Community music is when musicians involve a group of people in a musical activity, some examples of community music involve; marching bands, choirs, bands and opera’s. Community music is often used to support people in need and teach them musical skills in the form of fun activities for all to enjoy.
Community definition
a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common- (Definition Of Community, 2010)
When and why would you use music in communities?
Music can be used in communities for a multitude of reasons, one example where music can be used in communities is during festive seasons such Christmas, Easter or Halloween. Hosting music community events during the festive seasons can put everyone in a more festive mood and cheer them up. Community music can also be used in celebrations such as; birthdays, funerals, anniversaries or for celebrating job promotions, music in celebratory events help bring people closer together and make people overall more happy and relaxed. Music can also be played in communities to honour traditions that date back hundreds to thousands of years, one example of a musical tradition is weddings. During a wedding music will play when the bride is walking up the isle, this is because it has always been tradition to play music during this event to highlight the event as a grand moment in time. In clubs music is also played to allow people to dance to it, this is because music is the main focus in a night club as everyone dances to it and parties around the theme or energy of the music. Communities can also make profit from music events such as concerts as people have to often pay an entry fee, this money can used to help improve the local community by investing more money into it.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is a career in music which involves helping medically through music, to become a music therapist you must take a 2 year masters course for the NHS. Music therapy and other forms of community music is lead by professional musicians, music therapy helps patients in terms of both physical and mental health. Music in hospitals can be very important as it helps drown out the sound of machinery within the hospital, this helps distract the patients from the situation they are in. Music can also give the patients and families within the hospital something positive to focus on, this can also bring joy and emotional recovery to the people within the hospital. Music therapy has also been used to restore identity to patients with illnesses such as dementia, this is because it reminds them of the music they loved and therefore brings back past memory and reminds them of who they are.
What Is Music Therapy (Case Study)
Music therapy is the use of music to aid people with struggles such as; people with learning disabilities, stroke victims, dementia patients, autism ect. Amy is a girl who was born with autism and struggles to communicate with people, therefore she screamed at everyone and held a transistor radio up to her ear on it’ maximum volume so she could not hear the outside world. To help Amy the music therapist played music that “meets the harshness of the real world”, this caused Amy to screaming and damaging her hearing . 1 year later through the music therapy Amy was able to communicate with others without screaming or putting the radio up to her ear, meaning music therapy allowed her to see that she does not have to block out the real world. The music therapy helped Amy begin to go to school and communicate with other people, however on her Holiday the progress she had made in music therapy dramatically lost progress. This was highlighted how much progress was made in her music therapy, proving that the therapy was very successful.
Music therapy was also used to help a boy named Declan who was suffering from some form of physical, the illness Declan was suffering from was not specified in the video. In the video Declan could be seen singing along to a piano which the music therapist was playing, he was singing about saying goodbye to the hospital room he had been living in, this proved that the music therapy helped Declan open up about his thoughts and express them through music. Overall proving that music is a good to help people release emotions and thoughts they have been holding captive inside of them, Declan’s parents also said “It was like getting there little boy back”, suggesting he was not as happy as seen in the video before the music started. This quote proves that music therapy can help bring joy back into peoples lives, as the music therapy made Declan happy which in turn made his parents happy to see him with joy.
Alive Inside (Case Study)
Henry is a man who is suffering from dementia which has lead to him being hospitalised for 10 years within a nursing home, before he came into the nursing home he was suffering from seizures which made the family aware of the severity of the situation. Before Henry is given music he can be seen slouching over at his desk, at this point he looks very depressed and unresponsive. The doctors provide Henry with an Ipod filled with a playlist of Henry’s favourite songs, when Henry hears this he begins to move his body to music and sing along to it. Once he listens to the music it looks as if he has been given a shot of energy which brought him back to live, as before listening to the music he was silent and still making him look dead inside. Giving Henry music was like a reawakening which allowed the doctors to have a conversation with him. They had to ask Henry simple yes or no questions to avoid confusing him in the middle of the conversation as his brain is not as fast in response as the average person.
The doctors talked to Henry about his favourite artists and songs as he was filled with excitement and highly responsive to the doctors, these questions also brought Henry back to memories of his past and who he was as a person. This is because many dementia patients suffer with identity loss as they forget who they are, before listening to music this was the case for Henry. However the music allowed him to comfortably talk about his past and restore his identity. The doctors also asked Henry why he liked music and he enthusiastically said that it gives him “the feeling of love” and that it was a gift sent from God to earth. This response showed that there was still tonnes of life and happiness left inside Henry, this part of Henry seemed dormant before he listened to the music. This case study proves that music can be very useful when helping someone struggling with mental illnesses such as dementia, as in this video music has brought life and even restored identity to Henry. Therefore music is very important in the recovery to many patients struggling with mental illness out there.
