (prices vary
for each grade). Students are
required to own/have access
to a drum kit for this course.
The sessions at £7.50 per 30
minutes.
They run workshops on DJ skills and
using electronic recording software
such as Garage Band.
You need to enroll for each
course. New classes start
August/September.
Both take place on a Sunday and are
free to all 16+ year olds.
Red School Youth Centre
Upbeat Drum
Sessions are a minimal £1 per session
- entrance fee to youth club.
Countess Centre
They also host local gigs as part of the
Rock Stop Tour and run an annual
rock/pop event.
North Berwick Youth Cafe
Offer DJ workshops, show young
people how to record podcasts using
digital recorders, teach them how to
edit sound tracks using garageband
software and produce music videos.
The regularly support young people
to attend local youth music gigs such
as the North Berwick Big Event.
http://
upbeatdrumschool.spaces.live
.com/
N
U
R
S
E
R
Y
Fisherrow Nursery
The Nursery is based in
Musselburgh offers music within
early years (0-4 years) curriculum
including group songs, rhythm
games, free play using instruments
and movements with music.
They use a selection of
instruments, ribbons, adapted some
National Youth Choir of Scotland
(NYCoS) resources for early
years, play a range of CDs and
sometimes accompaniment on
guitar.
Early years are exposed to a
variety of music genres in daily
lessons.
Camperdown Nursery
Based in Prestonpans,
Camperdown Nursery tend to
focus on traditional music, for
example, nursery rhymes and
songs, plus educational songs
for counting.
Music is included everyday in
circle time - with singing,
movement and using
instruments such as drums,
triangles, bells and shakers.
They have a ballet corner and
play classical music for the
children. They also music during
the children’s snack time.
Seahorse Nursery
Based in Cockenzie, Specialise
in providing care for 0-4 year
olds. They have a music teacher
who comes in and provides a
different music session every
week over the year e.g.
Rhymes, different musical
instruments etc. This session is
adapted slightly if the same
children are there for another
year.
Like many of the other
nurseries, they access as much
help as they need, including staff
in-service music training from
East Lothian Council.
New YMI 2007/8 : Nursery Provision
A mapping exercise conducted by East Lothian Council,
identified a gap in music provision at nursery level and a
new project was introduced in 2007/08 to address this.
Introducing beat, rhythm, harmony and pitch helps
children of this age to interact with each other and
cooperate in groups as well as laying the foundations for
the development of music skills.
The new scheme has been designed to improve the
quality of music provision for all nursery age pupils on a
sustainable basis by placing particular emphasis on
developing the skills and the confidence of nursery
teachers and nursery nurses throughout East Lothian.
Whilst some nurseries include music activities included in
the nursery fees, some charge a nominal extra for this
service.
The project drew upon the experience and resources of
ABC Music and NYCoS. The project began with a pilot
scheme for 10 nursery classes with each class being
provided with a full set of untuned percussion
instruments, ABC Music training sessions and support
sessions and ongoing support from our YMI Primary
Music Instructor using a NYCoS singing games and
rhymes package.
Cherrytrees Nursery
Cherrytrees Nursery is located
in Dunbar. They run a weekly
musical steps for 2-3 year olds.
They use a range of musical
instruments and puppets.
Pumpkin Patch
Based in Haddington, providing
care for 0-4 year olds. They
offer daily singing times, music
and movement, music time with
instruments and employ a ballet
teacher.
Links Nursery
They offer daily music activities
for the children aged between 3
months to 5 years. These
activities involve song times,
experimenting with instruments
and also music and movement
classes where the children are
encouraged to move and
explore with their body
movements.
A thorough evaluation of the pilot was undertaken in May
2008 and the project will be rolled out to further nursery
classes next year.
Barbara Baikie, a nursery teacher in Aberlady Primary
School, commented: “These resources have enabled me to
teach music in a more structured way and plan next steps for
the children. The activities can be easily incorporated into a
nursery session. As I have become more familiar with the
activities and the songs, I have been able to adapt and
develop them to suit the age and stage of the children. The
children have found the activities fun to be involved in and
rather than ‘just singing’, they will ask “are we making music
today?” “
Music Box
Music Classes from Birth to 5 years. Classes are tailored
to a child’s development needs, with action songs, nursery
rhymes, stories and instruments. Sessions include Baby
Song time (from birth to walking), Toddler Time
(developing speech) and Music Box Fun (increasing
confidence). Music box classes are a fun way to introduce
music into the family routine whilst teaching about
numbers, language, sharing and more. Classes are on
Monday Mornings and Thursday Afternoons at St Peter’s
Church, Musselburgh and are run by Nicola Coleman, a
qualified nursery and primary teacher. Free trail available.
Primary
Guitar Project
Pat Holden (Youth
Music Initiative Coordinator)
Pat is the Youth Music
Initiative (YMI) Coordinator in East Lothian
Council and leads the
team of music and art
primary specialists.
