Disquiet (2017). Credit: Rikard Österlund

A consultation with young people in North Kent found many were worried about music provision coming “under threat in the cuts.” What would the longer-term impact be on the local music scene? And, where resources were becoming scarce, could young leaders be trained to run their own music clubs?
 
Disquiet was a pilot project that worked with six trainee music leaders aged 16-19 at both Strood Youth Centre and Ideas Test in Sittingbourne. It set out to test if accessible teaching methods, such as Musical Futures' Just Play and instructional YouTube videos, could be adapted to effectively support music sessions for 13-15 year olds.
 
As part of the project, trainees:

• developed music skills on a variety of instruments including guitar, vocals, keys, bass and drums
• worked towards an Arts Award and gained leadership skills for their CV
• learned Just Play - Musical Futures' accessible teaching method, used in schools across the UK
• received ongoing support and coaching while they ran and led music workshops
• received a training bursary of up to £300 on completion of the project.

 
The project also produced:

• a project blog, that tracked the music leaders’ progress
• the Disquiet Video Channel, a resource that was co-created with the trainee music leaders
• an article that reflected on how well Musical Futures worked in youth clubs 
• an evaluation on perceptions of Musical Futures being youth-led, undertaken by always possible Ltd.

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SparkedEcho managed the project on behalf of Musical Futures. The Musical Futures teaching approach was developed from the non-formal and informal practices of popular and community musicians. Their work has developed inclusive practice in the classrooms for primary and secondary schools across the world.

Disquiet was supported by funding from Youth Music. Kent Music kindly continued to facilitate the project at Ideas Test, Sittingbourne, beyond the funding period.

Gallery

Project notes

Disquiet was a Musical Futures project managed by SparkedEcho (2017)

Project Manager: Kevin Grist

Project Assistant: Janet Moore

Musical Futures: Fran Hannan

Musical Futures practitioners: Anna Gower, Katie Teage

Music Leader Mentor: Kevin Grist

Arts Award Advisers: Frances Chiverton, Kevin Grist

Strood Youth Centre: Lindsay Hartney, Allan Harris, Patricia Houssein, Pierre Ballanyongo, Pauline Wagon

Ideas Test: Frances Chiverton, Steph Fuller, Jack Finch-Harding, Chloe Collins, Jade Joseph, Kyra Cross, Cassandra Gibbs

Kent Music: Darren Edney, Lucy Duff, Karen Self

Photographer: Rikard Österlund

​Evaluator: always possible Ltd

Partners and funders: Youth Music, Musical Futures, Ideas Test, Medway Youth Services, Kent Music, Arts Award

Project blog

https://disquietproject.tumblr.com/post/166511570080/video-from-the-strood-youth-centre-session-on

https://disquietproject.tumblr.com/post/167867497660/disquiet-mentoring-feedback-for-session-on

Participant responses

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I made new friends. I found out how easy it can be to teach someone a new instrument... 
​I now look forward to running sessions.
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Music Leader

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Very proudly listening to my daughter practising the ukulele this evening and she showed me some bass
riffs on my guitar. I can see the confidence growing in her.
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Parent of participant

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It gave me a boost in self confidence and new skills. I enjoyed it - feel like I have improved
and am less socially awkward. I can now drum better.​
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Music Leader

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This was a quick and easy way to teach and develop skills.
I didn’t think it was going to be this good!

Music Leader

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I improved my guitar and drumming skills. It has been fun to learn to teach. ​I now feel more capable to show someone how to play.
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Music Leader

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I've definitely learnt from it. I didn’t know anything and now I’ve got more of an understanding, playing the keyboard. I've learnt more about drumming.
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Music Leader

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It’s good to come to a place where there are little kids who can teach me stuff, as well as me teaching them stuff!
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Funders and supporters

You may be interested in...

Disquiet Video Channel (2018). Credit: Musical Futures

Disquiet Video Channel (2018)
After Disquiet, a series of instructional videos were co-produced with young music leaders on the project. These have been designed to inspire other young people to run their own music clubs.