Musical interventions: a youth workers perspective
I’m pleased to introduce Sam Minton our very own Targeted Youth Support Worker. Sam works alongside our Lead Musician and Co-delivery Musicians at Switch It. If you don’t know the project, Switch It is a musical intervention for vulnerable young people from Hartlepool in the North East of England. The programme supports young people’s social and emotional development through targeted musical activities.
Sam has worked on many projects over the last thirteen years this includes centre based, detached and mobile youth work. Sam also provides information, advice and guidance for young people at the Hartlepool Youth Service One Stop Shop.
So what is a “Targeted Youth Support Worker”? What do they do?
A Targeted Youth Support Worker is someone who engages with young people who have been identified by other professionals as lacking social skills, confidence or self-esteem, they may have mental health issues or be at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training) or need support because of a family bereavement.
Sam says her role at Switch it is “to build up a relationship with young people, to listen to them and provide information and guidance when they need it, to encourage young people to participate in the planned activities, and encourage young people to have a voice and take ownership.”
How does it feel to work on a music project when you don’t have a musical background?
Sam says “Working on the Switch It project with no musical background, I found I was able to participate with a tambourine, this way I could join in activities which helped to engage young people. I couldn’t let my lack of musical experience be a barrier, it’s about young people’s development and how they progress and develop through music – not you!”
So how do you support a music leader during sessions when you aren’t a trained musician?
Sam encourages and supports young people during moments when they are struggling with a particular musical task or engaging in group activity. The focus in this approach is not necessarily about the musical aspects but about supporting the young person to overcome barriers such as low confidence, depression or anxiety. Sam might use coping strategies and destressing techniques helping young people to re-engage with their learning. Sam also supports the music leaders in keeping young people focussed during group activity by addressing any inappropriate or distracting behaviour, keeping a healthy balance between having fun and concentrating on the task at hand. Developing social skills through collective music making is the aim and team delivery is the way to get there!
Another approach for youth workers with little or no musical experience is to simply have a go. This is especially effective when working with young people at the beginning of their musical journey; sharing their learning experience with them can be a powerful approach. For example Sam worked with a young person with depression and very low self-esteem, they learned simple melody patterns for the keyboard and then took turns practicing and playing together. During this process Sam helped the young musician to maintain focus and build confidence in her own abilities. When it came to playing along with the other young musicians Sam played in tandem with the young person until she felt confident to “go it alone”. With Sam providing this support the music leaders could direct the group as a whole.
How is working on a music project like Switch It different to working in open access youth provision?
Both approaches are about voluntary participation – young people choose to come, the big difference is how young people access the services; with open provision young people just walk in to the youthy, through word of mouth, posters or because the lights are on, with Switch It young people are referred into the project through Early Help services or other organisations, these young people have a specific need.
Sam says “The referral process means that you have information of the young person before you meet them, you have an idea of their musical interests and more importantly their needs and issues they are facing so you “hit the ground running”. In open provision you are often “going in blind”, you may not know anything about the young people walking in so you need to engage young people in conversation, build a relationship to learn their interests and needs… it can take time to find out important information about issues that these young people may have, at Switch It that info is there from the get-go, the whole process is accelerated so young people can make progress and develop more quickly.”
What skills have you developed whilst working on Switch It?
“I’ve started to develop some musical skills of my own, I’ve learned to take ques from the music leaders when they are teaching simple parts for instruments like bass guitar, I can then support the young people to learn these parts. I just got a guitar of my own now, I learned C major last night - I wouldn’t have known what a major was last year!”
Has your experience on Switch It changed the way you think about music projects for young people?
“Yes, now I’ve been part of Switch It I have a better understanding of how music can support young people’s development, it has a special something that uplifts young people, they can achieve a lot very quickly. It also gives a way for young people to express themselves and be an individual while still being part of something bigger, like being part of a group.”
What advice would you give to youth workers with little or no musical experience who are going to work on a music project for the first time?
“Encourage them to “Go For It” not let their lack of musical knowledge and understanding deter them, to have an open mind, start shaking the Tambourine!”
I hope sharing Sam’s experience is useful for music leaders and youth workers alike. At Switch It we are using a multi-disciplinary approach to achieve the best results for young people. We are interested in how practitioners with different skill sets (youth workers and music leaders) work together and learn from each other. We’d be keen to hear from other projects or organisations who are working in a similar way.
Keep on grooving!
Tim Coyte Switch It Project Coordinator