He has taught class music
to children from the age
of 3 – 18. He has been in
his current post for two
years, previously being
Principal Teacher of Music
at North Berwick High
for over 20 years.
In his new role as PT
Primary Music/Art
specialists and YMI coordinator he is able to
link the two departments
of Education and
Children’s Services with
Community Services.
Primary Music Specialists
Guitar Project
The allocation of primary music specialist
time across all East Lothian 35 primary
schools P3-P7 ensures that the YMI P6
target is achieved through this provision
alone.
In a sample survey by East Lothian Council
of upper primary pupils in East Lothian
schools the pupils identified guitar as an
instrument that they would like to learn.
The service provides a firm foundation for
all youngsters and is firmly established as
part of the 5-14 curriculum and the
emerging curriculum for excellence.
Additional support from YMI has allowed a
focus on the younger age range with the YMI
Instructor focusing work P1-P2 and finding
ways to work with classroom teachers to
extend the impact of this activity across East
Lothian.
Primary music specialists are well positioned
to help youngsters progress their interest in
music following successful short term YMI
projects and the benefits of the primary
music specialist infrastructure is being
increasingly felt as a key means of building
upon the YMI legacy.
There are currently 9 primary music
specialists including the Principal teacher Pat
Holden
The primary music specialists provide an
integrated music curriculum of performing,
inventing and listening at all levels from P1 –
P7 in East Lothian schools. They use voice,
classroom percussion and recorders and are
now also developing the use of guitar and
drumming.
The Primary Music Specialists were
equipped with 18 guitars each and were
provided with training and teaching materials
before delivering 8 week blocks of chord
guitar in 8 East Lothian primary schools.
The sessions covered reading chord
windows and suitable strumming styles using
booklets provided for the project. There are
plans to expand this provision to a further 9
schools and to link up with colleagues in
Edinburgh to do further staff training on
their new booklet ‘The Guitar Tree’.
Music in Action
Classes of Primary 4 pupils spent a full day
with musician Dave Trouton exploring how
music can make us feel a range of emotions
including happy, sad, angry and scared.
Pupils listened to a range of classical music
and compositions by Dave Trouton and
asked ‘How is it that music can make us feel
these things?’.
Pupils explored the science of music and
hearing, musical conventions and harmonics
before using their experience to tell a story
using music.
Using percussion instruments and any other
instruments the children could play, a variety
of sound effects were added to the story
which was then performed to the rest of the
school.
Pat very much believes in
the principle of ‘music for
all’ and this is always at
the heart of both his
teaching and the
developing Youth Music
Initiative projects within
East Lothian.
Scooter Tree, Dunbar Primary
Fischy Music
Hear, Here
Primary 7 pupils at
Sanderson’s Wynd Primary
School and the pupils from
Meadow park are working
together on a new music
and dance project to
support the transition of
Meadow Park pupils to the
new campus.
Pupils from Meadow Park
will be working with African
drummer and dancer
Dougie Hudson and their
P7 buddies from
Sanderson’s Wynd to create
pieces of music and dance.
This work will be filmed by
the P7’s and turned into
multi-media presentation to
be shown at the opening of
the new school in October
2008.
The project is supported by
the YMI and Coordinated
by the Arts Education Team
YMI Primary Music
Instructor
Sheila Payne, the YMI
Primary Music Instructor
has continued her
instruction with Primary 1
and Primary 2. She has
visited Windygoul, Law and
Dunbar. The work in these
schools has been based on
the National Youth Choir of
Scotland (NYCoS)
publication Singing Games
and Rhymes.
In addition to this Sheila has
been involved in visiting and
supporting the Pilot
Nursery project involving 10
Nursery classes in the
Region. Sheila has also
delivered a few additional
instrumental music projects
for senior pupils in
Sanderson’s Wynd,
P3 Creative Music Project
Primary 3 pupils in Hadddington are
becoming songwriters as part of a new
creative music project supported with
funding from the YMI and coordinated by
the Arts Education Team. Working with
professional musician Louise Martin, they
will have the opportunity to work
collaboratively with others to write
songs based upon well known stories.
Each class will learn and rehearse songs
already written by Louise as well as
creating their own compositions in only
4 hours.
The Primary 3’s from Yester, St Mary’s
and Haddington Infants will then come
together for a performance on 9th
October where they will have the
opportunity to perform songs together
as well as their new compositions.
Scottish Opera – First Class:
Passport to Paris
The YMI project focuses on active
participation in the four main
performance art forms;
music, drama, dance and visual arts. The
full technical, rehearsal and artistic
resources of Scottish Opera are used to
create a new performance project, which
offered a first class experience for seven
Primary schools in East Lothian. The
seven schools were Prestonpans,
Longniddry, St. Gabriel’s, Cockenzie,
Gullane, Windygoul and Loretto.