Ed’s Story (Case Study)
ED was a 20 year old man who was hit by a speeding taxi, the injuries caused by this accident sent gave him brain trauma and sent him into a coma. 6 months later he awoke, however he could not move or communicate properly. Music therapy was used to aid Ed in his recovery, to help Ed begin walking they had him take each step to the beat of a drum. The beat of the drum acted as a guide to help him build up momentum in his walk, eventually this lead Ed to be able to walk as he did before the accident. Listening to music also gave Ed they ability to unlock memories that he had before the accident, therefore music can be used to re-awaken last memories which is something music was used for in the previous music therapy case study (Alive Inside). Singing along to songs also helped Ed improve in his speech, which eventually allowed him to speak as he could not when he awoke. This helps as the rhythm of the lyrics help the patient build up speed over time in their speech as they sing faster rhythms over time. This treatment is also used to help people get rid of stutters, as Ed Sheeran was a singer with a very bad stutter he rapped along to Eminem’s old songs which helped him get rid of stutter. Proving singing lyrics is very helpful to those struggling with speech issues. Music was very important in the recovery of Ed as without it helped him gradually begin to walk and talk at a normal pace, making him ready to properly rejoin society. This case study is solid evidence of how music can physically help someone as music was successfully used to both help Ed walk and talk.
Streetwise Opera (Case Study)
What is opera?
Opera is a music style which originated from Eastern European countries, some countries which were important from the origin of opera are; Germany, France and Italy. Opera music focuses on telling a story through music, these stories are often about tragedy and romance. Opera productions come from a very wealthy background meaning the tickets for entry are very expensive, there is also a formal dress code which includes men to wear suits and women to wear fancy dresses. The main instrument of Opera is vocals, which often have a very powerful tone which can be heard throughout the venue.
Streetwise opera is a musical charity based in the UK which focuses on helping out the homeless by giving them the opportunity to perform in an opera. Much like other music communities Streetwise opera is run by professional musicians (composers, directors and musicians) in this charity these musicians are in charge of organising the tour and guiding the performers to improve. The structure of Streetwise opera is all about making the performers who where past homeless enjoy the experience of performing and help them restore their pride, self esteem and self worth. This is because many of the homeless performing in the Opera said they felt worthless and invisible in the public eye, streetwise performance helped them feel special, it also helped them make friends within the community which can combat loneliness. With the money from the charity they help feed homeless people and give them shelter from outside, this helps save lives as many homeless people are lost to hypothermia and starvation. Streetwise opera has also helped people such as Christian Herpallier who is a ex homeless man who struggled with his memory and speech, however his participation has helped him overcome these issues. Therefore streetwise opera is also helping people overcome mental and physical problems which impact their daily life.
what is the importance of streetwise opera in the community?
Streetwise opera is very important to the community makes them feel better as people and helps them counter personal issues they have encountered before. This is because some people within streetwise opera lost their money to drug and gambling addictions, focusing on opera makes them feel more powerful and in control which stops them from going back to their past addictions. The performances the gold also give the performers a feeling of importance as the audience watch them and enjoy their show, it also makes them feel as sense of accomplishment as usefulness therefore boosting their self-esteem, This also helps them reconnect with friends and family who they lost to addiction, as many issues such as this break connections between people. Streetwise opera also allows people to make friends within the community as they all have similar past experiences, making friends helps combat loneliness and depression because many people living on the streets feel lonely as everyone walks past them. Streetwise opera also gives the performers daily motivation to succeed and give the audience a great performance, it also helps them focus on a positive topic. Motivation is important as without it people can feel no need to work hard, this leads to failure and laziness. Streetwise opera also helps people improve their mental health, this is important as many of the homeless that walk in feel worthless to society, it is important to fight these thoughts as it can lead to self harm, suicide or bad physical health as they stop caring about themselves. However streetwise opera helps people recover from these thoughts by inspiring and supporting them, this makes them feel more confident and have a higher self-esteem.
