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The Notivate Singer/Songwriter Programme
This is a song/rap writing and recording project for small groups of
young people. The participants attend on-site workshops
to prepare their compositions, with various activities, including song themes,
lyric writing, song structure, melody writing and performance
skills. Essential to this programme are the selected
"ice-breaker" group activities, which help to enable the group to work
together, sharing creative ideas and discussing the various issues that
arise. At the penultimate workshop, each participant receives a CD
containing an appropriately and professionally prepared backing track. These workshops are followed by a one-day recording session at a
professional studio, after which each participant receives a copy of a CD
containing their work.
This model is the result of three years' work
with over 300 young people from a wide variety of social backgrounds in schools
and and youth centres. By Summer 2008, over 1,000 young people had
participated in the programme. Emphasis is placed upon the individual participant
and therefore each occurrence is flexible and distinct. We work in close
partnership with the host organisation to ensure that every opportunity is given
for all concerned to benefit from the project, through understanding of
circumstances and close communication with all stakeholders.
Each participant has a workbook in which to
write their song lyrics and design their CD Cover, along with various
activities to help them identify and develop their strengths, learn new skills
and capture their ideas and aspirations.
The final recording session is
generally held at The Studio @ The Stables in Milton Keynes, although
Notivate also has access to various trusted alternative locations - and we can
also provide on-site recording facilities where necessary. During the
recording day, participants are provided with various activities while their waiting
their turn to record. Where appropriate, participants are also encouraged
to assist the studio engineer in the control room.
Following the recording day, appropriate performance
opportunities are sought (often school assemblies) for the participants to
share their achievements. Where appropriate, suitable sign-posting
will be provided for participants who demonstrate particular skills or
abilities, through our existing relationships with the music industry and youth
services.
Monitoring and evaluation occurs
before, during and after the various activities throughout the programme, often
in the form of questions: "What went well?" "What could
have gone better?" and "What should happen next time?". All
participants are invited to contribute to this process - along with the other
stakeholders, including, where possible, parents and relevant teachers/youth
workers.
Key Benefits for Participants
Raised self-esteem
Greater willingness to take
creative risks
Increased confidence to learn
Curriculum Areas Covered
Music - KS2 and 3:
Performing, composing and
appraising
Listening and applying knowledge
and understanding
Working in groups and individually
Using ICT to create, capture,
change, refine and combine sounds
Citizenship & PSHE - KS2 and 3:
Developing confidence and
responsibility and making the most of their abilities
Developing good relationships and
respecting the differences between people
English – KS2
Speaking, listening, group
discussions and interaction
Composition, planning and drafting
Art and Design - KS2 and 3:
Exploring and developing ideas
Investigating and making art,
craft and design
Evaluating and developing work
Working on their own and
collaborating with others
Using a range of materials and
processes, including ICT
Inclusion:
Notivate strives to provide effective learning
opportunities for all participants by setting suitable learning challenges,
responding to pupils' diverse learning needs and overcoming potential barriers
to learning and assessment for individuals and groups of participants.
(Please contact us for more specific details on the curriculum: info@notivate.com)
Previous participants
Primary
Schools:
Abbey (Daventry),
Arbours (Northampton), Ashfield Park (Ross-On-Wye), Bellinge
(Northampton), Blackthorn (Northampton), Boughton, Braunston,
Bridstow (Herefordshire), Brixworth, Clehonger (Herefordshire), Falconer's Hill (Daventry),
Goodrich (Herefordshire),
Grange (Daventry), Grange (Kettering), Great Houghton Preparatory School,
Harlestone, Lings
(Northampton),
Llangrove (Herefordshire), Lumbertubs (Northampton),
Moulton, Newnham,
Overstone, Pitsford, Southbrook (Daventry), Spring Lane (Northampton), St
Weonards (Herefordshire), Thorplands (Northampton), Walgrave, Warwick (Wellingborough),
West Haddon, Whitchurch (Herefordshire), Woodvale (Northampton)
Middle
Schools:
Blackthorn (Northampton),
Cliftonville
(Northampton), Emmanuel (Northampton),
Goldings
(Northampton), Spencer (Northampton)
Secondary
& Upper Schools:
Caroline Chisholme (Northampton), Danetre (Daventry),
Friars (Wellingborough),
Guilsborough,
Kingsbrook (Deanshanger),
Northampton Academy,
Mereway
(Northampton),
Thomas Beckett
(Northampton),
Weatherfied (Dunstable),
Weston Favell
(Northampton)
Other
Groups:
Adoption
Team (Northamptonshire), Home School Support (Northamptonshire), KIC in2
Study (Northampton), Nene Valley Christian Family Refuge, Women's Aid
(Northampton), Young Carers (Northampton)
Youth
Clubs:
Blue
Door (Moulton), Broadmead
Holiday Club (Northampton), Ecton Village, Fair Project (Rushden),
Firewall (Abington Christian Centre, Northampton),
JFC (Northampton), Kilsby
Village,
Meeting Point (Kingdom Life Church, Northampton),
Moulton Village Holiday Club, Mount Pleasant Saturday Club (Northampton), Overstone
Lodge (Northampton), Roade Village,
Southfields (Northampton), St Peters Holiday
Club (Northampton),
Store House Cell Church (Northampton), Vision Cafe (Towcester), Wackies (Northampton), Whitefriars (Rushden)
Feedback: Teachers and Youth Workers
“Thank you for all you have
achieved with our children. To see their confidence raised to such an extent is
absolutely wonderful. I have even managed to persuade them to allow me to
organise a special Achievement Assembly that will feature them and them alone –
WOW!!!! Progress or what! It was incredibly worthwhile and something that we
shall definitely repeat in the future.”
