‘Making it Work’- a series of films sharing practice, reflections and experience of Musical Inclusion from Teesside.
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We are really glad be able to share ‘Making it Work’-, a series of films sharing practice, reflections and experience of Musical Inclusion from Teesside.
In 1855 Gladstone said of Middlesbrough ‘This remarkable place is an infant, but an infant Hercules’. We hope we can say the same of musinc. We are new to this, starting in Autumn 2012, but are beginning to see the incredible impact that Musical Inclusion can have on the lives of young people living in the most challenging circumstances. At the start we set ourselves a question: ‘How do we ensure equity and quality in terms of the musical engagement of children and young people living in challenging circumstances?’ and have been working with our partners to try to find the anwer.
We’ll keep on asking the question, and teasing out what it is that makes Musical Inclusion work. In these films, musicians, youth workers and young people share some of the answers they have found .
The films have been made for us by Laura Degnan, a Teesside based documentary film maker. They cover a wide range of groups and approaches: song writing with young offendors, integrating music into the curricululum of a pupil referral unit, raising the confidence and self esteem of young carers, addressing rural isolation, and much more. In total there are 10 films, made between January and August 2014. We hope to add to this bank of resources as musinc develops.
The films introduce us to the people and groups involved before setting out the project goals and intentions. They show and explore the journey the group has gone on, with its challenges, highs and lows, positive and negatives. Finally they create a resolution, outlining what has been learned and how the people involved have changed and developed as a result of their experiences.
The medium of film gives voice to musicians, youth workers and, most importantly, the young people themselves. They are speaking directly to you – please listen to what they have to say.
Teesside may seem a long way away. We are on the edge of the North East, distant from Newcastle, York, anywhere that might seem like a cultural centre. It’s an area with a history of hard graft and a present of unemployment, food banks and benefit cuts. But the spirit that built the bridges of the world is still here, and shines out through these films.
Kathryn Deane, Director of Sound Sense, launched ‘Making it Work at Middlesbrough My Place on 27 October, asking us all to reflect on ‘why we do what we do, in the way that we do it’.. The films will be shared through the Youth Music Network over the coming weeks. Today we want to give you a sense of what these can offer you. Laura has created a short compilation film showing aspects of practice from all 10 projects involved in the process. So to get a taste of ‘Making it work’, click here
Gwyneth Lamb
Laura Degnan