Music Education Hubs
There are 123 music education hubs around England which are all funded by the department of education. A music education hub is when schools offer musical education lessons, these lessons are often free for all students to access. Music education hubs are great for younger students as it helps them unlock creativity as well as develop their confidence and social skills. Music education hubs in schools ensure access to musical education for all students as many people can’t student music due financial reasons or lack of opportunity. The music education hub in this video has taught children how to perform music on various instruments and as well as teaching them how to improvise which are both excellent skills in the music industry, meaning music education hubs are teaching students vital skills in the music industry which can prepare them for a future career in music. As music education hubs are very accessible it gives students the chance to explore more activities, it also allows teachers to progress “unearth talent” found in the education hubs. Teaching students such professional skills in music from a young age can help shape their future and create future opportunities for young people in the music industry.
In Harmony (Case Study)
In harmony is a music education hub funded by the Arts Council of England to help children learn music as a team and take part in playing in a huge ensemble. The two main elements which are focused on in this music education hub is getting children to learn an instrument and then getting them to perform in an orchestra of up to 80 children. Playing in an ensemble allows the children to build up teamwork and collaboration skills, therefore giving children vital skills that are used in todays music industry. Older students of the programme who have had experience playing in the orchestra also act as mentors to help the younger students improve, this inspires the younger students to follow in the footsteps of their mentors and hopefully one day become a mentor themselves.
All student ideas in the hub are approached with a “can do” attitude, meaning all tutors support and listen to all student ideas to try and make them work. The acceptance the tutors show to the students makes them confident in sharing their idea, giving them the confidence to share ideas throughout the whole day. A student in the orchestra said that it is great to play with others as if you lose the rhythm in the music you can look to the person playing next to you and follow their rhythm, allowing the students to get back in time with the music quickly. Playing in an orchestra with other students also allows them to have more respect for an individual when they are playing their instrument. Allowing students to play music along side their friends also makes them feel more confident, as the presence of their friends makes them feel supported and comfortable. The orchestra is aided by multiple teachers, one teacher will lead the orchestra and conduct them while there will be many other teachers looking out for struggling students and helping them play correctly. It is more effective to have multiple teachers in the room as one teacher may struggle to keep all 80 students in check throughout the session, therefore the class can be easily divided between the teachers in the room.
All the tutors in the music education hub are “high calibre” musicians, meaning they are excellent players, can engage and communicate with children as well as build relationships with them. The teachers at this music education hub are also experienced in behaviour management in the case that it may be needed. Combining all of these skills means these teachers are able to efficiently help the children with the music and calm them down if they get out of control or frustrated. Everyone in this music education hub including students and teachers take part so that everyone is able to progress their musical skills, making this hub great for sharpening and developing musical skills ready for the music industry. Overall this hub prepares the students with great practical musical skills on their instruments, along side the students also learn how to maintain a professional and respectful attitude while playing which is great for future collaboration projects they may take part in.
Music In Prison (Case Study)
Music has also been used in a prison on the outskirts of NYC to help rehabilitate prisoners and educate them in music. This community music programme is a year long music composition workshop which gives prisoners the opportunity to learn new instruments and write their own music, they are also given the opportunity to perform the compositions they write in a prison ensemble. This project helps prisoners hope and motivation, as it allows them to gain education in music where they can build there career when the leave prison. Prison is also a very boring and depressing environment as when people are sent to their cells there is nothing to think about but shame, this music workshop gives prisoners the opportunity to think positively and focus on music. The music workshop also evolves a lot of collaboration with other musicians and inmates, this is important as it brings people closer and develops everyone’s teamwork skills. Overall music spreads positivity, this is very important in prison as if all the inmates are in bad moods violence within the prison can begin to increase, therefore this workshop helps decrease attack rates throughout the prison. Due to the collaboration many inmates will make friends which will help combat loneliness and depression within prisons, combatting these mental states is important as it can lead to people taking there own lives. Last but not least this workshop also helps develop musical growth within the prison, this is important as it allows people to go into a musical career when they are released. This is good as many prisoners go back into a life of crime after prison as they feel like they have no where else to go, therefore giving them the skills to work within the music industry is very good.
Games In Community Music
Games are used often in community music sessions to keep people engaged with the workshop, it is also used as an icebreaker to get people introduced to one another. This is important as it helps people become more comfortable in their environment and to also make friends in the workshop, these warm up games are important as many people feel nervous and intimidated when joining a new group or community. Many games used as icebreakers in community music include; count to 20, spot the leader, free improvisation and sing down. All of these games are fun and also inspire musical growth within the community, I will explain how each one of these games inspire musical growth and help people become more comfortable in their new community.
