News
15 February 2012
Good Practice Sharing
Music Educators from across Scotland met with their Finnish counterparts at Drake Music Scotland’s first Inclusive Music Gathering this week to share knowledge, experience and skills in music education for people with additional support needs.
The two-day programme included presentations and practical interactive workshops from Laura Huhtinen-Hilden - Senior Lecturer in Music Education at Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Markku Kaikkonen – Director of Resonaari Music School, Pete Sparkes – Artistic Director of Drake Music Scotland and Caroline Wilkie – Drake Associate Musician and specialist in early years music.
The Gathering identified the skills required and challenges faced by music educators in our field and training and continuing professional development routes currently available, with the aim of developing ‘inclusive good practice’ amongst future music teachers.
Strathclyde University students taking part in the Figurenotes workshop
31 January 2012
Strathclyde University Figurenotes Partnership
Future primary teachers are being introduced to Figurenotes in an exciting new partnership with Strathclyde University School of Humanities which will further extend use of the inclusive music notation in schools across Scotland. 150 students who are all on the Primary PGDE course took part in an Expressive Arts Day at Jordanhill Campus which included an introduction to Drake Music Scotland’s programme, an explanation of Figurenotes notation and participatory creative exercises using tuned percussion.
The partnership will also include mapping research carried out by Senior Lecture Charles Byrne who will examine the use of Figurenotes in a variety of different settings throughout Scotland.
“This is a key partnership for the development of our Figurenotes project. The notation has clear potential for enabling non-music specialists to deliver simple participatory music sessions with their pupils” says Drake Music Scotland Artistic Director, Pete Sparkes.
Drake Music Scotland’s Figurenotes project is supported by Creative Scotland and the Esmèe Fairbairn Foundation.
Third Year B Ed Students from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland performing at Oran Mor
18 January 2012
Student stars!
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Third Year students of BEd course have raised £2039.66 for Drake Music Scotland with a glittering concert at Oran Mor in December.
In front of a packed and appreciate audience, the 21 students presented an entertaining and wide ranging programme including christmas songs, folk tunes and the music of Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder.
As well as arranging all the music themselves, the students organised and promoted the concert as part of their degree work.
‘Being involved in this concert has been the highlight of B Ed so far.” says Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Student Hannah Gill “We are all so proud of the money raised and are delighted that the proceeds are going to such a brilliant organisation. Thank you to all who supported us!”
This is a fantastic amount to raise and we are thrilled the students have chosen to donate the proceeds to Drake Music Scotland.
9 January 2012
Vacancy: Figurenotes Officer
Drake Music Scotland is seeking an enthusiastic and creative Figurenotes Officer to join our committed and hard working team, developing the use of the innovative Figurenotes notation system across Scotland.
More information and how to apply
Drake Music Technology Officer Rick Bamford with Keegan & Pennykid Managing Director Ken Pennykid
21 December 2011
Kitted Out
Christmas has come early to Drake Music Scotland in the way of a new state-of the-art Digital Drum Kit which will make it easier for musicians with disabilities to play in bands and make their own music. The purchase of the 8-piece Digital Drum Kit has been made possible through an Arts & Business New Arts Sponsorship Grant for Insurance brokers Keegan & Pennykid’s sponsorship of Arts & Business Scotland and Drake Music Scotland.
Keegan & Pennykid Managing Director Ken Pennykid says “Our 2 year sponsorship of Arts & Business Scotland enabled us to qualify for a New Arts Sponsorship Grant and we were delighted to choose Drake Music Scotland to benefit from the partnership”
Drake Music Scotland Chief Executive Thursa Sanderson says “This is fantastic support from Keegan & Pennykid and Arts & Business Scotland – the drum kit produces the sound of any percussion instrument giving our musicians the choice of any type of beat from rock to samba and, because it is digital and easier to transport than a conventional Drum Kit, we’ll be able to use it in our projects across Scotland.”
“It’s cool!” Participant James Fleming says “I can plug in headphones so I can practice when I don’t want people to hear me!”
Drake Music Scotland Artistic Director Pete Sparkes with musician Stephanie Forrest playing the Skoog
13 December 2011
Technophonia Update
Rehearsals have begun for our exciting new commission Technophonia which will be premiered in June as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. All 17 young musicians who will be performing in the Technophonia Ensemble as part of our PRS for Music Foundation New Music 20×12 commission got together for the first time at the end of November to take part in an exciting joint rehearsal of the new work.
