Soundbites and Homesounds, a collaboration with MAP and RME. The project so far.

MAP (Mancroft Advice Project) have been working in partnership with RMW (Recast Music Education) since January 2018 on their second youth music funded project.   This two-stranded project works with young people in the “Coldspot” of NR5, one of Norwich’s most deprived areas.

The first strand of the project is called Soundbites, where weekly afterschool drop in sessions offer young people the chance to try out and improve their skills with different musical instruments and music technology with support on hand from youth workers and music tutors.  Attendees are also offered the opportunity to attend local gigs, radio stations, recording studios and further music education providers.

Since the start of the project, a meet and greet with the rapper, poet and writer, Akala was well received by the young people involved in the project. Akala discussed aspects of the music industry and the creative process, and answered questions in a lively Q&A which the young people found inspiring and enjoyable.  Other gigs have followed this event with local musicians and performers, all of which have given the young people increased access to and knowledge of the music industry. Most recently, a gig was specially performed for Soundbties attendees by Level 3 music students from local college CCN which was thoroughly enjoyed by performers and audience alike.  The performers were only a few years older than the audience and this helped to make an education (and career) in music seem suddenly accessible and achievable, and the content of the original songs was relevant and meaningful.

The second strand of the project is called Homesounds, and the weekly sessions aim to improve young people’s wellbeing through their engagement with natural environments and the sounds that can be heard.  Through different field recording activities and soundwalks, young people can practise mindfully focussing on sound, learn how to use recording equipment and editing software, and access local natural environments and areas of flora and fauna. 

Since the project began, a number of trips have been arranged to local parks, wildlife reserves, woodland and marshland as well as to the local busy city centre. The most recent of these was a visit to Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes, where young people spent time recording the prolific and active birdlife from the peaceful bird hides. After lunch and a hot drink to warm up, the group took to the beach to record the various sounds of the seaside, including the waves, the splash of stones thrown in, seagulls, sliding shingle and the surprised (and some less surprised) squeals of feet getting wet.  The regular attenders of this project have developed an increased ability to focus, and have welcomed the chance to relax and practise mindful listening without attending to the multiple stimuli so present in their everyday lives.