On the day of the workshop a team of
highly-skilled and motivated musicians,
singers and drama specialists spent three
hours rehearsing with pupils before
putting on a 30 minute performance to
which other pupils in the school and
parents and family members were invited
to attend. STV and Radio Scotland were
both very impressed by this project and
both did a feature on their respective
stations!
YMI Fischy Music Project
During year five of YMI, Fischy Music
continued to work in partnership with
both the Community Services department
and the Education and Children’s Services
department to offer an additional 20
Primary 5 classes in East Lothian a chance
to participate in their ‘I Wonder Why?’
project.
The Fischy team deliver training for the
class teachers, and then a support half-day
visit followed by a concert in the Brunton
Hall Musselburgh where all the classes
gather together and perform to each
other. The following Primary schools
were involved in this hugely successful
project this session: Law, Innerwick,
Longniddry, Stenton, Stoneyhill,Yester,
Campie, King’s Meadow, Athelstaneford,
Aberlady, Campie, Pencaitland and West
Barnes.
By the end of year six of the Youth Music
Initiative hope to have offered the Fischy
Project to all of our 35 Primary schools in
East Lothian thereby really living up to the
idea of the Youth Music Initiative being for
all. Pupils from Stenton Primary sing as
part of the YMI Fischy Music Project.
Alan Coady is a time-tabled guitar
teacher proving instruction to
school pupils from Primary 5 to
Secondary year 6.
Instruction takes place Monday to
Friday during the school day at
times chosen by each of the
schools - Musselburgh Grammar,
Knox Academy, North Berwick
High School, Campie Primary
School and Wallyford Primary
School. These instructions may led
to obtaining a qualification.
The Instrumental Music Service is managed
through the Department of Community Services,
with the direct line management of staff being the
responsibility of the Instrumental Music Coordinator (Peter Antonelli). There are 23
Instrumental Teachers who work in all 36 primary
schools and the 6 secondary schools in East
Lothian. The amount of tuition in any school is
determined by the size of the school roll. Tuition is
given in Strings, Woodwind, Brass Keyboard,
Guitar, Percussion and Voice. The Instrumental
Music Service give tuition to over 1350 pupils
which is 14% of the eligible school population.
There is no charge for tuition. The Co-ordinator is
a member of HITS (Heads of Instrumental
Teaching Scotland) and attends meetings on a
regular basis.
Secondary
Sample week of a
Instrumental Teacher
Instrumental Music Service
There is a Guitar Ensemble in
each secondary school (12-17
years), and an East Lothian Guitar
Ensemble.
There is no charge for these
activities, however pupils have to
provide their own equipment.
The styles of music include
Classical, Jazz, Rock and Pop,
World, Traditional, Electronic and
Pod Casting.
Rehearsals for school concerts
take place are at lunchtime and/or
after school on Friday.
There are also 6 rehearsals of the
East Lothian Guitar Ensemble,
leading to our annual Showcase
Concert. The concert also
features the East Lothian String
Orchestra; Wind Band; Jazz Band:
and Percussion Ensemble.
“Rehearsals are for fun it is hoped
that the choice of the music and
distribution of parts will stretch each
pupil and expose them to as wide a
range of music and musical
challenge as possible. For example, a
record is kept of who plays what
and, as much as possible, I try to
ensure that everybody has a chance
to experience melody, bass and
harmony parts as the skills required
for each are quite distinct”. Alan
Coady, Guitar Instructor
Ensembles
Through the work of the Instrumental Music Service and the school Music
Departments all 6 secondary schools offer opportunities for ensemble
playing. These include various wind bands, brass bands, guitar groups, string
groups, choirs, orchestras etc and also various smaller chamber groups. Some
primary schools also offer ensemble playing with some Instrumental
Instructors bringing together pupils from primary schools within a cluster to
perform together.
The Instrumental Music Service also co-ordinates the annual East Lothian
Showcase Concert which features the East Lothian Ensembles ie – the East
Lothian String Orchestra, The East Lothian Guitar Group, The East Lothian
Jazz Band, the East Lothian Percussion Group ands the East Lothian Wind
Ensemble. These groups are made up of pupils from all the East Lothian
Secondary Schools. This year there are also plans to form an East Lothian
Symphony Orchestra and a Choir.
The Instrumental Music Service (in association with the Haddington Concert
Society) organises the annual East Lothian Piano Festival. This is open to any
school pupil living in East Lothian and offers a platform for young pianists to
perform. It is arranged into age categories with representatives chosen to
perform at a Masterclass and Concert on the second day of the Festival.
Margaret Murray McLeod who is a senior examiner with the Associated
Board is the adjudicator and leads the Masterclass. It is very popular with
young pianists with around 100 taking part each year.
Vocal Instruction
Vocal instruction is supported by YMI
at secondary level to build upon East
Lothian’s successful delivery of the P6
target.
A part time instructor has been
employed to teach singing for half a
day in each of the six secondary
schools.
