Learning Outcome 1

On completion of this unit a learner should:

- Know the context and purpose of community music-making including practitioners and organisations.

Know the context and purpose of community music-making including practitioners
and organisations
Context and purpose: community relations; music education; audience development; participation and
inclusion; ownership; impact on communities/society
Practitioners and organisations: case studies of local or national providers eg orchestras, opera companies,
London Sinfonietta, Sonic Arts Network, Sound Sense, COMA, arts development agencies, LEAs, the
Music Manifesto and government initiatives, funding bodies eg trusts, PRSF, Youth Music, The National
Lottery

What is a community project?

A community project is something which brings people together around areas involving everyone in an activity, for example, a festival. They're usually something that is funded by your council and local charities, they can be many different things, like a local run, gigs, Christmas dinners for the homeless. It's usually a group of people which perhaps share the same interests and have the same aim and join together to achieve this. All community projects are different and there is a wide variety. People who run community projects are either elected or not always elected, and usually they are volunteers and doing it out of their own good.

The history of community music
Community music projects have been going on for years and years, building and growing as the years have gone on.
Over the years community projects have changed and grown, got bigger and expanded. The times now there is many more community projects, and charity events I think this is because we are now more aware of things like these so people are willing to help others and hold events to bring communities together. Community music can help children who have difficult behavior and are very challenging, and also help with basic learning, children/ other people who have difficulty in learning/disabilities; in the past diagnosing a child with a learning difficulty/disability was more difficult and wasn't looked at as much as it is now a days, so community projects occur more often as more children are diagnosed and noticed to struggle with learning so these happen to more to help these people who find certain things hard. Music encourages learning and helps develop children.
Not only does community music help the above, it brings together people of different cultures/nationalities and beliefs. These kinds of things are much more accepted now and equality has improved over time, having more community projects has improved this, and that's why there are more community projects there are less differences and division to types of people and communities.

HENLEY FESTIVAL is a big one which is something that brings lots of people together. This festival has a lot of different things going on, music, dancing, performances, art, and also bringing different cultures together. The Henley festival's trust has included:

• Langtree School Art residency
• Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children Art residency
• Grants were also given to Langtree Sinfonia, HEDFAS and Henley Youth Festival, Henley Arts and Crafts
• Nordoff Robbins funding for a seventh year of music therapy work with the brain-injured at Headway, Henley.
• Guild, Henley Symphony Orchestra, St Mary's Church Organ Fund, Henley Concert Singers, Henley Choral Society, Henley Round Table, and Remenham Thespians.

Lavazza, westcoast, courtier's, invesco perpetual,  BGP, and Grabbie's are all sponsors of Henley festival.

What kind of things does Henley Festival do?

They put on shows of performances, lots of dancing with a mixture of styles, from street to theater.  They have the best in classical music, opera and comedy. Having a wide variety of different activities makes it more open to different age ranges involving everyone.

For more information on Henley Festival, go on the website: http://www.henley-festival.co.uk/

Here is a little bit about some of the charities that Henley helps and who sponsors them:

WESTCOAST

This charity is a sponsor of Henley Festival and it helps children that are not as privileged and it helps those that need help with the things they need most. Helping families with less income and who are really struggling this charity helps helps and supports family who need it. Lot's of children around the world lack the things that they need to get them by, and even to help them survive. The kids that we help aren't lucky enough to have healthy food, the resources they need to go to school, opportunities for activities, due to the fact that local activities usually involve a fee, and these families can't afford them.

The kinds of things that this charity do to help are:

• Food shelter and clothing (funding the essentials that for low income families need)
• Transportation (vehicle donation programme which they then inspect donated vehicles, which then get repaired, which are then given to qualifying families which is a way of getting these deprived children to libraries, school, work and the doctors)
• Education (tutoring on lessons like maths, English, science, history)
• Youth activities (sports clubs, music and art opportunities, service communications)

http://westcoastcharity.org/index.html

NORDOFF ROBBINS

This charity is one that Henley actually supports and helps. They have been training and educating since 1974. This charity is to help the vulnerable adults and the children in the UK. This charity helps people with disabilities, for example, autism, dementia, health problems, brain injuries, stroke, also people who suffer with terminal illnesses, like cancer. Music alters their life completely, in an extremely good way. They give professional music workshops, these are also open to everyone who are just interested in general. The research work they do helps train people. They actually give 50,000 music therapy sessions to day centres, care homes, schools and their own centres. 

What can music do to help you?

