Team Reflections

Before lockdown we were running a project called Beat Loop in Cumbria.  Using iPads, Live Loops, Keyboards, Boom Dang drums and a mobile recording studio, we were delivering music sessions to Looked After Children.

Working in partnership with Sedbergh Drive, (part of Children’s Services) we were delivering weekly music sessions at Sedbergh Drive Respite Centre in Kendal, were working county wide at residential homes and continuing to build a workforce by delivering our Advanced Traineeship that is specific to working with Looked After Children.

Before lockdown, we had delivered 6 months of the project.  We have now devised a new session that can be run online.

This seemed like a really good time to hear from the wonderfully talented team, Will, Kane, Damo and Phill.

“I have really enjoyed taking part in the workshops with the support of T and Phill.  Their support has enabled me to lead different aspects of the workshops and to think of new activities for me to develop and eventually run in the future.

The workshops have improved my confidence when talking to new people and when it comes to leading activities, such as how to judge a group and to know what activities will work best.  All the groups that have taken part have been full of energy and show a willing to do more and more each week, which highlights that they enjoy us coming to run the sessions”

Will Hird, Advanced Trainee

“Being part of this project has been an incredible experience so far.  It has given me a much greater understanding of the young people we work with and how sessions like these can have such a positive impact.  One of the more rewarding aspects of this project is admiring the noticeable progress made by the participants (also evident by the Bronze Arts Award) and how they develop their skills whilst also enjoying themselves.  The environment produced by this project is also extremely comfortable and welcoming by musicians T and Phill as well as the other Advanced Trainees and I feel very privileged to be part of this amazing project.”

Kane Harper, Advanced Trainee

“I have only done a few sessions back in the world of workshops, so I had to get myself reacclimatized.

First session back and boom instantly fell into place in the group and loved every minute, such a relaxed group of people to work with. I was worried about my content so began to bounce around ideas with the team in order to have every single person in the group engaged – this put me at ease about idea sharing.

So, when it came around to my first session called “Damoland” I was nervous but had a plan to get some quality recoded content.

I was doing my “recording studio 101” session,  So, it’s basic recording on Logic.  I was recording bass guitar.  B (participant), who was being recorded, was just amazing and picked it up like a duck to water.  Kane was sat close and I loved how encouraging he was throughout just chipping in when needed, saying how awesome B's playing was and it really was! He was flying round the fretboard in a matter of minutes, seven to be exact.

I was so glad to get a bass line recorded even with the smells of food wafting through (the Keyworkers at the home were cooking brunch for the young people to eat after we left).  It smelt amazing!  B could easily have said “look my tum is rumbling and I’m off for food” but he stuck with us till the end.

After my little piece of the session was done, I spoke to Phill and T about how things could be improved, and we came up the next phase and where to take “recording Studio 101”

I edited down B's bass and recorded a track built all around his bass. I just wanted him to hear a demo of what can be done with different instruments.”

Damo Rose, Advanced Trainee

“The project evolves every year and to bring in the extra Advanced Trainees this year and have a new energy in the company, has been brilliant.

The work at Hawthwaite (residential home for young people) has been complex and challenging and very much led by the participants and I have really enjoyed being part of a team to make that work to its fullest.  To not go in with steadfast ideas but to learn from feedback and to create new music with a friendly household.

It was great that following the feedback from the home, we were able to offer so many more sessions and to show our partners (Managers and Key-Workers) in this that, they are important and heard too.”

Phill Gregg, Senior Project Leader