Raw Sounds Music Producer
Job description
About Raw Sounds:
Raw Sounds is a programme of music and creative media sessions for people with mental health needs, open to young people between the ages of 16-30 accessing mental health services. Participants are able to work with experienced and skillful musicians to create original, professional music and short films.Sessions take place in our community music studios in Brixton, which houses two recording studios, a band rehearsal space, a production space and DJ booth spread over three floors. Participants attend weekly sessions for 10 weeks per term to create an original track or series of tracks, culminating in a PA performance at the end of term gig at a commercial venue. We run three terms per year, and once referred participants are able to come for as long as they are so inclined. Committed members are encouraged to progress into our artists development programme and work towards an Arts Award qualification.Up to 20 participants attend each two-hour session per week, spread across each music making area, meeting for a group intro and feedback session. Staff meet before and after each session for briefings and feedback led by the programme managers.
Role Description:
We are recruiting an experienced music producer with a background in youth work to deliver studio sessions to our group of 16-30 year olds with mental health needs. Some of these young people have a high level of support need – some are currently living on hospital wards, and may have low levels of literacy skills or learning difficulties. The producer will work with a group of up to five young people, encouraging them to collaborate on a track, showing them how to structure lyrics, creating a beat in response to their ideas, recording the tunes and preparing them for the end of term gig. An important aspect to this role is setting boundaries and ensuring the safety and comfort of all the participants, including monitoring lyrics to ensure they are appropriate.
This work takes place on Thursday evenings from 5-8pm, 36 weeks per year. We are looking for someone who is able to commit to a year contract starting 19th January 2016, with a probationary review after 12 weeks. Consistency is extremely important to our participants, so we expect the candidate to be reliable, organized and professional. Work in this environment is intense, and the right candidate will have the ability to maintain clear boundaries, have a lot of experience with working with young people in challenging circumstances, and the ability to multitask under pressure.
In addition to this role, there is an opportunity for the candidate to work additional hours 1:1 with participants to deliver Arts Award over a series of consecutive weeks on a Monday or Friday at a time convenient to both participant and producer, overseen by the programme manager.
Raw Sounds staff are supported and line managed by the programme managers, who oversee all aspects of the programme and support staff in areas of development and provide training in working with our client group. They act as the point of contact between mental health services and delivery staff, to ensure any concerns around participants’ mental state are reported and all participants are able to operate in a safe and stable environment.
Specific duties
- Work with young people with moderate to high mental health needs to produce and record music in our studios.
- Support young people with a high level of need to write lyrics and construct music independently.
- Work within a team of seven freelancers to ensure high quality music sessions for groups of up to 20 young people per week.
- Feedback on participants’ progress, development and support needs to the Raw Sounds Programme Managers.
- Support young people to set goals and work towards a plan as regards their musical development.
- Ensure the safety and wellbeing of all participants, feeding back concerns quickly to programme managers
- Make sure each young person attending a session feels included and supported to work towards a piece of music at their own pace during the term.
- Support young people’s wellbeing by building skills in confidence, resilience, agency and self-esteem.
- Manage the studio during sessions and ensure equipment is in good working condition, reporting back any faults to the Tech Manager.
Essential requirements
- Excellent skills using Logic software package and plug ins and recording studio gear.
- Ability to produce music in a wide variety of styles – grime, trap and hip hop in particular – quickly, and in collaboration with young people.
- 2 years experience in youth work and relevant training.
- Extensive experience working with young people with a range of complex needs.
- Thorough understanding of Safeguarding, Child Protection and Vulnerable Adults polices and best practices.
- An up-to-date enhanced DBS.
- Excellent organisational and communications skills.
Desirable
- Trained as an Arts Award Advisor to Gold Level
- Experience of delivering Arts Award to young people facing challenging circumstances
- Experience of supporting young people with mental health needs.
Hours and rate of pay
The post requires 2 hours per week of contact time with clients and 1 hour per week of admin 36 weeks per year.
Hours per week: 3 Rate of pay: £20 per hour £60 per week x 36 weeks Salary: £2,160
Additional sessions delivering Arts Award are paid at the same rate.
How to apply
Please send a CV and covering letter to info@raw-material.org by 4th January 2017. Selected applicants will be invited to interview on the 6th January 2017.
Applications are particularly welcome from those with lived experience of mental ill health