Pete Sturges, Head Teacher
“The
whole project was a resounding success.”
Mark Currell, Head Teacher
“The
Notivate project has been a real success story. We were talking in the staff
room about the big change in [participant]. We all agree he’s transformed!”
Jane Windsor, Head Teacher
“Since the
project [participant] is quite willing to share with everybody, which has been
an immense change for her.”
Debbie Curtis, Student Mentor
“I
can honestly say that this was the best project of the past five years in my
job… Life changing and awesome!”
Linda Carter, Home Schools Support
Service Manager
“It
has given the children who has either self esteem problems or other social
issues the chance to express themselves and produce something they are very
proud of. It was fantastic to see children that would not have worked together
sharing a common theme. One of the children’s parents sent in a thank you card
as their child had been so ‘blown away’ they wanted to express their gratitude
and hoped that other children would be able to have the same opportunity.
We would be happy to recommend Notivate to any
other organisations either for funding or to take part in the scheme as we have
been so impressed with the whole package.”
Jenny Reilly & Glenda Gillet, SENCo
“We’ve
seen an immense change in the children”
Debbie Curtis, Student Mentor
“Very
successful in captivating and motivating the children.”
“Teachers
have reported lasting impacts, including one example of a girl whose confidence
was so low she nearly did not make it through the door of the first Notivate
session, claiming ‘It’s music. I can’t do music’. Positive changes that
occurred during the course, in particular her communication skills, have
continued, and her sense of pride and achievement were immense.”
“Feedback from teachers, practitioners,
families and young people themselves has shown this work to have a real impact.”
“They [the participants] were picked basically
because they’ve a lack of self-esteem. You wouldn’t think it now in seeing them
… they’ve gained a lot of confidence.”
“Positive reinforcement had not much been in
evidence previously … and the Notivate experience really helped to build his
self-esteem.”
“Loss, as experienced by many young people, is
very difficult to deal with. The music projects seemed to have provided a
cathartic outlet for dealing with some of the emotional trauma caused by loss.”
“Another teacher cited a pupil who experienced
significant communication difficulties. He did not believe the boy would even
agree to take part. However, he wrote his own song and recorded it to CD, and
completed the course, which the teacher acclaimed as a considerable achievement:
‘For that particular youngster I think it has been very very valuable in terms
of building his confidence, again at a very crucial time because we’ve got the
Year 6 SATS tests coming up … and also the transfer to secondary school … and a
lot of children do find that very anxious, particularly this boy.’”
“Groupwork has helped strengthen relationships
between pupils, parents and school. In many cases it has opened up
communication channels: ‘… just talking about music opens up all sorts of other
conversations that wouldn’t have otherwise in school.’”
“The parents were very positive about it as
well, which really helped relationships … It was great because it opened up
conversations again that they might not have had otherwise.”
Children's Fund [Daventry
Transitions and Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs]
June and August 2007
Feedback: Participants and Parents
“Power to your elbow! My daughter hasn’t
stopped talking about it. I agree with your aim of making the children feel
more confident.
You’re doing a great job.”
Participant’s Father
“I
think Notivate is a real confidence booster.”
Participant Yr7
“Notivate
was greate! [sic] Real fun and it made you feel good inside.”
Participant Yr7
“I’d
like to be a pop star … not just for the money, ‘cos I enjoy singing.”
Participant Yr6
“The
recording day was the best day of my life, apart from when my dad took me to
Wembley”
Participant Yr5
“So
much fun and it was a big opportunity and you have opened a door for me! I
would like to continue singing in the future.”
Participant Yr6
“I’ve never sung before and now I’ve done it I
can do it again.”
Participant Yr6
“This
has helped me with my confidence.”
Participant Yr6
“Brilliantly
fantastico!”
Participant Yr5
