Inspired by cult TV series the Sopranos and our ongoing journey with Dementia, this is the latest offering to help reduce social isolation.
Although much of our work is with the younger population, the personal challenges of recent years have steered us to question how we can help the elderly.
Mum has been an inspiration
After she had a recent fall I have been spending more time with my Mum, exploring different artistic endeavours. Although I felt a bit guilty for not trying it before, I was surprised just how much she was getting from it and how it supported her mental health and cognition.
Bada-Bada-Bingo Is a (hopefully) less competitive mix between Bingo and Name That Tune which we will be trialing with local groups soon.
If there are any local groups to Doncaster which are interested in smashing social isolation then feel free to get in touch.
Yes….. All we ask is that you fill in a short survey, or video interview, such as the one here….. 90minutemusic.co.uk /2022/01/21/active-fusion-winter-camps/
Just a quick word from some of the young people who we have been working with in December
Big thanks to the children at West Road for sharing their positive views
Once again thanks to Lindsy and all the wonderful staff at Active Fusion for their support, also the staff and pupils at Kirk Sandall, Windhill, and West Road for their commitment in supporting not only a boost to the education of their children, but much needed support for local families who have been affected by the pandemic.
How did music come into your life ? Something you heard on the radio, songs you sang in school, maybe even small black discs that you had to get on a bus to get hold of?
From the womb onward, you are affected by music in the world around you.
In 90 Minute Music we highlight the two symbiotic elements that set us apart from millions of other species.
Music and the Development of Technology.
In 90 Minute Music we carefully employ elements of technology to give a shortcut to the reward circuits of the brain and use these to promote positive development.
Humans have evolved by developing traits and functions to promote survival. Music and the development of technology have been constant throughout our evolution.
What tribal or indigenous elements are relevant today ?
Education (Aboriginal people around the world use music to support the telling of stories linked to survival, these stories are passed on through generations.) Nursery rhymes are a modern take on this.
Communication (songs are used to learn the rhythms of language) Babies mimic the rhythmical language of their parents native tongue.
Work music (From sea shanties to field music, music helps support resilience)
What can music do for me now?
Group music making can be a real confidence booster, which can support a strong and positive identity. (We remove the barriers of hierarchy and musical knowledge to promote a hub of creativity and expression)
Forming relationships around music can give people lifelong support networks which offer resilience and can support positive mental health.
Music can be used to manage mood and is used to reduce pain and anxiety in medical settings. (Many of us experience pain and anxiety…….recent research has shown significant reductions in pain perception with hospitalised patients listening to familiar music.)
Why is technology important?
Technology can offer accessibility to those with Specific Learning difficulties or have additional needs and gives an opportunity for people of various levels of experience to instantly share music creation.
90 Minute Music offer a unique experience using state of the art music technology equipment to remind us of the often overlooked elements of music while mirroring Ofsted best practice for music education which is based around practical collaboration. Find out more: https://90minutemusic.co.uk
Just a brief post to say thank you to EXPECT Youth for inviting us to become members and to Clare Galliers for giving us her support while gathering and attaining documentation that added up to us receiving our quality mark..
Thanks also to Amy Rutherford of Doncaster Chamber for her work supporting the Community Wealth Builder, and not forgetting the team at Well Doncaster, and VAD who have worked hard to provide cohesion between community groups.
Due to the unique way we deliver 90 Minute Music, we always draw on the experiences of working in Live Sound and Studio settings. The frequency ranges of the instruments need to be carefully considered.
We have been on the look out for a Schlagwerk Log Drum for a long time and were struggling due to the cost of these high-quality acoustic instruments. Everything we use must be safe, durable and fit with the framework of principles in which we work. Mission Accomplished!! Tried and tested on over 500 young people this summer. For some this was the first musical instrument they had ever played and as expected, turned out to be a real confidence booster.
Another addition we have acquired is this Aluminium Darbuka. These instruments are helpful when working with people who have mobility issues or have weakness in their hands. We pride ourselves on being able to use the knowledge we have gained through experience to maximise the possibilities for all within our sessions.
These instruments will provide a source of inspiration hopefully for years to come. Thanks to everyone who has supported us so far!!!
