Feb 2010
MASH-UP Radio Leicester interviews
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The scheme aims to provide creative activities for young people aged between 13 and 19 in New Parks, Leicester.
As part of the project called Mash Up, music, art and outdoor internet facilities are taken out on to the street.
The scheme is being run by Soft Touch Arts and the police.
Chris Wigmore, programme manager for Mash Up, said: "Creative activities can really help to engage young people and offer an alternative to sports and general youth provision.
"Taking activities to them on their turf makes them feel valued and more confident in taking part in what is on offer."
Regular sessions run on a Friday evening at the Allexton Centre, in Frolesworth Road, New Parks. And two successful street events have already taken place in Bloxham Green and the Hand-in-Hand Centre, in the estate.
The next events take place between 6pm and 8pm in Glazebrook Square, Glazebrook Road, New Parks, on Saturday, November 21 and in Mossgate on November 28.
For more information call Soft Touch Arts on 0116 270 2706.
Lutterworth High School Leicestershire - April 2010
Soft Touch Community Arts, the group who runs a Brazilian drumming group called Fuzed, in Leicester came in and led the sessions. At 2:30pm we had around 100 audience members, including almost thirty parents and family members, come to watch Samba Band performance. Perseverance in their main music lessons and many of them are also involved in one or more music ensembles at LHS too.
Throughout the day all students improved their drumming skills and opened up their minds to being part of a Brazilian-Drumming Band. Soft Touch Community Arts, the group who runs a Brazilian drumming group called Fuzed, in Leicester came in and led the sessions.
At 2:30pm we had around 100 audience members, including Twenty-five year 8, gifted and able musicians came together on Friday 30th April for a day’s experience of playing in a Samba Band. All the students involved have shown real dedication and perseverance in their main music lessons and many of them are also involved in one or more music ensembles at LHS too.
Throughout the day all students improved their drumming skills and opened up their minds to being part of a Brazilian-Drumming Band.
Laura Cutts commented on the activity:
“I thought it was a good experience and since I have only done drumming a few times before I learned different things for example the names of the drums”
"The session was a brilliant session, on the way to the school Jen and myself got stuck in loads of traffic due to a major fire on the Leicester Road, but when we got there the kids all got stuck in and helped us unload and get ready! Such a great way to start a session. The young people did brilliantly! Such a nice group. We would like to congratulate the young people on a great performance and a very enjoyable day, I hope their blisters have gone down! Looking forward to working with some of you in the future!"
Joe and Jen from Soft Touch Arts A Big Well Done To All Those Involved!!
Mrs Joy Harry Clarke said
“I loved the samba day it was really good!”
John Barnett warned future students: “Watch your shins with the big drums”
Soft Touch Community Arts, the group who runs a Brazilian drumming group called Fuzed, in Leicester came in and led the sessions. At 2:30pm we had around 100 audience members, including almost thirty parents and family members, come to watch Samba Band performance. Perseverance in their main music lessons and many of them are also involved in one or more music ensembles at LHS too.
Throughout the day all students improved their drumming skills and opened up their minds to being part of a Brazilian-Drumming Band. Soft Touch Community Arts, the group who runs a Brazilian drumming group called Fuzed, in Leicester came in and led the sessions.
At 2:30pm we had around 100 audience members, including Twenty-five year 8, gifted and able musicians came together on Friday 30th April for a day’s experience of playing in a Samba Band. All the students involved have shown real dedication and perseverance in their main music lessons and many of them are also involved in one or more music ensembles at LHS too.
Throughout the day all students improved their drumming skills and opened up their minds to being part of a Brazilian-Drumming Band.
Laura Cutts commented on the activity:
“I thought it was a good experience and since I have only done drumming a few times before I learned different things for example the names of the drums”
"The session was a brilliant session, on the way to the school Jen and myself got stuck in loads of traffic due to a major fire on the Leicester Road, but when we got there the kids all got stuck in and helped us unload and get ready! Such a great way to start a session. The young people did brilliantly! Such a nice group. We would like to congratulate the young people on a great performance and a very enjoyable day, I hope their blisters have gone down! Looking forward to working with some of you in the future!"
Joe and Jen from Soft Touch Arts A Big Well Done To All Those Involved!!
Mrs Joy Harry Clarke said
“I loved the samba day it was really good!”
John Barnett warned future students: “Watch your shins with the big drums”
Lutterworth High School - May 2010
In March, twenty-two Year 9 boys were chosen to take part in the FAST-TRACK BOYS‟ MUSIC TECHNOLOGY COURSE
The boys were part of an accelerated learning group.
