Freedom Road Creative Arts - A Case Study
As part of our Music4U project, Freedom Road Creative Arts have been working with children and young people, providing them with opporutnities to develop their interest in performing rock and pop music as well as offering performance opportunities at high profile events. In this post, we hear from Ian Bolton, who leads the group and has supported Dan, who will be the focus of this case study, from the very beginning of his musical journey that has now led to a promising career in music.
Case study
Dan began attending a Pupil Referral Unit in year 7. He was deemed as a child, who’s condition (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome), would be a barrier to his education, his social development and furthermore his aspirations.
Dan was referred into FRCA by the school, who had previous knowledge of FRCA’s work and what was on offer.
FRCA is a registered charity, funded primarily by Children in Need and Youth Music and facilitated and supported by a strong experienced team of youth workers.
Initially, Dan found the large social environments a challenge for him. In the dance group he attended, he found himself around another 40+ young people and a team of new adults.
On the whole Dan responded well to instructions and integrated positively with new peers; this evident in the relationships he developed. However, Dan could at times, find the length of the sessions a challenge as his limited levels of concentration would have a negative impact on his behaviour.
However, introducing a strict structure of support for Dan, and working alongside his family, Dan began to flourish, and he began attending the music group during which developed an interest in learning to play the Cajon.
Through Youth Music funding that FRCA were in receipt of in 2014, we were able to employ professional musician Gary Hammond to teach percussion. This experience for Dan, which included not only regular music sessions, but also performances at a range of festivals including, Humber Street Sesh, Tribfest and the Freedom Festival, were vital ingredients that helped build on his interest.
In adding further cultural experiences for Dan and his peers; via a Music 4 U/Creative Voice project in 2018 and facilitated by Donna Smith, Dan was introduced to different styles of percussion which helped extend his knowledge of their origins. These experiences also gave him further skills which he could introduce to the conventional style he was used to.
Dan quickly moved on to learning the drum kit and joined a band in 2018; Walking Primrose, who received airplay on BBC Introducing as well as other local stations.
Throughout 2015-18, Dan had developed a further interest in the music tech side of the industry and was eager to learn at ever opportunity. He would be seen “hovering” over whoever was operating the PA Desk, offering to pack down after events and taking in every single piece of advice.
Dan’s enthusiasm to learning, his hardworking ethic and his ability, were noticed by a local company Africa Studios who, in the early stages, would present him with volunteering opportunities at the festivals at which FRCA were in attendance.
This quickly moved into paid work.
I asked for a testimonial for Dan and recently received this;
On first meeting Dan I was impressed, not only in that he was a very hard-working individual, but also flexible and in possession of a great work ethic with regard to initiative, punctuality and interaction with his fellow co-workers.
I have found Dan to be very organised and has always worked quickly and efficiently while unfailingly producing work of a very high standard. He is truly invested in all aspects of sound engineering and quick to pick things up both physically (there is a lot of lifting-and-shifting in the audio/visual industry), and conceptually.
Furthermore, Dan has always proven himself to be very adaptable and as such I have always been happy to take him along on a great variety of jobs – festival, town hall, theatre and corporate. As such he has become a solid satellite asset to our operation.
Dave Elf – Africa Studios
On leaving the Pupil Referral Unit in 2019, Dan embarked onto a Music Tech course at the local college; the first young person from the unit to ever make the transition from the unit to further education.
Dan has also left a legacy at the PRU, changing the school’s vision on the impact the arts can have on young people. As such the school introduced the arts as an option in their 2019/20 curriculum.
More importantly, in taking the support, guidance and encouragement, Dan has shown that despite the condition he was born with, is not a barrier to learning and a profession.
To conclude the case study, below is a quote from Dan's Mum;
“I have been asked to say something about how getting involved in music has helped Dan.
All I can say is that it really has transformed his life. Dan faced many issues and challenges as a young boy and struggled immensely with academia, school and just life in general. He couldn’t find anything he could excel at and this had an adverse effect on his behaviour and education.
However, thanks to the perseverance and encouragement from FRCA and the introduction of a variety of musical experiences and opportunities they offered, he began to take a big interest in drumming and sound engineering. In this he found something he was good at and most importantly enjoyed.
This had a wonderful and transforming effect on Dan in seeing his behaviour and confidence improve no end.
He has secured a casual job as a sound engineer with a local company who think very highly of him and is doing Performing Arts at college.
I am so, so thankful for the wide variety of opportunities given to Dan by FRCA, they have literally changed his life and has helped to give him a future he can look forward to with confidence and happiness knowing he can be a successful, valuable and productive member of society”.
We'd like to thank Ian, Dave, Dan and his Mum for taking the time to share this incredible journey and wish Dan every success in his next chapter.