• Increases sensitivity, self esteem, confidence and creativity 
• Develops communications and social skills 
• Improves physical health and your ability 
• Address emotional and behavioral difficulties

Here you can read more about music therapy: http://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/content/what-we-do/music-therapy

It's not all down to them, and everyone is able to help, you can fund-raise, support an event, donate in memory, cooperate fundraising and leave a legacy. 

Here is Nordoff Robbins website if you want to find out more about their charity and what they do to help people and communities: http://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/

BUNKFEST 

Another good community project which is around my area is Wallingford Bunkfest. This event goes on for about 2 days and holds many activities. Activities like, story telling, vintage displays, many dance performances, which are mixed styles, lots of singing performances, with local bands and soloists. You can also camp here, there is a small camping field just down the road where you can pitch up tents and park your caravans to stay there. They don't just have performances for us to enjoy and watch, there are workshops which give the community a chance to get involved and have lessons. They have night entertainment as well as day time. It's also all free which is another great thing because it can get even more people involved.

What's on?

-Farms, a chance for children to meet animals, animals like donkeys, goats and lambs

-Rides

-Fun things in aid of Sue Ryder (bouncy castles, horsey hoppers, chocolate fountains)

-Food stools

-Performances from great acts (Al Kendrick, Melebo, Tom Lucas, The Colours)

-Camping

-Music and Dance workshops

-Clothing stools (selling things like t-shirts, scarves, hats, accessories)

And loads more.

Here is the Bunkfest website: http://www.bunkfest.co.uk/2012/index.html

ACOUSTIC BALLROOM 

Acoustic ballroom is a place for performers to show the town what they can do and to advertise, whether you're a solo artist or a band. It's an Open Mic in which any one is welcome to and all you need to do is turn up and you will be given a slot that night. It's held in Wallingford, and was first created in 2005. Ben Smith was the founder of this. They were originally in the Centre 70 but moved to the Portcullis club in 2007. It's open to any performers of any style. It's held on the first Friday of every month at 8pm, which is when the doors open but music starts at 8.30pm. There is a break in the middle, and it normally finishes about 11pm. This open mic night has been successful for every night. 

Here is the website: http://theacousticballroom.com/blog/about/

Ben Smith also has a studio in which is welcome to anyone aged 11-18. It is called STUDIO BALLROOM. It is also based in Wallingford. This encourages young people around the area to help them pursue something they are interested in. Young people are able to book a 4 hour recording session at a small fee of just £5, at the end of this session they receive a high quality CD and MP3 of their music they have recorded. This project isn't for profit, all money goes straight onto new high quality equipment. 

Studio Ballroom is supported by Paul Simmonds Removals. 

Where can you find Studio Ballroom?

Centre 70
The Kinecroft
Wallingford
Oxon
OX10 0DT

Interview with Ben Smith- Owner/founder of Acoustic Ballroom and Studio Ballroom and he is also involved in Bunkfest.

Acoustic Ballroom

1.    Why do you think Acoustic Ballroom is successful?

A large core audience has built up over 7 years. There is excellent word of mouth. Musicians really enjoy the chance to perform to an attentive audience.  A lot of hard work has gone into building up the night and promoting it. There is a website with photos, a Facebook group and a Twitter feed. All this helps keep the night in people's minds between events.  It also helps people to feel like they are part of the night.

2.       What is your main goal out of setting up these open mic nights?

To have fun and meet people!

3.       What first inspired you to do this?

Seeing other open mic nights and thinking I could start a night that was as good if not better.

4.       Do you feel like it helps your community, if so, how do you think it helps?

Yes - it helps bring people together that otherwise would not have met. It brings people of all ages together. It gives people a chance to perform music and gain confidence and self-worth - this is especially true for young people.

5.       What are you hoping to do next with your open mic nights?

To maintain the success and continue to attract new performers and audience.

6.       What kind of impact do you think Open mic nights have with communities?

I think that anything that brings people together has to have a positive impact on performers.

Studio Ballroom 
1.       What are your future ambitions with studio ballroom?

To reach out to more disadvantaged young people.

2.       What inspired you to start this?

To offer young people a chance to record their music at no cost.

3.       How many hours a week do you roughly spend on this?

5 to 10.

4.       Is it something you do individually or with others?

Individually.

5.       Is your studio something you want to expand and perhaps bring in people from other places?

Yes.

6.       How do you advertise acoustic and studio ballroom?

Posters in shop windows, flyers, word of mouth, emails, Facebook, Twitter, website.