The course was organised by Mrs Joy, the Head of Music, and was delivered by a visiting specialist from Soft Touch. Soft Touch is a company based in Leicester that offers young people the chance to work together to make positive changes to their life-long learning, personal aspirations and ultimate success.
The course leader, Nigel, AKA „Wavey‟, planned out a creative project that was both enjoyable and suitably challenging for our carefully selected Year 9 boys. It was envisaged that this project would not only allow the boys to make at least two-thirds of a level‟s progress, but also it
would enhance their personal development and enable them to acquire new skills and gain an insight into the world of studio recording and other music technologies.
The course, as anticipated, was fun, upbeat and very much a hands-on active learning experience.
Wavey, the course leader, has significant experience in working within the contemporary music industry and showed the boys how to select samples, make mixes and package music with a contemporary feel.
The rapport he built up with the boys was amazing! All the equipment was provided for the boys and they were very open minded to Wavey‟s teaching and toward their new learning.
The course really did revitalise and refresh the boys‟ musical experience, allowing them to view their music making and learning as fun and relevant to them. All of the boys participated in three, 2-hour workshops across three weeks and they each received a free audio recording of their work to celebrate the success they achieved. This truly did lead them to achieve success at a
much faster rate. All of the boys have since commented on the fact that they really enjoyed their music making and listening to their tracks at home. When surveyed, 100% of the boys said that they enjoyed the experience. When asked on the survey what they enjoyed, here are some of the boys‟ responses:
“I really enjoyed the partnership and the freedom”
“...creating the song and then editing it to make it sound more professional” ...
“...making our own beats”
“The freedom to do what we wanted musically”
“...working in pairs to make the track” .......
“IT WAS GOOD TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT”
“We learned how to use things on the computers” ............ “It was great. I hope more people get to do it. Thanks Wavey”
When asked what they thought about the course being available to next year’s Year 9 boys they said:
“It’s fun and you should do it again for the next Year 9” ......
“More weeks on the course and to do different things”
“I think it should be 4 weeks of lessons instead of 3 :( I REALLY ENJOYED IT! ”
“Thank you Mrs Joy and NIGEL (AKA Wavey) IS A LEGEND :)”
In March, twenty-two Year 9 boys were chosen to take part in the FAST-TRACK BOYS‟ MUSIC TECHNOLOGY COURSE
The boys were part of an accelerated learning group.
The course was organised by Mrs Joy, the Head of Music, and was delivered by a visiting specialist from Soft Touch. Soft Touch is a company based in Leicester that offers young people the chance to work together to make positive changes to their life-long learning, personal aspirations and ultimate success.
The course leader, Nigel, AKA „Wavey‟, planned out a creative project that was both enjoyable and suitably challenging for our carefully selected Year 9 boys. It was envisaged that this project would not only allow the boys to make at least two-thirds of a level‟s progress, but also it
would enhance their personal development and enable them to acquire new skills and gain an insight into the world of studio recording and other music technologies.
The course, as anticipated, was fun, upbeat and very much a hands-on active learning experience.
Wavey, the course leader, has significant experience in working within the contemporary music industry and showed the boys how to select samples, make mixes and package music with a contemporary feel.
The rapport he built up with the boys was amazing! All the equipment was provided for the boys and they were very open minded to Wavey‟s teaching and toward their new learning.
The course really did revitalise and refresh the boys‟ musical experience, allowing them to view their music making and learning as fun and relevant to them. All of the boys participated in three, 2-hour workshops across three weeks and they each received a free audio recording of their work to celebrate the success they achieved. This truly did lead them to achieve success at a
much faster rate. All of the boys have since commented on the fact that they really enjoyed their music making and listening to their tracks at home. When surveyed, 100% of the boys said that they enjoyed the experience. When asked on the survey what they enjoyed, here are some of the boys‟ responses:
“I really enjoyed the partnership and the freedom”
“...creating the song and then editing it to make it sound more professional” ...
“...making our own beats”
“The freedom to do what we wanted musically”
“...working in pairs to make the track” .......
“IT WAS GOOD TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT”
“We learned how to use things on the computers” ............ “It was great. I hope more people get to do it. Thanks Wavey”
When asked what they thought about the course being available to next year’s Year 9 boys they said:
“It’s fun and you should do it again for the next Year 9” ......
“More weeks on the course and to do different things”
“I think it should be 4 weeks of lessons instead of 3 :( I REALLY ENJOYED IT! ”
“Thank you Mrs Joy and NIGEL (AKA Wavey) IS A LEGEND :)”