Instruction is offered to small groups
for approximately one term covering
posture, breathing, tone and voice
production. More than 238 have
opted for lessons since the start of
this initiative in August 2007.
Evaluation of this activity has been
undertaken and feedback from pupils
has been excellent.
In addition to the vocal instruction at
secondary level, East Lothian’s
partnership with NYCoS continues
to develop and grow and they now
have over 175 pupils between P3 and
P5 participating in singing workshops.
Continuous Professional
Development for Music
Specialists and Instructors
There are five in-service days per
year. These are normally organised
on a service basis with the
instrumental staff sessions being led
by the Instrumental Music Coordinator and the primary music
specialists sessions being led by the
Principal Teacher Primary Music &
Art Specialists.
The instrumental staff and the
primary music specialists are brought
together for a joint in-service day
once per year. Taking account of
additional twilight sessions, the total
number of teacher-day attendances is
approximately 7.
The Primary music specialists are
now operating as a department with
a full Departmental Improvement
Plan. All primary music specialists
undergo an annual Professional
Review and Development meeting,
monthly departmental meetings and
regular training meetings throughout
the year.
Digital music courses are offered
Music staff have also benefited from
attending training events organised by
key partnership bodies including the
NYCoS training weekend at
Edinburgh’s Stevenson College and
the ABC singing day in Perth.
This is a YMI initiative and has been further
developed in 2007/08 to extend and
develop the digital music project previously
supported by YMI.
Representatives from various
secondary school music departments
attended a joint East Lothian/
Edinburgh NYCoS training event on
the boys changing voice.
The Instrumental Music Service staff
undertook training with Margaret
Murray McLeod, senior examiner for
the Associated Board. Topics covered
included the preparing pupils for
exams, a mock exam session and the
examiner’s perspective on the exam
process.
IT training in Sibelius software was
provided for all instrumental staff
who now have access to laptops
dedicated for their use.
In addition to in-service for music
staff, there has been a growing
emphasis on training for classroom
teachers and nursery staff with a
view to building confidence and
sustaining the role of music as an
integral part of the curriculum. The
YMI projects have all incorporated
CPD training sessions for all
classroom teachers and music staff
involved.
Loretto School in Musselburgh is a
private school providing school
music, musicals, tours, trips, CD
recordings, Pipe band, bands,
orchestra, three choirs and individual
teaching of 250 private lessons a
week. The instruction is for 12-25
years.
They cover a range of musical styles
including classical, traditional,
electronic, rock and pop, choir and
musical theatre.
Loretto is keen to strengthen its
partnership with the public sector
and become more involved in local
youth music events in the community.
for pupils in S1 in all the six secondary
schools in East Lothian.
Pupils create tracks using ready made loops
and beats, add guitar, vocals or any live
instrument, then mix, master and burn to
CD or send to their mobiles for use as a
ring tone.
Pupils can also create an internet ready
podcast adding photos or short videos to
their own soundtrack using Garage Band.
The sessions run in 8 week blocks as an
after school club and focus has been placed
on specific learning outcomes and tasks to
be completed during each session.
In addition to this initiative, work
undertaken within the informal music
sector which is focused on the Bridge
Centre Project in Haddington and the Y
Bands project in Tranent has provided
young people with access to computers for
generating their own music.
This is part of an overall package of support
for youngsters wishing to form bands which
is supported by the Bridge Centre and Y
Bands. Access to both equipment and
tuition using the latest technology is a key
component of success for these projects
success and links have been made between
the digital music course, Y Bands and the
ongoing support of the Bridge Centre to
allow youngsters to continue their creative
use of music technology.
Access to digital technology has also been
particularly important for the HM Saughton
Prison project including electronic drum
kits and computer generated music
software.
As well as the various projects focused on
music technology, there is an ongoing
commitment to the integration of
technology into the daily work of all music
staff in secondary schools. Training for
primary music specialists has been provided
and all of these staff have a laptop with
Sibelius and Band in a Box software for use
on a daily basis. Instrumental Music staff
have also been trained and have access to a
laptop in their base school. All primary
music specialists have access to a drum kit.
ENCORE
EAST
LOTHIAN
Building on the success of previous youth music
projects in East Lothian.
National Youth Choir for
Scotland
All primary 3 children in all 35
primary schools in East Lothian
are given a NYCoS taster session
during school time and are then
invited to attend an after school
singing group in their local area.
Feisean Nan Gaidheal
Feisean Nan Gaidheal
East Lothian remains committed to the
development of traditional music in
schools and the partnership with
Feisean nan Gaidheal has focused on
the delivery of chanter and children’s
song with a wide range of pupils in
upper primary.
In addition to maintaining this activity,
further strategic links have been made
with the work of a local independent
trust – East Lothian Pipes & Drums
Trust – which is providing chanter and
drumming tuition in a number of
schools.
Both the Feisean nan Gaidheal and the
ELPDT activity is supporting the
recruitment of new young players to
local community pipe bands which is
playing a significant role in ensuring the
future development of these local
voluntary bands.