See photos from the rehearsal
The ensemble includes three talented musicians whose physical disabilities mean that instead of playing a conventional instrument like a keyboard or guitar they will play inclusive music technology specially developed to enable people with limited mobility to make music. Stephanie is playing Skoog, Anthony the Soundbeam and an adapted keyboard, and Chris has a laptop with Notion software and the innovative Brainfingers which is triggered by facial muscle movement – and even his alpha and beta brainwaves!
Each of these three musicians will play their part in the ensemble and perform as a soloist in different movements of the new work alongside musicians from the City of Edinburgh Music School. As well as enabling them to display their musical talents to a worldwide audience, the piece will showcase how people with disabilities can perform on an equal footing with their peers.
Composer Oliver Searle tells us where his inspiration for the piece came from
“Music psychologists tell us regularly about the fantastically complex series of procedures that your brain goes through on its way to performing music.
“We must interpret pitches, rhythms, dynamics and articulations from a page of music, itself a type of complex language, then begin to realise these through a number of miniscule muscle movements, making decisions about the attack and sustain of individual notes, before moving to the next one. With or without sheet music, we are looking at others around us, perhaps focusing on a conductor/director, using our ears to decide when to join in with other musicians, altering our pitch by the smallest of microtonal increments and balancing our sound to produce a musical performance.
“These tiny movements and processes (many of which are only barely noticeable, or often completely invisible to the human eye) seem to me to be a number of microscopic dances between our neural processes and motor skills.”
New Music 20×12
Technophonia has been chosen to be one of twenty participants of New Music 20×12, an independent commissioning programme initiated by Jillian Barker and David Cohen, delivered by PRS for Music Foundation in partnership with the BBC, LOCOG, Sound and Music and NMC Recordings.
Special thanks to Creative Scotland for making this New Music 20×12 commission possible.
New Music 20×12 is generously supported by the following committed patrons and funders: Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, John S. Cohen Foundation, PRS for Music Foundation, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of Wales, Columbia Foundation Fund of the Capital Community Foundation, Incorporated Society of Musicians, Musicians Benevolent Fund, Jerwood Charitable Foundation, RVW Trust, Charlotte and Dennis Stevenson, Tolkien Trust, The Leche Trust, The Bliss Trust, Finzi Trust, The Worshipful Company of Musicians, Lilian Slowe, John and Ann Tusa, John Wates Charitable Trust, Richard Walduck, Honeymead Arts Trust, and Sir Anthony Cleaver.
Funders and patrons websites are as follows (NB: Funders and patrons not listed here do not have a website):
Arts Council England: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/
Creative Scotland: http://www.creativescotland.com/
PRS for Music Foundation: http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/
Arts Council of Northern Ireland: http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/
Arts Council of Wales: http://www.artswales.org.uk/
Incorporated Society of Musicians: http://www.ism.org/
Musicians Benevolent Fund: http://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/
Jerwood Charitable Foundation: http://www.jerwoodcharitablefoundation.org/
RVW Trust: http://www.rvwtrust.org.uk/
The Tolkien Trust: http://www.tolkientrust.org/
The Leche Trust: http://www.lechetrust.org/
The Bliss Trust: http://www.blisstrust.org/
Finzi Trust: http://www.geraldfinzi.org/
The Worshipful Company of Musicians http://www.wcom.org.uk/
Google maps @2011 Google
30 November 2011
North East Connections
We’re delighted to announce a new partnership with Aberdeen City/Aberdeenshire local authorities and Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire Strategic Music Partnership funded by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative which will increase access to music education for young people with special needs in the North East of Scotland.
Beginning in January 2012, Connections will deliver a range of creative music projects in special schools which will directly benefit 72 children and young people with Additional Support Needs as well as train three North East based musicians in the range of technologies we currently use such as Soundbeam, Skoog, as well as Figurenotes.
“We’re very excited to be extending our reach to the North East” says Chief Executive Thursa Sanderson “Connections will create a pool of locally based, highly trained and skilled musicians to lead future inclusive music projects.”
