by Author frogpo79

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Music as community engagement in rural communities

Princetown Youth Club is a rurally isolated Provision where music has become a feature that brings community together both within the project and the wider village. Here we look at the value of music in terms of personal, group and community development and the larger social and cultural impacts that this brings.

Princetown Youth Project Runs in a small village in Princetown on Dartmoor in Devon and largely exists and is know because of its Prison. Because of its geography and history Princetown and its Young People have struggled due this isolation where the Young People have to travel at least half an Hour to school or any large community such as local towns or cities and because of this the Young People often feel cut off from the wider modern world. One of the only social spaces for these Young People is that of the Youth Club where they can access advice and information as well as activities that interest them and it is here that our music project comes in.

Through introducing Music and Music Tutors, this has allowed the Yong People to explore, either new skills or skills they had taught themselves in a more focussed way and through this we have seen the Yung people’s confidence grow hugely. Not only in their musical skills but also generally in themselves, with partnerships and friendships developing through their music that might otherwise not have happened. Through these developing relationships we have also been able to engage the wider community of the village and contribute back to Music Projects across the country through the Youth Music Trusts give a gig week (https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/giveagig). For this week, we arranged a community gig at the local community centre with a purpose of demonstrating what the project is doing and demonstrating the talent of the Young people to the Young People’s Families and the wider community, along with engaging new Young People and making links with other community organisations both in the village and wider afield. This evening showcased a wide range of music including; singing, piano playing and our own band and really pushed young people as there were lots of nerves, however this quickly changed to broad grins and massive boosts t self-confidence once they performed. This event attracted a wide part of the community with lots of praise for the Young people as well as lots of dancing and fun as well as increased interest in this work and the opportunities it can bring.

With this success so far we are seeing what a difference Music can make to both the individuals involved as well as the wider community and how, in an isolated community such as this, how vital the feeling of connection that music can bring is to self-confidence and feelings of community.