Fischy Music
Following the success of the Fischy Music
project in 2006/07, this project was further
developed and extended to 13 more
primary schools in 2007/08 and will have
reached all 35 primary schools in East
Lothian by the end of 2008/09.
The Bridge Centre Music
Project
The Bridge Centre in Haddington is the
hub of informal music education within
East Lothian offering access to music to
children and young people aged between 8
and 25 years old.
The project caters for over 100 children
and young people per week offering young
musicians opportunities to rehearse,
access tuition, good quality instruments
and opportunities to perform in front of
an audience.
The ultimate goal of young people is to
play their own original music at live shows
and the 52 young people who belong to 12
local bands have performed at many local
youth festivals and other events in East
Lothian during 2007/08.
The Bridge Centre music project is linked
with various other music initiatives around
East Lothian including the YMI digital music
courses for secondary schools detailed in
section 6 of this application.
Additional support from YMI informal
sector funds for 2007/08 has allowed six
live outdoor youth music events to be
staged for summer 2008 from May
onwards.
The project focuses on how music
connects with emotion, self-esteem and
identity and uses music to explore issues
such as anti-bullying and health awareness.
Groups supporting ‘singing for all’
operate in all of the six towns and
pupils who previously joined the
groups at P3 are being offered the
opportunity to continue with the
groups.
As a result, the NYCoS project
has expanded and now covers P3
– P5.
Tutors for the groups have
attended NYCoS training in the
Kodaly method and youngsters
are able to develop a firm
foundation in music skills through
singing games and performances.
Area concerts took place in
December 2007 and all of the
groups were brought together for
a concert in March 2008 at the
Brunton Hall.
As well as performing the songs,
tutors described the aims of the
project to the audience of parents
and explained the methods used
in the weekly sessions.
East Lothian remains committed
to an inclusive approach through
this project and continues to
operate the groups on the basis of
open access.
The value of the project as an
introduction to music skills has
been proven and the main aim of
2008/09 and future years is to
ensure that the largest number of
children is encouraged to take
advantage of this opportunity.
In 2008/09 all pupils from P3 – P6
inclusive will be invited to join one
of the six area singing groups.
Gaidheal
The Bridge Centre Music Bands
Scottish Opera
Following the success of the project in 2006/07, Scottish Opera
returned to East Lothian to work with pupils to devise a new
project involving music, drama, dance and visual arts.
Two months before the workshops took place Scottish Opera
provided a teacher’s support pack to each school and later
delivered sessions with the pupils to finalise their production of
a 30 minute performance.
East Lothian
Council’s Arts
Service has
established an Arts
and Education
Advisory Forum which
is chaired by the Acting
Director of Education &
Children’s Services and is
focused on reviewing the role
of the arts in relation to a
curriculum for excellence.
This project further developed the skills and confidence of the
classroom teachers involved and was very successful for pupils
in relation to the four capacities of a curriculum for excellence Membership includes Head of
– successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors Education, Head Teachers,
class teachers,
and responsible citizens.
East Lothian Wins A National Music Council
Award for 2007
“The National Music Council gave East Lothian the award for this
year’s submission that demonstrated that creative music-making
formed an integral part of East Lothian’s already well established
music services, with funding used to develop a number of inspiring
partnership projects.
170 students from five primary schools participated in a project
with Scottish Opera, with students composing and producing a
short opera based on the life and values of local conservationist
John Muir. Local composer Kenneth Dempster, working alongside
the Edinburgh String Quartet, wrote an original piece to be used as
a springboard for student compositions, with students performing
their works alongside the Quartet. Fischy Music, a group of five
professional musicians, visited 18 schools and involved 470
students in the staging of original songs on themes of identity and
self-esteem.
The projects demonstrated East Lothian’s interest in involving
students with professional music bodies and encouraging music
creation, but their commitment extends to other genres and
activities. The Electronic Music Project gave students the
opportunity to make music on computers, adding vocals and live
instrumentation and then sharing these works online; other projects
involved working on video soundtracks and making music videos.
With numbers involved in music education in the area rising, and
music services being offered to an increasing number of young
children, one can expect even greater things of East Lothian in
coming years.”
Fiona Harvey, Administrator National Music Council
Principal Teachers of subject
areas, Expressive arts
coordinators in
school, Principal Arts Officer,
Arts Education Officer,
Community Arts
Officer, community arts
groups, Community
Development Officer, Youth
Librarian, Museums Education
Officer, Instrumental Music
Co-ordinator and
Principal Teacher Primary
Music & Art Specialists.
Music has been particularly
considered through the
Advisory Group which is a
strategic group which aims to
ensure that the full potential
of the creative arts is
harnessed in relation to four
capacities of a curriculum for
excellence.
