Music to the Ears
Music to the ears
Young people in Banbury have been getting creative and learning how to produce their own sounds using music software and other technology. It's part of a project called Talent Revival developed by Cherwell District Council in partnership with BYHP (Supporting Young People in Housing Need).
Now they've achieved the nationally recognised AQA Audio sequencing using a computer - music technology qualification. They were presented with their certificates by Cllr John Donaldson, Cherwell's Brighter Futures champion on 9 July.
The recipients, aged between 16 and 25, are all in housing need and access services provided by BYHP. They worked with professional musician Simon Hill from Community Albums, based in Hook Norton. Community Albums is a UK registered charity that aims to build better communities through music and media. Simon said: "We believe that music can empower, inspire, unite, heal and effect change; so it's been a privilege to work with young people from BYHP and to see them develop their talents and grow in confidence."
One of the young people involved in the project, April Priestly, said: "Talent Revival has given me the opportunity to find out what it's like to make my own music. It's also given me the confidence to create music in a group; something that I would never have done before.
"Because of my age and the situation that I'm in these opportunities don't come around often - if at all. But taking part in these sessions has given me the opportunity to do something that I love - music."
Cllr Donaldson added: "The district council knows that young peoples' life chances are greatly reduced when they face issues like homelessness. So together with BYHP we've determined that music would be a good way to reach and engage with them.
"Arts projects are effective in helping people learn skills, develop opportunities, grow in confidence and take on new challenges. Through this music project these young people have learned about communication, commitment and co-operation as well as building self-esteem. They're all skills that will take them into the next stage of their lives, improving their employability prospects.
Justin Donovan, BYHP project worker, explained: "These sessions help to structure a young persons' day and give them a feeling of success, which from time to time we need to experience in order to feel like we are progressing."
Now they've achieved the nationally recognised AQA Audio sequencing using a computer - music technology qualification. They were presented with their certificates by Cllr John Donaldson, Cherwell's Brighter Futures champion on 9 July.
The recipients, aged between 16 and 25, are all in housing need and access services provided by BYHP. They worked with professional musician Simon Hill from Community Albums, based in Hook Norton. Community Albums is a UK registered charity that aims to build better communities through music and media. Simon said: "We believe that music can empower, inspire, unite, heal and effect change; so it's been a privilege to work with young people from BYHP and to see them develop their talents and grow in confidence."
One of the young people involved in the project, April Priestly, said: "Talent Revival has given me the opportunity to find out what it's like to make my own music. It's also given me the confidence to create music in a group; something that I would never have done before.
"Because of my age and the situation that I'm in these opportunities don't come around often - if at all. But taking part in these sessions has given me the opportunity to do something that I love - music."
Cllr Donaldson added: "The district council knows that young peoples' life chances are greatly reduced when they face issues like homelessness. So together with BYHP we've determined that music would be a good way to reach and engage with them.
"Arts projects are effective in helping people learn skills, develop opportunities, grow in confidence and take on new challenges. Through this music project these young people have learned about communication, commitment and co-operation as well as building self-esteem. They're all skills that will take them into the next stage of their lives, improving their employability prospects.
Justin Donovan, BYHP project worker, explained: "These sessions help to structure a young persons' day and give them a feeling of success, which from time to time we need to experience in order to feel like we are progressing."
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