Background
In 2010 and 2011 Seed Studios
Volunteers received funds from Trafford Councils Learning Disability
Development Fund to receive training and purchase equipment to set up a new
community group for Trafford residents with learning disabilities. After
receiving training the volunteers were then supported in delivering exciting
and inclusive music workshops. In conjunction with music for health
professionals & students of the Royal Northern College of Music and Seed
Studio Volunteers two performances have taken place as a celebration of the
workshops at the Royal Northern College of Music in 2010 and more recently in
the Waterside Arts Centre, Sale,
Sept 2011.
Recruitment of Participants
Details of the project were emailed to our partners and contacts. Earlier in 2011 we had meetings with various partners and in particular worked closely with Kev Bell of Trafford Mencap.
Workshop Attendees Recruited
Ground Sounds has had thirty
two regular attendees to the music workshops along with their carers in 2011.
Running the workshops were five regular Seed volunteers, as well as additional
occasional assistance from further volunteers with ongoing support from an
experienced workshop deliverer.
In 2010 the volunteers
received their initial training and bought various equipment in order to run
eight workshops for one group of individuals followed by a performance at the
Royal Northern College of Music. In 2011 Ground Sounds extended their training
and equipment for Seed Studio volunteers and then went on to run fourteen
workshops followed by a CD Launch Party. The CD was a compilation of all of the
work produced throughout the 2011 workshops. In 2011 we extended the workshops
to include working with three different groups of individuals all of which have
expressed a keen interest in the group continuing into the future.
The Workshops
Thirty hours of workshop were
delivered by six regular workshop facilitators to thirty two individuals with
thirty one care workers (over sixty individuals in total). Each of the thirty two individuals attended up
to fourteen hours of workshops each.
The three groups of individuals initially
attended four two hour workshops each. In these workshops the group were
introduced to various instruments, such as the keyboard, electronic drum kit, a
theramin, and numerous percussion instruments. In addition in later sessions we
also created ‘found sounds’ of various sorts and programmed them into a touch
sensitive sound mat specifically designed for this type of workshop. The sounds created by the group could then be
triggered by the movement of the group as well as being manipulated in an
interesting and entertaining way by computer technology.
The groups were also introduced to the relationship of timing and dynamics to music
and worked towards putting together various group performance pieces as well as
solo performances.
After twelve sessions with all three groups introducing the above instrument’s and ideas we brought all
three groups together in a performance space to rehearse for a CD Launch Party.
Four group pieces all inspired by the works created in the previous workshops
were rehearsed for the next two performance rehearsal sessions. The titles and
music created were all inspired and suggested by the individuals in the group.
Solo keyboard performances were also rehearsed.
The Production of a Celebratory CD and Poster
In 2011 Ground Sounds
recorded many of the sounds and musical pieces created in the twelve workshops
created by individuals and the groups as a whole. We also had a Seed Studios
Volunteer photographer who took photos of each of the three groups. With this
collection of sounds, musical pieces, and images of the group we created a CD.
To go along side this CD we also created a poster.
CD Launch Party
In September of 2011 Ground Sounds held their CD
launch Party! Please see below for a copy of the programme.
Ground Sounds CD Launch Party
Programme
1) Swarm of
Hornets – inspired by David’s humming
We invite the
audience to join in and hum along with the piece
2) Drink in
the Ocean – Inspired by Francis’s Gargling
3) Solo
Keyboard Compositions
4) Musical
Jam
Everyone in the audience is invited to clap along with
the piece
5) Disco Cat
– inspired byPaul C’s Meowing & Francis’s Gargling
The audience are welcome to join in and clap along
Many
thanks for coming!
The CD launch party was a
great success and enjoyed by all with free posters and CD’s for participants
and audience members!
We ended the performance with
refreshments and wind down time which gave us all time to gather our thoughts
and gain feedback on how the performance had gone – everyone had a lovely time!
The group and key advocates
are meeting again in the future to start fundraising for the growth of the
Ground Sounds Community Group.
If you would like a copy of
the CD or poster please contact kirstyharkins@hotmail.co.uk.
The Future
In 2012 the Ground Sounds group will be offering small group weekend sessions as part of the personal budget voucher scheme. For more information please contact kirsty at kirstyharkins@hotmail.co.uk.
Additionally Ground Sounds hope to access further funds to run similar workshop projects in future.