What's Missing in our community?
I do feel like there isn't enough community projects around our local area, I think that there should be more musical activities, like choirs, band practices, group singing lessons, places where communities can learn instruments, not just for children, or young teenagers, a place for a mixed variety of age. I think this should all then lead to performances in the local areas, perhaps to raise money for charities, and just to bring people together. More groups that can help us with skills and techniques would be really beneficial and even prevent teenagers going down the wrong direction, things like this can keep people on their feet, having a sense of  commitment and a plan of regular activities can bring excitement to people's lives and encourage people for their future. Making children/teenagers and even adults feel like they are worthy can help them and change then as a person altogether, improving self-esteem and confidence, not only helping them with their hobbies and talents but actually helping them out with everyday life and also for their future. The activities should be at a small fee or perhaps even free as it is unfair to people that haven't got as much money to afford these advantages. I think that if there was more community projects musically then it could bring out the talent that some people have and get young people more noticed, and actually give more people a chance.

Rebecca Poole concert

Recently I was involved in a concert which was held at the Kenton theatre. It was a charity concert for Help for the Hereos and we raised a total of £1,500. Here is a link to a review.
http://www.kentontheatre.co.uk/news/rebecca-our-hero.aspx

Help for Heroes

http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/how-we-help/index.html

Help for Hero's is a charity which aims to support for our wounded and their families. They want to inspire and enable the kind people that have made sacrifices on our behalf to enable them to achieve their full potential. The war in Afghanistan is drawing to a close but for the people who now have to live with life changing injuries the war that they'll now have to battle between living and surviving will be ongoing and that's why this charity is here to encourage these people along the way.

• They help with financial support
• Help those who now suffer with life long injuries, for example, head injuries 

Our college got a chance to perform and the concept of it was to perform something that meant something to you, which was inspired by Help for Hero's charity. It was a really great opportunity and chance to bring the community together. It brought musicians together which are from Henley college and gave us a chance to hear each other and see what what material we have. It also gave us a chance to experience some more performing and work with other students and sing/play instruments at Rebecca's concert. It let us look at the more professional side to things. We had to be committed and dedicated to rehearsals and being organised. Events like this are good to also bring together families who would not have met otherwise.

Here's the video of us performing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIuhdyGJuig

Headway 

About Headway...

Headway was formed around 25 years ago, by a women that had a son who had severe head injuries, his life was changed when he was involved in a road traffic accident. The mothers name was called Roseanne Barnet and her son was called Lindsey Barnett. Unfortunately Roseanne and her son have now passed away. Her husband is in his 80's and still attends as many events related to Headway as he can.

 Pat Barnett (Roseanne's husband) at the Headway and friends concert at the Kenton theatre in 2011

Headway supports those who suffer from brain injuries around the Thames Valley area.

A brain injury is something that can happen over a small amount of time, even seconds, but is something that will affect you for the rest of your life. There is more than one million people a year who attend hospital after a brain injury. Accidents happen to everyone and could happen to any one around you. Recovery from brain injury can take a long time, maybe months or even years. 

Headway Thames Valley takes care of all their own funding and recruitment. They are here to help and support people with a brain injury. Not only these people but the people who are there with them on their journeys, so they are here to give information about their treatment to their families, carers involved and friends.

You can get involved with the Headway charity by volunteering. You can volunteer by:

• IT- helping to learn or re-learn computer skills
• Cookery 
• Fundraising
• Gardening 
• Tea/coffee- this involves doing things like, working in the kitchen, load the dishwasher, and put our packed lunches etc

http://www.headwaythamesvalley.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/

What is the cause of brain injury?..
Trauma

• Sports injuries
• Assaults and domestic violence
• Industrial accidents
• Cerebral Haemorrhages and Surgical Intervention 

Road traffic accidents

• 49% of brain injuries are because of car accidents

Hypoxic damage

• Drug overdose
• Epilepsy
• Following cardiac arrest
• Hypoglycaemic coma 

Post viral infections

• Meningitis 
• Encephalitis 
• Other inflammatory diseases of the brain 

20% of the brain injuries in children are caused by cycling accidents. This is why it's so important to wear a cycling helmet, it reduces the risk of severe head injury by 88%.

Causes which contribute to brain injuries:

• Road traffic accidents 50%
• Domestic and industrial accidents 25%
• Sport and recreation 15%
• Assault 10%

Health and Safety
What is so great about Headway is they also make us aware of the consequences of health and safety, when for example, riding a bike. They also teach us the right ways on how to do things like, put a helmet on properly. You may think you're being safe by just wearing a helmet but then if you're not wearing it properly then it will be no good at all.
Here is a link to the section which talks about cycle helmets. http://www.headwaythamesvalley.org.uk/about-brain-injury/cycle-helmets/

Our college got the opportunity to perform along side the people that we support within Headway. I'm really glad that we got this chance because it has made me very aware of the charity and encouraged me to find more out about it.