Sonic Minds - ANNOUNCEMENT
All young people strive for outlets. Regardless of background or identity, by offering self-expression through music we help to build the foundations of a happy, healthy and resilient individual.
Keith Sykes, Community Music Manager at Lewisham Music.
Mental wellbeing has always been of utmost importance to us. By providing music education for all, our main purpose at Lewisham Music is to give young people the best chance to stay mentally healthy.
The disruption of the pandemic has put huge strain on many young people, particularly on those already struggling with their mental health. Through social isolation, disrupted routines, breakdown in support and in some cases traumatic experiences, the lasting effects of the pandemic on the mental wellbeing of young people is deeply concerning.
In response to this, Lewisham Music is delighted to announce our new Youth Music funded programme, Sonic Minds.This two-year programme will support hundreds of young people across Bromley, Bexley and Lewisham. Through collaborative songwriting and music production, our team of Music Leaders will work with children to help them share their stories, celebrate their identity and express themselves through music.
Through our previous programmes such as #MusicMadeMe we have witnessed first hand the power of music on emotional wellbeing:
Music is how I express myself and how I express my emotions - Tyrique 15
Music means relaxation and getting rid of any stress. It helps me refocus my mind. - Rendys, 12
Music has made me very happy, especially when I was going through a hard time in my life - Jedida, 13
Through our Rap and Lyricism and Music Fellowship Masterclass series, over 94% of young people felt better able to express their own ideas through music. One child’s parent wrote,
These opportunities are so very important for children, but for my child individually, he has spent his life so far quite alone… everything you are now offering as an addition helps strengthen his skills as well as his confidence.
In May 2020, our Vocal Leader Clare Caddick launched ‘Zoooom Choir’. Over 300 children signed up for the popular sessions and a series of weekly rehearsals have taken place since. Reflecting on the process, Clare said,
We have had much feedback telling us how great it’s been for all involved, particularly mentioning an improvement in general happiness… The Zooom children are now starting to come to choir in person and we see a confidence which is extraordinary.
With evidence plenty to prove that music has a positive impact on young people’s emotional wellbeing, we are drawing a closer focus on this for Sonic Minds, ensuring we work with children who are at elevated risk of poor mental health. In anticipation of the programme, Keith Sykes, Community Music Manager at Lewisham Music and developer of Sonic Minds said,
We know from our research with partner organisations that looked after children and unaccompanied asylum seeking children are particularly vulnerable to social isolation and are affected badly by being withdrawn from education.
It is vital therefore that we provide access to creative outlets for these young people. Programmes such as Sonic Minds will give young people a safe space to meet other young people, share their stories, explore their identity, have a sense of independence and develop a sense of purpose.
As well as facilitating music creation, Sonic Minds aims to feed in to the ever growing research around the impact of music on the mental wellbeing of young people. The programme will be consistently documented and evaluated through participant surveys and project reviews - the framework of which has been agreed in partnership with Sound Connections. We hope that this research will eventually lead to the development of a Best Practice Toolkit which can be implemented within support systems for children experiencing poor mental health.
We also recognise the importance of getting this research out to the general public. As part of the programme, sound designer and installation artist, Gawain Hewitt, will be creating a physical sound installation, co-designed with the young participants. Gawain's installation will incorporate their musical creations and audio recordings of their experiences. This piece will then be toured around local venues to showcase the programme and inform audiences of the benefits of music on children’s mental wellbeing.
Ultimately, Sonic Minds will build on our unique child-centred and youth-led practice to provide a safe space for these young people to explore difficult feelings. In a year that has seen young people face isolation, uncertainty, anxiety and trauma, we believe this work is needed now more than ever.
To join our journey or hear more about the programme please join our mailing list and follow us @lewishammusic.
