We were blown away by the effort when we were joined by young people in Warmsworth.
Our initial inspiration for developing 90 minute music came from working with young people with additional needs.
We had a lot of fun and the adults were as enthusiastic as the young people.
We used Ableton Live to take part in DJ jams and we used hand drums and melodic drums to create an eclectic mix of positivity.
Thank you so much to Laura for inviting us, we had intended on working with Laura just before the COVID pandemic hit and it has took us five years to get round to working together, we look forward to working with you again soon.
Big respect to all the staff who joined us Instruments from South America and Germany
A real pleasure to be asked to to join young people on the Children’s Ward. Our studies over the last 10 years have been focused on how music and music technology can positively affect health
We were supported by staff on the ward and their experience shone through as they engaged in the session.
Time passes slowly for young people in hospital so a one off session like this breaks up the boredom and also provides an activity which can be shared with parents and staff.
The technology we use provides an opportunity to engage on a level playing field regardless of age or ability.
We had very young people exploring the musical instruments from around the world and it was a highlight to see them engaging with the technology.
“absolutely fantastic”
After the session the staff told me that they thought the session was “absolutely fantastic” which was great to hear.
Thanks to Jill for inviting us, we look forward to working with you again soon.
Supercharging development in young people who don’t always engage is an important part of what we do.
At Askern Shakers youth club we worked on communication and respect. The mixed age group worked well. We talked about our connections to music and examined how music can support brain development. Our first visit to Shakers and what an asset for Askern, thanks to Mitchell for inviting us and thanks to Isiasha from Heal Me Happy for passing on our details.
At Woodlands Library we were joined by a group of 10 who had come from the Outwood Academy next door. They wanted to produce a Darkzy style tune, We identified the sounds and techniques and began emulating it using the technology. I explained to them that there would be a challenging journey ahead, but we use state of the art music production equipment, so coupled with our 25 years experience, we are able to get them there fast.
Week 4 of 6 and the Adwick Primary group are coming along as we expected, the initial shyness has become a burgeoning confidence and their coordination physically and socially is an achievement we are proud to play our part in.
The Charity Hub
We have also found time to update our level 3 safeguarding and visited The Charity Hub this week where we met with some local and national organisations and got to share our experiences while learning from theirs. Thanks to Vicki Beevers from The Sleep Charity and Nathan Kennedy from D. I. C. E. for guest speaking. And Brett Riley-Tomlinson and Clynton Johnson for inviting us.
And finally awesome to see our volunteers developing fast and getting a real insight into the research and skills which back up what we do, so big thanks to Dennis and Matt.
Upcoming workshops 👀
Me Project from 2.15 on Sunday Woodlands Library from 2.45 Monday, Askern Shakers from 7.00pm Monday, Adwick Primary School from 2.55 Tuesday, Bullcroft Memorial Hall 4.45pm Tuesday, Highfields Boxing Club 4.45pm Wednesday
We were back at New York Stadium in Rotherham today. We delivered in the RUFCST Museum, aside of learning of the first ever penalty to be scored in a match against Darlington and various facts of play off victories and football memorabilia our focus was on health and development.
We got really useful feedback from one of the participants today. I was told that the workshop was really easy to understand and that our core work, which we always begin with when working with new people, was a clear path to songwriting and composition.
After 10 years of honing and development this wasn’t a surprise, but hearing it from a young person was special.
Thanks to Jonathan Allen for looking after us again and good luck for tomorrows 24 hour #walkforrio which is a fundraiser for the son of Tommy Spurr, who used to play for Doncaster Rovers.
Instant engagement is the key to delivering any kind of work with young people. Over the past 3 years our partner organisations have shared the benefits of our work such as reducing anxiety and building social confidence.
It’s fulfilling to hear the positive feedback we have received and we are blessed to have found partners who share our passion.
When you work with tools everyday they can almost become invisible to you, I think we sometimes take for granted our privilege of being able to use state of the art equipment and we often ignore the obvious elements of Science and Technology in our work.
This week we have given an opportunity for young blind people to closely communicate using the technology as a tool. We were Invited by the Ridge Employability College who are focused on giving young people employment opportunities in the community.
We have also spent time at Highfields Boxing Club where we opened up the conversation about how young people used technology and we all had different views of what a mobile phone is for.
We embraced sound design at Bentley Myplace this week and came up with a classic house groove. We sculpted sound using a synthesiser and made collaborative choices on what we were aiming for.
The STEM acronym is used a lot nowadays and there can be a fear factor surrounding maths and science, our focus is on the fun, so we feel the flow rather than the…….. Errrrrrrr no.
We have places available at Highfields Boxing Club on Wednesday night from 4.45pm
I have always been reluctant to share the awesome!!! work of The ME – Project. I have been working with them over the past couple of years with their Artfully Adapting programme.
It is a targeted programme which practically highlights artistic activities to support specific areas of young people’s lives. I always commend the participants for just turning up. The difficult part of the work for us, is sharing with the public just how much fun it is, while respecting confidentiality of the attendees.
When parents say to their kids “hey go down and try it” it must fill them with dread as they don’t know what they are walking into. I think everyone who joins is pleasantly surprised. The facilities are awesome and I always look forward to returning for a chocolate cookie, they always get the really nice ones.