Connections is supported by Creative Scotland
24 November 2011
Vacancy: Administrator
Drake Music Scotland is seeking an enthusiastic and highly organised Administrator to join our commited and hard working team. For more information visit our vacancies page.
Drake Music Scotland - musicSPACE Programme
8 November 2011
Music Volunteers Wanted
Drake Music Scotland is currently recruiting for volunteers to support its innovative in-house programme of music activities, musicSPACE, and in particular the delivery of individual sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons. This opportunity is available in the first instance for the spring 2012 term. Deadline for applying: Monday 21st November, 5 pm.
musicSPACE Volunteer
About musicSPACE
musicSPACE is Drake Music Scotland’s programme of in-house music activities which take place in the organisation’s state of the art and fully accessible music studio, working with adults and children with a wide range of disabilities. Specific projects and activities include band rehearsals, collaborative projects with community groups, and an accredited course with Jewel & Esk College and individual sessions.
We are seeking a maximum of 3 Edinburgh-based volunteers to help support the individual sessions, which runs in 3 blocks of 10 weeks over the year. A Drake Music Scotland Associate Musician leads each block of one-to-one sessions.
Responsibilities
- To meet and greet participants at reception and bring them to the studio. This may involve holding doors open for participants who use a wheelchair.
- To pass on any necessary paperwork such as invoices, publicity permission forms, registration forms etc.
- To be ‘on hand’ to support the Musician during the session and be present in the room just outside the studio.
- To ensure that sessions do not run over schedule.
- To help set up the studio and arrange instruments for workshops.
- If participants have not arrived for the start of their session, to inform the Administrator so that they can be contacted.
- To familiarise yourself with Drake Music Scotland’s Safeguarding Policy and Guidelines for good practice.
- To provide feedback about your volunteering experience with us.
Volunteers will need to join the PVG Scheme. This service is free to volunteers and Drake Music Scotland will provide full details.
The Schedule
The times below relate to the Autumn 2011 term but the Spring 2012 term will run on a similar basis. However, we would like volunteers to attend the sessions, week beginning 5th December. This is the last week of term and will allow volunteers to meet key personnel and see how the sessions run.
Mondays 1.30 – 5 pm
Spring dates: 16th January – 26th March (no sessions on 13th February)
Wednesdays 1 – 4.30 pm
Spring dates: 18th January – 28th March (no sessions on 15th February)
Fridays 1 – 6 pm
Spring dates: 20th January – 30th March (no sessions on 17th February)
We are looking to recruit a maximum of 3 volunteers – one for each afternoon of sessions. However if you are interested in volunteering for more than one afternoon please let us know.
Payment of Expenses
We are able to pay travel expenses for Edinburgh-based volunteers, based on mileage of 0.35 ppm or upon receipts provided by public travel operators.
Person Specification
We would like to recruit volunteers with the following skills/commitment:
- A keen interest in promoting accessibility and inclusivity in music education.
- A friendly and approachable manner and the ability to communicate with a wide range of people including participants with disabilities, parents and support workers.
- The ability to act with common sense and initiative, liaising with Drake Music Scotland musicians and core staff as necessary.
- Able to commit to 10 weeks of sessions on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday afternoon for the spring term 2011.
How To Apply
Please submit a letter clearly stating why you are interested in this opportunity and why you would be a suitable volunteer. Please include details of two referees with you letter. If you would also like to submit a CV in support of your application, please do so.
Deadline: Monday 21st November, 5 pm
If you have any further questions or queries please contact:
Bethany Whiteside, Projects Coordinator
bethanywhiteside@drakemusicscotland.org
0131 659 4766
The Perth Prom 2011 audience enjoying the performance. Image: Music For Youth
2 November 2011
Music for Youth
National music education charity Music for Youth arrived in Scotland last Friday with a spectacular concert at Perth Concert Hall showcasing some of the best of the country’s young music talent.
The line-up involved 140 young musicians aged between 11-21 and included a group from Kilpatrick School in West Dunbartonshire who performed a piece which was created as a result of their collaboration with Drake Music Scotland.
In partnership with Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative, Music For Youth will hold similar events across Scotland over the next three years.
Have a look at Music For Youth’s Flickr site to see more photos of the concert
