Re-Engage: Hastings music workshops

Music to ease post-lockdown transitions

METHODOLOGY

The project was devised in collaboration with teachers from four schools in Hastings and Bexhill – The Hastings, Ark Alexandra and St Leonards Academies and St Richard’s Catholic College.  School staff selected students to take part based on their personal circumstances, their interest in music and some disadvantage targeting measures such as receiving free school meals or being a looked-after child.

Each school then held two 90-minute workshops, with around 16 students attending each session during which they were encouraged to compose their own tunes, improvise, create rhythms and sing. At the end of each session, students handed in feedback forms, recording how much they enjoyed the workshops as well as what they had learned.

IMPACT

Around 94 per cent of students said they enjoyed the workshops, with the only negative comments being around having to perform. Feedback included:

Facilitator: ”We had a particularly powerful experience with a looked-after child in one school. After initially being very reluctant to join in, in the break in the middle of the session, he went to the piano and started to play Ode to Joy. I played along with him and he started to smile and became a completely different character in the second half of the session. The music teacher told us afterwards that this was the first time in two years that he had seen the child smile.”

Student: “It was a fantastic time and such a massive help in boosting my confidence and teaching me how to improve my musical skills and song writing. Once again, thank you so much and keep doing what you're doing because it really helps people my age to step out of their comfort zone.” 

Teacher: “It was incredible to see these terrified, anxious pupils (lockdown being the main culprit) offering ideas in the safe space that Matt and Tom created. I can’t wait for our bubbly Year 9 music cohort to enjoy the wonders of the 'cello man'... that’s what the pupils called him!

KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The workshops had a very powerful positive impact on the students’ confidence and musical skills. The negative responses around being made to perform indicated the need for continued activities to increase confidence and self-assurance.

To make these interventions into a sustained, progressive programme, the same students will be invited take part in further activities including a trip to the Royal College of Music, Glyndebourne and the University of Brighton for a taster session from the BA (Hons) Digital Music and Sound course. This extension to the project will be partly funded by the Hastings Opportunity Area fund.

It’s been recommended that this programme be offered on an annual basis to students in Y10 to promote their wellbeing, mental health, confidence and an interest in music.

TALKING POINTS

• How do we develop more projects that are matched to schools’ subject-specific needs and tap into the considerable resources that organisations like SLN:Uni Connect and the Hastings International Piano Competition have?
•  How do we continue to highlight the need to carry on teaching music in schools and the many benefits it brings?

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