Count to 20 is a game often used in many different communities around the globe, the rules of this game are to count to the number 20 as a group. The catch is that if multiple people say a number at the same time the counter will be reset to zero, all players must close their eyes and sit in an outwards circle. This means all players can only rely on their listening and teamwork skills. Count to 20 helps inspire musical growth because it helps sharpen listening skills, this is important as actively listening to music is important so that you can recognise what sounds wrong and what sounds good. This game alone will not give people an amazing skills to learn music by ear or produce amazing music, however it is a great introduction to listening skills within the music industry. Another way this game is useful is because it helps musicians have improved trust with other musicians, this is important during collaborations as it is important to focus on doing your job correctly in the music industry before you can help others. Therefore you must be able to trust people that they are doing their job correctly, this game increases trust by making you trust someone to say the number or not say the number at the same time as you. This game however can lead to people not participating by not saying a number, this problem could be fixed by allowing them to start the count down. This would be a great solution as a big reason people do not take part in this game is because they are afraid to mess up the count down by speaking at the same time as everybody, this was the case for someone in our college group when we played this game.
Spot the leader is a game used in community music that helps increase musical growth and communication skills, the rules of the game are very similar to that of wink murder. Meaning someone must leave the room where the group is held, during the time of their absence a leader will be selected. The job of the leader is to clap a rhythm of the rest of the group, the group and the leader will then begin clapping the rhythm together. The player that left them room will come back in and have to figure out who the leader is through observing the room. Every so often the rhythm has to be changed by the leader while everyone is clapping, this gives the person who left the room the opportunity to figure out who the leader is. This game helps people improve their rhythmic ability to create and clap rhythms, this is important in music production as you will have to constantly create new rhythms and be comfortable when making them. Another reason this game is useful is because it enhances listening skills as everyone must listen to the rhythm as be able to clap it back, during musical performance it is important to be able to understand and quickly pick up rhythms, therefore the games ability to help people pick up new rhythms will help them in future musical performances.
Another game that is useful in community music is free improvisation, in this game someone must make up a rhythm on any instrument. The aim of the game after this is for each individual person in the group to add their own unique rhythm to the music. This game helps inspire creativity and improvisation skills ins music due to the games need for people to create their own rhythm on the spot, this will therefore help sharpen music production and composition skills. Each player also has to keep themselves in time with the rest of the group and maintain a strong rhythm, in music performance it is also very important to be able to keep time and rhythm in the music. Therefore this game also will help people from a performance perspective in the music industry. This game is also a great icebreaker as it helps people become comfortable when brining out their musical expression around strangers, meaning it will increase their overall confidence in their musical skill.
Another game that is very good for use in community music is sing down, the rules of this game are to sing the melody of a song that matches a specific theme. If the other teams guesses the song you are singing they get a point. This game sharpens vocal skills as you are constantly being challenged with singing a melody of a song you know, remembering the lyrics / melody of the song also improves your memory skills. It can also make people more confident in themselves as well as being confident when being around a group of people, this is because many people are nervous when singing around a group of strangers. Therefore pushing people to do this will make them feel more comfortable, as pushing people through scary objectives can make them more confident in completing more difficult social challenges. People can however be left out of this game if they chose not to sing or contribute song ideas, therefore to solve this issue you could ask the left out player directly what songs he knows that match the theme. This will stop people from talking over them and leaving them out, and if they are too shy to sing they could just quietly tell someone or hum the melody. This will avoid them singing in front of a large group of people.
Why is community music important?
Community music is important as it helps people come together and get to know each other better, this can help people feel less lonely and even make strong friendships. It also helps expand the music community and make future musicians by giving people the musical knowledge to have a career in the music industry. Community music can also aid people in mental and physical recovery as seen in prisons and hospitals, this is because music can help stimulate memory and give people the opportunity to take part in a huge and ever growing industry as seen in the composition workshop prison programme .
Source List
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BBC Breakfast, 2016. Streetwise Opera and The Passion on BBC Breakfast. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0nc-92Z_88> [Accessed 16 December 2021].
Carnagie Hall, 2012. Behind Bars: Music at Sing Sing. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBYRMgPny-k> [Accessed 16 December 2021].
Iacarino, T., 2017. Rhythm Games to Engage and Motivate Young Musicians – NAfME. [online] NAfME. Available at: <https://nafme.org/rhythm-games-engage-motivate-young-musicians/> [Accessed 16 December 2021].
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Robins, N., 2013. Nordoff Robbins Appeal – Ed’s Story. Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QvLJ1vK5Qk> [Accessed 16 December 2021].
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Streetwise Opera, 2014. About Streetwise Opera. Available at: <https://vimeo.com/99319777> [Accessed 16 December 2021].