Beats & Pieces Blog: Masterclass with So Percussion
Introduction East Durham Creates is one of 21 projects funded by Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places scheme. The project arose as a result of the ‘Active People’ survey with East Durham identified as the fifth lowest area nationally, with only 31% of residents engaged in the arts. The effects of social and economic decline in recent years have become apparent in a range of statistical information such as high levels of unemployment, low educational achievement and poor health when viewed against national benchmarks. 30% of East Durham Super Output Areas are in the most deprived 10% nationally. Around 13,000 people (21.4% of the working age population) claim out of work benefits and around 5,200 children in East Durham live in poverty. These statistics are sampled from sections of local strategies. East Durham Creates were granted Part A funding from Youth Music for a pilot project; Beats & Pieces. Our aim is to provide high quality music making opportunities in percussion with young people aged between 11-16 years old in East Durham. Weekly workshops will focus on using everyday objects to create an ensemble - ensuring participants aren’t restricted by social factors such as lack of family income, which often prevent participation. We aim to support young people to work as part of a team and develop their musical skills, instilling a sense of ownership and developing their confidence, self-esteem and wider aspirations. To deliver the project, we are working in partnership with Sage Gateshead, Durham & Darlington Music Hub, East Durham College, East Durham Area Action Partnership, East Durham Trust and Culture Bridge North East (CBNE). Now we are a few months into our Beats & Pieces project. Regular percussion workshops are happening in Dawdon and Blackhall community centres, developing music participation and confidence with two groups of young people. In the following blog post Finlay McDermid, our music workshop leader from the Sage Gateshead, talks about a recent Beats & Pieces opportunity. A group of young people from Blackhall were invited to their local community centre to take part in a percussion masterclass with Brooklyn-based musicians So Percussion. Read Finlay's blog to find out more...
Masterclass with So Percussion
The Masterclass with So Percussion (20th August 2016 at Blackhall Community Centre), involved the New York-based percussion ensemble working with group of 18 young people, aged 10-15. Some of the participants had participated in music previously, including having the chance to try playing instruments such as ukuleles as a class in school, or some piano lessons, but several mentioned with regret that they had not been able to continue their involvement in music, mentioning financial restriction and lack of opportunities. They were intrigued by this opportunity, as well as being drawn by the free lunch to welcome them!
So Percussion began by performing a selection of pieces using minimal means, including Steve Reich’s Clapping Music and Music for Pieces of Wood and John Cage’s Once Upon a Time. Pertinent questions and perceptive comments sparked some dialogue following each piece and participants later commented that they had found this performance interesting and inspiring, quite unlike anything they had heard before. It was also clear from the feedback that the participants respected the professional skills of So Percussion, that they were ‘real musicians’. This is perhaps a useful reminder of the importance of sustaining an ongoing artistic practice, for those of us whose work is mainly facilitating projects.
The second part of the Masterclass involved dividing into two groups, each led by two So Percussion members, developing a short piece of music using different aspects of the pieces that had just been performed. The participants were able to incorporate rhythms, vocal and instrumental techniques and ways of combining and arranging parts to produce original music, which they performed to each other, friends and family at the end of the session. As well as enjoying an opportunity to make music in a joyful and accessible way, participants commented that they had appreciated the time taken to explain the pieces that So Percussion performed initially, so that they could comprehend and use these ideas creatively.
The spark of inspiration was still evident in the first of the regular sessions, where we will work through the autumn with youth groups in two areas of East Durham to develop music ensembles using minimal means. The participants who had taken part in the Masterclass recalled with enthusiasm the rhythms and words of the John Cage piece and were able to relate this to other musical ideas that they brought together into another group musical creation full of atmosphere and creative flow.
Contact Details
East Durham Creates, Community House, Yoden Road, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 5DP
stayintouch@eastdurhamcreates.co.uk
0191 518 5073
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