We are proud to announce the professional qualification of Director Louise Beioley-Flynn. She now holds a BSc (Hons) and is a Registered Nurse.
Studying while raising a family is a big commitment at the best of times but doing it during a Pandemic and working unpaid for 2,400 hours must be commended.
Louise left school with no formal qualifications and had to resit GCSE’s, before completing an access course to Nursing and Midwifery, then going on to attain her degree. It wasn’t always an easy ride, but we got there. She has an absolute passion for Nursing, she was inspired to begin the journey after meeting a health visitor, who was supportive of Breast Feeding, and seeing a good friends’ social media posts about studying at the same level.
The impact on 90 Minute Music has been a greater shared knowledge base and awareness of certain professional principles, which have relevance to our practical work. Having access to the university’s resources gave an opportunity to delve into the increasing academic research surrounding Music, Psychology and how Neuroscience can provide answers, and in some cases provide further questions about how we interact with Music and the benefits to lifelong health and education.
We were recently invited to support activities on behalf of the Doncaster Opportunity Area. It is humbling to be considered for this kind of important and impactful work in our own borough of Doncaster.
Our hands-on approach fit the criteria for this perfectly as it was to support young people not in mainstream education and those who may not be able to access the kind of service we provide by barrier of expense or physical locality.
We Provided 4 sessions at the Youth Hubs and were proud to involve our latest volunteer Tom. Tom is studying music at School and it was a great opportunity for him to get real practical experience of working with music, and also a chance for him to work with young people, which might not always seem like a career path for someone of his age.
One of the young people who attended came with his siblings and wasn’t as keen on travelling to the Youth Hub as his brother and sister.
“I didn’t want to come today, I didn’t know it was going to be like this, I’ve really enjoyed it, when I heard it was going to be Music, I thought it would just be boring, but this is awesome, can I come next time?”
M.B. Age 12
We take pride in making our sessions engaging and accessible so to hear quotes like this gives us a real boost to know that the hours of preparation are worthwhile.
We met the usual challenges presented by the Covid-19 Pandemic, and respect goes out to the Youth Hubs staff for their professionalism and humility which I have come to expect, but never take for granted.
Thanks to Philippa Bonham of EXPECT Youth, Lee Douglas and Robin Macneill, and also Paul Littlewood of Higher Rhythm for offering support on this project.
It was great to be asked to come back and support Active Fusion with their summer programme.
Active Fusion focus on activities to promote health and well-being for young people.
Our role was to engage with young people to take part in collaborative work which benefits their transition into secondary education, and to provide fun activities for younger children, while respecting appropriate milestones of the MMC.
As with all our sessions the impetus was on practical engagement, but the focus was on the value of communication. We did this by taking part in a session we call “speak to me” where the participants take part in a surreal conversation using audio which highlights simple, but sometimes overlooked elements of communication.
We then expand on these points by highlighting discipline and respect. We did this by jamming on themes around a tribe that live in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest. By highlighting dynamics and simply pointing out when the values of communication, discipline and respect were happening, while working collaboratively, offers different outcomes in the context of practical music making when compared to the headspace of a classroom or home environment.
Further benefits include elements of the more mainstream approach of the Model Music Curriculum such as Singing, listening and composition.
We packed a lot in to these short sessions, but it was rewarding to hear most of the young people speaking about the things they had retained upon visiting them for a second time.
A big message of thanks and admiration for the delivery staff at Active Fusion who are made up of young people in their late teens to early 20s. They showed incredible ability to engage and pitch their communication to young people from age 4 to 11 years and get them to show respect for not only the staff, but each other. It really is notable to see young adults who are motivated to support children in such a passionate and wholehearted way. They all made me welcome and were happy to join in with the practical work when asked.
Overall, for our part we engaged with around 400 young people and our research suggests every one of them will enjoy lifelong benefits through their engagement with industry professionals on this programme. Respect goes out to representatives of DMBC and the Department of Education for attending sessions and getting a genuine feel for the quality provision on offer.
Finally, thanks to the young people who engaged with 90 Minute Music. To see friendships being formed while gaining new skills is wonderfully rewarding. I hope to work with you again soon.
90minutemusic.co.uk 