Music is proving to be
particularly valuable as a
means to encourage
successful learners,
responsible citizens, effective
contributors and confident
individuals. As well as
considering the general role
that music can play as
evidenced through research
at national level, the Advisory
Group has looked at
particular case studies and
has considered new ways to
further develop the role of
music and other art forms to
support the delivery a
curriculum for excellence in
East Lothian.
In addition to the work of the
Arts & Education Advisory
Forum, there is ongoing
support for the integration of
the music service in the
school curriculum through
the staffing infrastructure.
Primary music specialists are
operating all primary schools
in East Lothian and there is
provision for instrumental
tuition for all instruments at
secondary school level and at
least one instrument for
every primary school in the
county. This comprehensive
infrastructure ensures that
music is integrated with the
curriculum throughout East
Lothian.
Edinburgh String Quartet
Following the success of ‘The Cold Dancer’ in 2006/07,
East Lothian Council Arts Service in partnership with YMI,
continued to support five more primary schools to
participate in this project in 2007/08.
A video clip and photos from the project along with a
podcast showing a sample of the performance at Law
Primary school can be seen at www.edubuzz.org.uk/law
DISCUSSIONS
EAST
LOTHIAN
The following pages discuss some of the findings
and recommendations of the youth music mapping
exercise in East Lothian
Have we got news for you!
Find out how Youth Music
is promoted in the news
during July/August 2008
across East Lothian.
More news for you!
Find out how Youth Music
is promoted in the news
during July/August 2008
across East Lothian.
Musselburgh and North Berwick have
ran “on the fringe “ events during
August 2008 and invited local bands
and musicians to showcase their work
More news for you!
Find out how Youth Music
is promoted in the news
during July/August 2008
across East Lothian.
Key Statistics from 40 community projects who
completed an online questionnaire
Music Style
Frequency of musical sessions
10.0
20
7.5
15
5.0
10
2.5
5
0
0
Classical
Folk
World
Electronic
Musical Theatre
Therapeutic
Frequency
Weekly
One off course
Number of Projects
Seasonal
Jazz
Rock and Pop
Traditional
Choir
Nursery Rhymnes
Location of Community Projects
Age Range for Musical Activity
5%
16%
26%
40
11%
11%
11% 8%
13%
20
30
Can equipment be borrowed?
34%
10
0
Musselburgh
Outside East Lothian
Aberlady
Haddington
Tranent
Prestonpans
Dunbar
Gullane
Age Range
0-4
12-15
5-11
15-25
Would you like to be a member of Youth Music Forum?
15.00
Yes
11.25
No
7.50
Maybe
Already a member
3.75
0
66%
Yes (with conditions)
No
Interestingly no projects
appear to run musical activities
targeted specifically at one
gender group. However a
number of projects identified
the desire to use music as a
way to inspire young
disengaged males or wanted to
empower more girls to
become solo musicians or
form bands.
Key Statistics from 28 nursery, primary,
secondary schools who completed an online
questionnaire.
Music Style
Is this an extra curriculum activity?
15.00
Yes
No
11.25
7.50
48%
3.75
0
52%
Genre
Classical
Rock and Pop
Traditional
Choir
Music Therapy
Jazz
World
Electronic
Musical Theatre
Childrens Music
Age range for musical activities
21% 15%
Frequency of music activities
23%
30.0
22.5
15.0
40%
0-4
12-15
7.5
0
Would you like to be a member of the youth forum
Frequency
Daily
Monthly
Annually
Weekly
Bi Monthly
One off session
30.0
Yes
No
7%
31% 41%
Yes
21%
No
Maybe
Already a member
Can Equipment be borrowed?
Equipment to borrow
5-11
16-25
22.5
15.0
7.5
0
Qualifications or Fun
Will the music activity provide a qualification or is it
just for fun?
21 Just for fun
6 Both fun and a qualification
Findings
cited as an issue for some projects,
with outdoor ambient noise
occasionally disturbing rehearsals and
performances.
The research undertaken to map existing
youth music projects across East Lothian
has also highlighted gaps in provision and
barriers to delivering a quality service.
Increased demand to access recording
space and equipment suitable for
making high quality demos.
We have highlighted the main points which
have been identified across both school
and community provision:
Community
Some projects identified that there are
waiting lists to participate in some
youth music initiatives and this tends to
discourage a number of young people
from following up on their initial
interest in music.
Other community youth music projects
expressed challenges in managing to
recruit enough participants. Last minute
cancellations can be expensive and
waste resources and can lead to
decreased motivation from tutors to
organise new youth music initiatives.
Sustained long term funding for youth
music initiatives continues to present
the greatest difficulties to projects.
Many projects charge only a nominal
fee for participation, averaging £2.50 a
session for instrumental tuition.
However the rising costs for renting,
equipping and insuring young music
venues for training and performances is
now becoming prohibitive for many
projects. To subsidise the service,
projects are relying on hours of unpaid
volunteering contributions and often
managing on limited instrumental
equipment.
