Music Week One

Day's Activities	Related PLUS Materials
1. Music 2. Drumming 3. Music 4. Music 5. Music	Music Music Digital Music Digital Music Digital Music

What Did Happen

Monday: Brooksby - SambaWamba

The Learners arrived, met each other (although some had met on a previous course), and then had a short session going over all the rules, responsibilities and plans for the day. This was a result of experiences from the first three weeks and would continue each day for the rest of the project. This was aided by the offer of lunchtime football as a privilege.

The group began on a good foot and got on well with Mitch. He started them with an introduction on drumming and carnival percussion, then went onto clapping games based around turn-taking. As usual, there was some initial reluctance to join in (especially Romeo and Benpy) based around not wanting to stand out or do anything "girly, uncool, boring" etc, etc, yawn, yawn, yawn.

By the end everyone had enjoyed themselves. Mitch took them through drumming, Brazilian style rhythms, different instruments, more complex rhythms and learning symbols for teaching percussion. There was the usual rubbish of Learners testing the boundaries (Romeo, Benpy and Ka went off around the site), workers finding their feet responsibility-wise and attention levels waning in the afternoon, especially Romeo, Ka and Jam.

Tuesday: Brooksby - SambaWamba

Mitch brought in some new instruments (African) and started some group rhythm work. Ka and Romeo challenged Mitch in the usual ways, being disruptive, manipulating the conversation, pushing everyone’s buttons and boundaries. Jam, in a less usual - but equally predictable - way, did the same by hitting the drums manically hard, trying to break the skins. Later on this behaviour developed to a point where Jam and Benpy had to be separated before a fight broke out. On the up-side though, Kieran and Natalie Mck established a good rapport with the Learners and were able to be more definite about behaviour and expectations.

There was a mix of participation. Jay was very tired and quiet in the morning, but overall participated well and asked genuine questions. Pegleg was quiet and left the session, but it turned out to be over personal anxieties and she rejoined in the afternoon and enjoyed leading the drumming session. The groups broke into pairs to work on Cuban rhythm and the individuals led the drumming. Attention waned in the afternoon, but some reading interviews were completed. Drumming outside was popular, although it somehow seemed to inevitably lead to over-excitement. Jay and Benpy hid in Mitch’s van at the end of the day though Mitch, being no mug, found then before he drove off.

Overall, the SambaWamba sessions with Mitch went well, a good rapport with the Learners was developed, participation was encouraged and some good work produced.

Wednesday: Melton - The SEND Project

The four workers from SEND got off to a great start with an introduction that everyone enjoyed. The Learners all made an ILP to decide what they wanted to achieve in the three weeks. These included Stig’s target of making a number 1 record! They also agreed to, and signed, a behavioural policy, which included respect for staff, other Learners and equipment.

The previous days' troubles cropped up with Jam interacting badly but, overall, the Learners were into the idea of creating their own music and learning to use the PC tablets. Romeo left the group in the afternoon but helped Paul, was cooperative and did IRP reading. An example of a problem that was noted across all the schools occurred, when a Learner (Stig) worked and articulated well, showed good knowledge of the PC music programme (Acid Pro), but also got carried away, wouldn’t follow directions, disappeared around the campus and spat the dummy when confronted. Much of the mischief and problems were caused - or not aided by - being on the college campuses.
However, managing to do some work on musical genres and influences, digital DJing, music and lyric writing and saving work for mixing, was an impressive first day for The SEND Project.

Thursday: Melton - The SEND Project

The Learners all worked well in this session and, with the exception of Benpy, returned the PC tablets they had been loaned on time. Winston talked about his experiences in life and the music industry. The Learners were interested and impressed.

Later there was a violent incident between Jam and Peg. As Jam had been aggressive previously, he was sent home. Obviously the excitement of this was far too much for the others to cope with and attention spans plummeted (especially Romeo's) while puerile behaviour soared. Benpy, Jay, Ka and Romeo did IRP reading in the afternoon. Things settled down and one girl worked on vocals for her song.

There was plenty of good work done in the day, but this was balanced, by a post-football incident where some Learners were caught with cannabis in the toilets (see Distant Trouble for a fuller explanation) and by the smashing of a PC tablet. Stig let another Learner use the PC whilst sitting on top of the courtyard sculpture. It seems everyone else could see how that was going to end, just not Stig.

Friday: Melton - The SEND Project

Again, most Learners returned their on-loan PC tablets (including Benpy) and the smashed one was discussed with Stig. Kieran was away until Tuesday so Catherine came in to help.

Overall, everyone was engaged well in the day's activities. In the morning Lee spoke about his life and how he’d come to work in the music industry. Many of the Learners identified with where Lee had come from and respected his honesty and positivity. They then watched a DVD of a DJing championship. During the session on music sequencing, Romeo worked hard and completed a track and Peg, despite being tired, put in great work and said she felt her confidence really growing.

Despite a little unruliness from Ka, Romeo and Jay, the day went well and was finished off with a DJing and Scratching DVD and individual work. SEND had built up an excellent rapport with the group and were equally liked and respected.