Those Who Can Do

Working on the Concept days mixed old skills with new, the young people all seemed enthusiastic and keen to learn, their experience ranging from those with developing passions for music, though those wanting to build on school music classes, to some who had little experience at all.

Working on the Concept days mixed old skills with new, the young people all seemed enthusiastic and keen to learn, their experience ranging from those with developing passions for music, though those wanting to build on school music classes, to some who had little experience at all. Finding a place for everyone seemed a challenge, for those who had a vision of the week in mind, sometimes it proved hard to keep them working within the group, keen to produce their work, and less interested in group activities. Conversely those with little experience seemed to find the group work more accessible needing guidance to work on their own material, a greater level of input from leaders. I was interesting to see the process leaders followed in identifying barriers and finding ways to overcome these, even taking time to research at home communication techniques to include a young person with difficulties. I applied what I had observed in an attempt to engage a drummer who had no experience in synthetic instruments, using his sense of rhythm and experience in drumming to create beats first on the keyboard and then on a computer. These new skills then became part of his Arts Award portfolio. The whole experience was an unexpected eye opener. To begin with I had approached the internship believing I had all the necessary skills and experience to get the job done. I found though that I perhaps had and still have enough but not without room for more. Knowing the experience of those I worked with and seeing that they were always learning and adding to their own understanding, it seems that working with young people, whatever their circumstances, is a changing and dynamic experience that never follows a set plan. As someone who had come to the table wanting to work in a predominately technical capacity, I feel I have rediscovered the need in myself to help and educate. I now see my future in music education hoping to work with people for whom music might be the answer to whatever question they need answering.