Kat, Paige and the team are like a family. I think what has made it work so well is that they do it like us, they carry the deep knowledge and experience, which they keep inside like a book on a shelf, while being more focused in the moment of having fun and engaging.
So far every participant has enjoyed it, we have had a lot of fun, and at one point last night we had a 5 minute laughing fit with tears rolling down cheeks as I looked back and shared one of my stories from my school days.
The latest 6 week programme to support 12 to 16 year olds may still have a place left as I write this, check below for details.
Back at the New York Stadium. Great effort from the morning group with respect and confidence building throughout. It gives us massive confidence in our working practice when we return and see the development in action.
Thanks to Jonathan Allen and the staff at New York Stadium for providing a safe environment for young people to develop and learn new skills.
Recent results on the pitch outline the dedication of the sporting staff, the same ambition is mirrored in the way that the trust engage with the community.
A privilege for us to be asked to return and play our part, looking forward to seeing you again soon.
I’ve loved it today and I would really like to do this again. E. B. age 8
Over 150 session attendances over the past week. Great to be teaming up with Active Fusion again.
Creating partnerships is vital for the work we do in the community and it is a special feeling to be able to support our local area.
One of the children today stated that he didn’t like music before the session began, but went on to contribute well with the group and engaged well with technology.
We have encountered this a few times over the years and showing young people that they can do things that they don’t feel confident about is important to us.
We are not going to pass on 24 years of experience in a short period of time, but we can show them that there is a place for them in the world of music.
Returning to join up with Active Fusion has given us the opportunity to build on the foundations of our previous work on communication and respect. We moved on to exploring music from around the world to coincide with the commonwealth games. The young people benefitted from being allowed to experiment with instruments from far and wide which in many cases they are experiencing for the first time. We believe in giving opportunity by removing barriers of cost and geographic location.
We will be back supporting Active Fusion again soon, big thanks to the staff as always for making me feel part of the team and thanks to the young people for their effort and enthusiasm.
For us technology has enabled us to do what we love every day. Supporting young people with their development while working creatively with music.
But has the development of technology made things worse? Do we have shorter attention spans? Are we becoming more anxious? Is anybody truly bored anymore?
Our philosophy in 90 Minute Music comes from researching how humans utilise technology and exploring how we can add value in terms of sociability and building resilience.
There is often a perceived conflict between us and technology especially when it goes wrong.
When technology fails
In our experience some young people are more likely to be enthusiastic about engaging with technology than each other.
We use this to our advantage by using the technology to focus on the things that technology has begun to erode. We share our knowledge of music, production and the world of DJing to identify how we can synergise groups of individuals by learning about their primary needs.
We have supported thousands of young people with their development by identifying areas of support and quickly putting that support in place through our training and expertise.
Although our aims are to support health and development, the nature of our work is having fun and sharing each others qualities.
I didn’t like 90 Minute Music, I loved it.
C. B. Age 10 Doncaster
We will be at Myplace Bentley from 6.00pm on Wednesday 8th of June.
Norbreck Communal Hall Askern from 5.00pm on Thursday 9th of June.
Bullcroft Memorial Hall from 7.15pm on Thursday the 9th of June.
Follow us on Facebook to find out when and where you can access free sessions for young people.
Our last week of delivery in Highfields this week. We have learnt about Djing, Production and have discussed many issues Including Identity, Diversity, Home and Family, War, Friendship and of course Sport. Many came from Outlying villages to join us as many do to receive the top class Boxing training and experience of John and Liz Loosemore. The young people have been wide ranging in age, but the culture of respect and communication added value to all. I can’t wait to come back and work with you again, it has been a pleasure.
Great Characters who provided plenty of laughs and support.
We began our long anticipated work in Askern this week. Norbreck Communal Hall is the venue and we’ll be there every Thursday from 5.00pm till 6.30pm. We had good attendance, but we still have capacity for more to join. We worked on aspects of communication and I spoke about how breathing can be useful when playing together in a group. The young people spoke about how music may fit in with tribal culture, which is the basis of all our cultural past. Well done to everyone from 17 all the way down to the youngest, who showed that music is valuable, as a mechanism of bringing us together. There is much more to it of course and I look forward to sharing it with you in the coming weeks.
Pleased to play a small part in the growing number of activities in Askern
Our 2nd new venue this week was Bullcroft Memorial Hall where we will be at 7.15pm every Thursday. We had a small group attending, but they had to leave early as they were aged 11 and an 8.45pm finish is late. There may be an idea of splitting into an older and younger group, we will see who joins us next week and decide. We have had further interest over the last few days, it would be great to see you join us next Thursday.
Industry Standard Equipment isn’t always available to young people.
I met a group of older lads who were passing outside, some were into Djing and knew one of the local MC’s I have been working with, so I told them to check the website because even though they were 17 and older than our usual participants I would not want them to miss the opportunities that we can offer through employment opportunities and further training through our partner organisations like Higher Rhythm.
Thanks to John and Liz at Highfields. Isiasha at Norbreck and Tracy at Bullcroft for Kindly proving the venues.
Massive thanks to Well Doncaster and DMBC for providing funding and sharing support through Doncaster Chamber and the Community Wealth Builder.
90minutemusic.co.uk 