Organising comprehensive publicity and
advertising events is challenging for
projects. Design and printing is
expensive and there are limited online
opportunities to promote young music
events to large audiences both within
and outside East Lothian.
There is concern about lack of suitable
venues; adequate soundproofing was
Despite the introduction of online
music and video websites such as
utube, myspace and bebo - few local
musicians have profile on the internet.
The introduction of Young Scot Travel
Discount Card has helped youth
people to access cheaper travel, limited
transport links across East Lothian still
can make it difficult for young people
to access projects and services. There
was also a safety concern for young
people who accessed afterschool music
projects which required them to “ hang
around” to wait for start times or
access suitable transport links across
the county.
After school clubs and youth projects,
tend to focus on pop, rock and musical
theatre. There is not the same diversity
in musical genre or instruction offered
out with School.
There are limited opportunities for
young people to perform at a higher
level in regional or national youth
music competitions.
Professional musical qualifications are
more available to school pupils than
young adults in the community.
Projects have expressed concerns
about sharing musical resources due to
previous bad experiences of equipment
being returned damaged.
Paid Music Specialists and Instructors
are required in community projects and
youth centres to provide a greater
variety of professional musical
instruction out of school hours and
take some of the pressure off musical
volunteers.
Schools
Through YMI money ELC
fund a number of traditional
and Scottish music activities
in formal education but
demand continues to rise
especially in the informal
community sector and there
are concerns regarding
equality of provision and
sustainability of these
services.
Restricted funding has
limited the availability of
musical instruments and
teaching and learning
resources.
Demand for musical
specialist and instrumental
tuition opportunities
exceeds provision.
The McCrone Agreement
has had a negative impact of
time allocated to Primary
Music Specialist Provision.
Whilst East Lothian primary
3-6 benefit from a youth
choir, this provision does not
continue for older children
and there is no regional
Youth Orchestra and Youth
Choir. To find opportunities
to play orchestral music of a
high standard young people
may travel to Edinburgh and
access the National Youth
Orchestra and National
Youth Choir, of Scotland but
this can be expensive and
prohibitive for many parents.
Youth Music Wish List
There has been a huge improvement in
the development and delivery of youth
music activities and opportunities
across East Lothian in recent years, in
line with The Scottish Arts Council's
National Youth Music Strategy.
The formation of an East Lothian
Orchestra.
A number of new projects have been
developed in response to previously
identified gaps; these include,
Continued investment into scottish
traditional musical instruction and
song writing.
A project to promote music
provision at nursery level with
emphasis on developing skills and
confidence of nursery teachers and
nursery nurses throughout East
Lothian.
A guitar project which has equipped
music specialists with 18 guitars,
training and teaching materials.
A vocal instruction project which is
supported by the Youth Music
Initiative at secondary school level, a
part time instructor is now
employed to teach singing for half a
day in each of the 6 secondary
schools.
A number of existing, successful
projects have also developed their
services and continue to provide
excellent opportunities, including Y
Bands, Fischy music, Bridge Centre
Music Project, Feisean nan Gaidheal and
the East Lothian Pipes and Drums Trust.
These projects demonstrate the huge
diversity of music activities available
across East Lothian, provide
opportunities to improve standards of
music making activity, showcase new
music leaders and provides a strong
base from which to expand
opportunities.
Throughout the research, participants
suggested various ideas which would be
on their 'wish list', these include;
Participants Wish List
More financial and strategic support
to develop youth music in the
community to a level similar to that
provided in primary and secondary
schools.
The formation of an East Lothian
County Concert Band, Jazz Band and
Choir.
Increased funding and employment
of Music Specialists/Instructors in
Community Projects and Youth
Centres to help raise the access and
variety of musical opportunities for
post school aged children.
More joint funding bids to create
stronger bids.
Working across the youth, music,
education, community and learning
sectors encouraging a partnership
approach to workforce
development, resource sharing,
sharing expertise and creating access
to more youth music opportunities.
Clear pathway for talented young
people to advance music making and
excel.
Explore partnership opportunities
and progression route for East
Lothian young people at Queen
Margaret University and Jewel & Esk
Valley College.
Clear pathways for how to access
music instructors in different
geographical areas in East Lothian
and for different age groups.
A greater opportunity for emerging
bands to reach and preform at a
professional gigging level.
Increase the number of class music
specialists in primary schools and
music instructors in secondary
schools.
Increased opportunities for early
years (0-5) to participate in music
activities to help the development of
a child’s physical, emotional and
psychological well-being.
Increase the opportunity for singing
classes across the community to
bring young people together in an
inexpensive fun activity.
Provide increased music activities for
young people and children deemed
to be at risk of disengaging from
school and their community.
Increased opportunities for music
therapy.
An online library of ensemble music
similar to the one developed in West
Lothian.
Increased support for disadvantaged
pupils to participate in organised
music activities and access musical
equipment.
Increased youth music competitions
and opportunities to perform at
regional and national level.
