Soundwave. What it means to you.

In 2017 Soundwave started 'Yan Tyan Tethra Methra' (1234 in Cumbrian sheep counting dialect...you all knew that though...right?)

It was our latest programme designed by the young people we work and supported by Youth Music with to ensure there was music making provision in West Cumbria.

Cumbria and the Lake district often seem like an idilic holiday destination, to people from outside the county, and in some places this is of course very true.

However travel a little further West from the central Lakes to the coast and you will find wards falling with the top 10% deprived wards in the country. In addition to economic deprivation, young people on the West Coast are also culturally isolated.

Reacting to these needs, we have set up three 'Musiczone' projects, they are located in Whitehaven, Workington and Keswick and run weekly. At sessions we have our team and equipment and offer structured activities in Boom Dang drumming, the Dischord vocal harmony group, music production, song writing and allow our participants time do do thier own thing with support if they want or need it.

The projects very much belong to the young people who come along. We have been able to fetch the three musiczones together for collaborations and events, this one was one of our main outcomes for this project.

'Yan Tyan Tethra Methra' is coming to the end but we will continue to run these important Musiczones going forward.

As part of our evaluation of the project we enlisted the help of DAS FILM to spend time with some of our participants and give them the opportunity to share thier thoughts on our project.