To Rock or to Rap: that is the question

New music opportunities at Crawley Community Youth Service

Thanks to Youth Music funding, Crawley Community Youth Service is becoming known for the fantastic music opportunities it offers the young people of our town. But we are always aware of the potential to dream bigger. Having grown and nurtured several groups of musicians to play and sing rock music it was difficult to see what more could be added. Already there were professional musicians working with the young people, teaching them new techniques, song writing skills and providing performance opportunities. Already those with an interest in music but not in stage performing had been learning how to use sound desks and DJing. But another need was becoming apparent, one which was harder to meet with our existing resources. There were other young people who were harder to reach. They were interested in music, but not that kind of music. They wanted rap: the kind of music that speaks to them; the kind they can use to talk about the challenges they face. So CCYS provided a session for rap and beat making, allowing a separate evening for it. However, despite the best intentions, CCYS music practitioners are simply not experts in this genre. This is where Youth Music stepped in with the good advice that to make a rap session work you need authentic practitioners. If we try to do it ourselves, it will be false. This was the missing piece in our music puzzle. And this is where AudioActive stepped in and rescued us. AudioActive is a Brighton-based music charity which exists to bring about better futures through and for music. Their work includes developing musical talent and initiating social change. They use music to engage young people, providing exciting opportunities which, for some, have been life changing. Among others, Rag n’Bone man (now their patron) and Rizzle Kicks, began with AudioActive, benefitting from their expertise and encouragement. The authenticity of AudioActive filled our gap, forming the perfect bridge between the good intentions of youth workers and those young people who are harder to reach. They understand the world of youth culture and rap, but they also understand the need to for some kind of outcome and success. They have experience in schools, youth clubs and in the Youth Justice system and already run sessions of this nature in Brighton, Worthing and elsewhere and were looking to expand. The exciting new partnership between CCYS and AudioActive includes a music practitioner’s course, in which young people are learning to write music and will be starting their own record label. All of which means that the CCYS music groups have shifted up a gear.