More opportunities for East Lothian
musical prodigies to return to the
county, act as role models and
inspire others young musicians.
Access to quality recording studios
across the county and cheaper youth
friendly musical venues.
A centrally held resource of musical
instruments, equipment and
resources available on loan
accompanied by a competent
technician.
Opportunities for young people to
go through music apprenticeships
including understanding of lighting
and sound.
Set up a annually reviewed online
registration form for private music
tutors to promote their services
across East Lothian. Look at
opportunities to safe guard the
protection on young people
accessing the services they provide.
North Berwick Big Event
Wish List Continued
Review of ticket prices to Youth Music events.
With local events such as “Battle of the Bands” and TV shows such as X Factor
and Last Choir Standing, there is increasing interest in similar youth music
talent shows.
Local clusters of of expertise in each geographical area of East Lothian
providing access, knowledge and resources in a variety of musical instruction.
Practical CPD training for staff supporting youth music initiative on how to
operate and maintain a variety of recording and sound equipment currently
available in the community.
Conduct a publicity campaign to encourage private venues to host youth music
events. This may provide opportunities to challenge negative preconceptions
associated with the quality and diversity of youth music and the behaviour of
young people's participation in music events..
Support community organisations to obtain accreditation for music activities.
In addition to these suggestions,
effective communication is vital to
the ongoing success of youth music
activities in East Lothian.
There are a number of ways
communication could be improved;
A paper and or electronic Youth
Music newsletter would allow
easier distribution and may
improve advertising and publicity.
The publicity should provide
basic information on what’s
happening, how to access the
services and reviews. This should
include youth writers and the
readership should be focused at
young people rather than
practitioners.
Create an electronic directory of
youth music providers, venues
and private tutors.
Continue to profile youth music
in local press such as East
Lothian Courier, East Lothian
News and East Lothian Arts
News.
Increased membership to East
Lothian Youth Music Forum to
help strategically guide the
development of Youth Music in
East Lothian. This should include
representatives from formal and
informal instruction and a
mixture of private, public,
community and voluntary. The
essential element currently
missing from the forum is youth
representatives.
A dedicated Youth Music website
may also improve communication
and offer a dedicated space for
advertising youth music
performances and training; dates
for the diary; useful documents
e.g Guide to Practice; encourage
social networking of young
musicians; leave links to
resources for pupils; showcase
local bands; give information on
competitions; canvass youth
opinions and views; sell musical
equipment; access a register of
private music tutors; find out
about youth music projects;
upload music sheets; and provide
an area for storing and
downloading music including
MP3s, podcasts of band
interviews and videos of pupils
playing.
Encourage more linkage to
existing online youth music
websites and blogs (learning log)
both in East Lothian, and
international such as Lothian's
eduBuzz site, project websites
and social networking sites such
as PopNet, Bebo, Utube and
Myspace.
Continue consultation with
young people about their musical
preferences.
Improved information for young
people about how to travel to
youth music activities safely and
cost effectively.
Conduct research to profile
children and young people
engaging with youth music in East
Lothian and use the information
gathered to guide future strategic
development.
Establish the short/long term
impact of young people engaging
in youth music initiatives in East
Lothian by carrying out a
longitudinal study of individual
progress.
The Strategic vision and key
principles of the National Youth
Music Strategy state that all
Children and Young People in
Scotland should;
In
Conclusion
There are a number of
'recommendations' which have
been highlighted which would
strengthen youth music provision
across East Lothian.
Experience music making
Have their musical preferences
respected and supported
Have access to high quality
musical resources, both
physical and human
Continue to develop their
music making to whatever
level they aspire
We would encourage East
Lothian Youth Music Forum to
develop a long term strategic plan
for Youth Music in East Lothian
that maps our clear pathways of
access, provision and progression
and provides equality and variety
of service across the informal and
formal sectors.
This report and mapping exercise
has clearly demonstrated that
East Lothian is succeeding in
achieving these principles and is
committed to improving services
where required.
It is important that success in this
area continues to be celebrated
and publicised which may help to
secure funding and ensure a
positive future for youth music in
East Lothian.
The report was commissioned by East Lothian Youth Music
Forum. Many thanks to the ELYMF for providing guidance and
useful information; The Bridges Project for organising a Youth
Music Focus Group; and to our two young researchers, Hannah
Kelly and Fraser Fulton.
We welcome any feedback on the content and accessibility of
the report sheena@sheerface.co.uk
Research and report conducted of Sheena Hales, Sue Gordon
and Lynne Atkinson of Sheerface Learning.
Sheerface is a leading consultancy providing dynamic and
innovative solutions to improve education across Scotland and
to inspire life long learning in young people and adults through
the use of technology. We carry out training, develop resources,
conduct resource and provide support.
A: Sheerface Learning, 1a West Port, Dunbar, EH42 1BT
T: 01368 860915
E: info@sheerface.co.uk
W: www.sheerface.co.uk