The myriad rhythms of life.....

Here's a scenario for you...I'm in my mid-teens and a random visiting musician comes to my school, presents a range of instruments to us (guitars, ukelele's, keyboards, percussion instruments etc...) asks us to pick them up and 'have a go'.... and then on top of all of that he tries to get us all singing, loudly, in front of each other......!! Now, thinking back to my young teenage self, I may have panicked a little, kept my head down hoping no one would see me, whilst desperately longing for this nightmare to end.....!

Here's a scenario for you...I'm in my mid-teens and a random visiting musician comes to my school, presents a range of instruments to us (guitars, ukelele's, keyboards, percussion instruments etc...) asks us to pick them up and 'have a go'.... and then on top of all of that he tries to get us all singing, loudly, in front of each other......!! Now, thinking back to my young teenage self, I may have panicked a little, kept my head down hoping no one would see me, whilst desperately longing for this nightmare to end.....!

I try to keep this in mind every time I run a musical workshop - whether it be with a large group, a fairly small group, or a one to one session. It can be quite overwhelming, perhaps a little intimidating, and on a positive note quite a wonderful experience for young people to have the opportunity to explore music in this way. However the experience finds them, I believe as practitioners we must be constantly mindful of our approach, our response, and our engagement with young people. If we relate well to them, show them respect, patience and understanding, then perhaps they will be more likely to engage and gain something positive from the session.

On many occasions I am that seemingly 'random musician' visiting schools and other centres for young people/children. I am amazed to see how wonderful the young people engage, and how the otherwise timid and unsure amongst the groups begin to sing, strum, or tap a simple rhythm through the encouragement of myself and their peers. Creating an atmosphere of acceptance, encouragement, and a place where the joy of music is celebrated can work wonders in building self-esteem, allowing for positive expression, or even bringing something as simple as laughter and a smile into people's worlds. 

To summarise, I read this quote today which I believe explains all of the above far better than I can...

"Music is one way for people to connect with themselves, but it is also a bridge for connecting with others. Through music, we can introduce children to the richness and diversity of the human family and to the myriad rhythms of life" (Daniel A. Carp)