by Author Steph Dickinson

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Reflections on Music Making in Pupil Referral Units

This year as part of our funding from the Youth Music Elevated Risk Module we’ve been delivering our ‘Starting in the Music Industry’ Course in Pupil Referral Unit’s (PRU’s) across Kent. The idea is that the course equips the young people with knowledge, hands on experience and an Open College Network accreditation. We’ve designed the course to be highly interactive and enjoyable for young people in the most Challenging Circumstances.

Below are some reflections from one of our music leaders who has worked on this project over the last year. He got involved with Pie Factory Music by doing a similar course in 2009. He is now one of our regular music leaders...

Expectations One of the most enjoyable workshops for me this year has to be the PRU sessions that were based in Dover.

Not having worked a great deal with young people in pupil referral units as a music workshop tutor I was very apprehensive and had no idea what to expect from the sessions and most importantly from the young people. I had no idea what to expect from the setting of the PRU (Workshop space etc), what the young people would be into and what their behaviour would be like. I also thought about what I had to offer these particular young people as a tutor, questions like 'what music would they be into?' and 'do they really want me to teach them instruments?' quizzed me.

From the initial session in the first PRU we visited I knew the young people were going to get a lot out of our collective knowledge as tutors. The majority of the young people seemed very keen on the project and very eager to get going and make some music.

 

Surprised at what I found Most surprisingly for me was the interest the young people had in learning the instruments that we brought with us, they wanted to play the electric guitar, bass and drums as well as create their own tracks on the music tech gear we took with us. They took to lyric writing unbelievably well and I was very surprised and pleased at the honesty, openness and creativeness they put into their lyrics.

Surprisingly for me the instrument room we set up with the guitars and drums was popular amongst these young people, even though for the majority of them the instruments we used were not at the forefront of their preferred musical genres. They all very much enjoyed being 'rock stars' and really surprised me with their eagerness to learn and play as a band.

 

Always Learning I think one of the most important things that I have learnt this year is valuable experience working with young people in Pupil Referral Units. And on top of that not to assume what a particular group of young people will be like and what music they will be into.

Looking back, I really over-thought the sessions, which only went on to fill me with uncertainty and apprehension about the sessions and the young people who attended. I have learnt not to attempt to foresee my workshops and learn as much as I can from the young people whilst there. Also to stay open minded, which I think has helped in developing me as a workshop tutor.

 

Here are some lyrics from one of the sessions at a PRU: 

The Sun doesn’t shine It’s a dark time Daddy’s little princess had to decline You spent your time putting me in dresses Now your time is spent saving me from messes Just saving me from messes

For more information on the work of Pie Factory Music head down to our website www.piefactorymusic.com