Supporting Young People's Creative Expression by Ethan Mugglestone (Emerging Music Leader on Creative Coalition Project)
Throughout the last year, I have been working as an emerging music leader for the SongLab. I have had some previous teaching experience but not much in the area of music. I am still an aspiring Musician/songwriter myself, so this project has benefited me in more ways than one.I have learnt from young people and also from my colleagues and that is what this project is all about.
How have I as an emerging music leader helped the young people express themselves through songwriting?
The first few sessions involved just getting to know the students and helping them become confident and comfortable in these sessions. It’s important for them to know that it’s not like school, despite it still being a professionally run session, it’s good for them to know and feel that it is also somewhere that they can enjoy learning and actually improve their craft at the same time. If we as music leaders create that environment that’s where I believe the best results will come from. I think in order for students to really express themselves through songwriting, our job as music leader is to encourage them to let them do it by themselves, advise and help where needed but the best songs come from allowing the participants to create their own ideas for a song. I take this from my own experiences as a writer, I write best when I can just express myself with no brief or guidance with some input when needed from others. I think as you grow/improve as a songwriter that’s when the art of collaboration is vital but at this stage the key is to let the participants enjoy and express themselves without holding them back. Throughout the sessions I was taking on the leader role, I adapted my style slightly and set different tasks around songwriting and allowing the young people to go off and try and write a song/build on previous ideas. This allowed me to work with the young people in smaller groups or individually and really spend some time on each of their songs. As well as feedback from myself and the other music leaders, the most important type of feedback in my opinion is peer feedback. I encouraged the young people to play in front of their peers and for their peers to give constructive feedback. These sessions really benefitted both the young people and me, I hope that they feel they gained more insight into songwriting, as well as helping me improve and learn as a music leader.
My professional progress as an emerging leader and what I have learnt so far
Despite being in a family in which my mum was a teacher and I have been involved and helped out at schools for a while now, having the responsibility of leading some of the sessions is something you are not truly ever prepared for until you’re there doing it. I am still learning a lot about being a music leader, but this project is really helping me craft my skill as an emerging music leader. This project has really been about me learning how to be a music leader and the skills that I’ve learnt so far are going to equip me when going into the music industry for teaching. It is an opportunity that I feel massively privileged to have been given so early in my music and career and with limited experience as I am still learning myself. Last of all, I have noticed how quickly I have adapted and already learnt so much as a music leader, I’m sure as I continue being engaged with community music this will also continue.