Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Music Making Project
Our new music making project is for 16-25 year olds with learning difficulties in and around the Epping Forest District. We were very excited when starting things off with the aim to take our participants through a journey of developing voice and instrument skills, understanding the components of songs and building confidence along the way. We began the first stages of delivery in October 2017 with a range of taster sessions
Working in partnership with Epping Forest College, Oak View School, Loughton Youth Project and local PHABs, the project has delivered 11 taster sessions to over 100 potential music makers. These sessions offered the opportunity to try singing, drums and percussion, guitar and bass and keyboards. These have been received very well and we are delighted to have signed up close to 30 young musicians who wish to join the project and agree that there “ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough” to stop them making music.
After receiving such a fantastic response, we have spent some time planning and scheduling the sessions we need to deliver. The whole thing ignites tomorrow, Weds 9th January 2018.
We have some wonderfully supportive partners in Epping Forest College and Loughton Youth Project and two excellent volunteers working with the small team of project staff. We are all very excited about delivering our programme of sessions and I will be back here to update you on our young music makers’ progress.
It sounds obvious but this type of project only flourishes with the full support of organisations with which you seek to partner. I would advise any project leaders to factor this in when developing project ideas, devote time to building productive relationships and make things as simple and hassle-free for staff. Remember that what to us is the most important thing in the world may be just one of many demands upon their attention. If your proposal and project delivery is as self-contained as possible, it is far more likely to be well received by those whose support we rely upon.