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Okehampton Music Centre is a pioneering initiative which encourages young people to get more involved with music. It was developed from an idea by Val Berry, the head of music and expressive arts at Okehampton College and Heather Parks from Community Links SW CIC. It was launched in 2014 by international cellist Julian Lloyd Webber.
The centre is run by Community Links SW, a community interest company also responsible for a variety of other groups and services in Okehampton. It is supported by funding from Okehampton United Charities, the Devon Music Education Hub and other donors including the Okehampton Rotary Club. This enables children to attend subsidised weekly lessons and workshops. The centre makes learning an instrument affordable for all by offering several scholarship options for Instrument hire. Weekly attendance costs are £1.50 which includes the lesson, workshop and choir.
Val Berry said it had been a privilege to be part of the music centre. She said: ‘I have students who started three years ago who are now proficient musicians and they are still only ten or eleven years old! We now have violas, cellos, French horns, tubas and bassoon in our school orchestra. There are not many school ensembles around the country who can boast such an array of proper orchestral instruments. This was precisely why we chose only the instruments which are being ignored – French horn, trombone, tuba, viola, cello, oboe and bassoon. These are difficult instruments to learn and need more resilience and perseverance in order to become competent.
‘At a time when music is being pushed out of the curriculum, this is a hugely positive initiative - hopefully we can sustain this for many years to come.’
Allyson Bales from Community Links added: ‘One of the advantages of the Centre being in Okehampton College is for children from smaller primary schools to regularly visit the college and get to know children from other schools. The centre also welcomes home educated children, giving them the opportunity to socialise as well as learning an instrument - the centre is about much more than music alone.’
The Okehampton Music Centre students also experience the thrill of taking part in orchestral concerts and performances both locally and further afield. They have worked with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra where they took part in a huge all day workshop with the orchestral section leads followed by a joint performance - an amazing opportunity for them and a really enriching experience.
Okehampton Music Centre is held during term time on Thursdays after school at Okehampton College between 4-6pm. Pupils choose which instrument they wish to learn from French horn, tuba, trombone, viola, cello, oboe and bassoon. They are taught in small groups by professional teachers, during a 30 minute lesson. They then attend a 30 minute music workshop where they learn about rhythm, playing together and music theory. There is also an optional 30 minute choir session. The music centre is open to all pupils in years 3 to 9 (ages seven to 13), including those who are home educated. Older college pupils with musical experience are given the opportunity to mentor younger children and help run the workshops, providing experience in teaching and leadership which are be used towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award, Arts Award and improving their CV applications for jobs or further education.
The music centre also runs a choir which has proved very popular - pupils are taught how to care for their voices, how to hold parts and sing in rounds. Last autumn they had the opportunity to sing with the Teachers Rock Choir in Exeter Cathedral.
Every year there is an open evening including a workshop session to give children and parents a feel for how the music centre works. This year’s open evening will be Thursday, November 7th. In January the new beginners’ classes open, however, Community Links is keen to hear from interested children and their families throughout the year.
As recently as January this year, Julian Lloyd Webber said: ‘Access to music remains stubbornly out of reach for the vast majority of children from less privileged backgrounds.’
In The Times, Lloyd Webber goes on to point out that the music industry brings in £4.4 billion a year to the economy, but that there are other reasons the arts should be accessible for school children regardless of their background:
‘On a practical level, many jobs will soon be lost to automation but jobs in the arts will be among the least affected. On a social level, all our children should have a right to experience music, not just the ones with parents who can afford to pay for expensive instruments and tuition.’
Over the last five years the centre has worked with 170 youngsters to ignite a love of music that will last a lifetime through music making, singing and having fun!
So what do the young musicians themselves think is the best thing about their music centre sessions?
Here are just a few reactions:
‘Learning new songs for concerts’
‘Being able to learn with others’
‘It's fun and I enjoy playing viola’
‘Getting to play in a concert and making new friends’
‘Having group music lessons’
‘Learning new songs’
‘It’s fun friendly and educational’
‘Playing altogether’
‘Making new friends’
‘It is enjoyable and fun and I love learning to play the Viola. My teacher is great’
‘The Concert because everyone comes to watch’
‘You can make friends’
‘How outgoing and fun the teachers are’
‘There's loads of nice people and they help you’
‘When you practice a lot at home you get a little treat’
‘How you can freely learn loads of instruments and it’s really fun’
For more information about Okehampton Music Centre, contact Community Links at Okehampton College, telephone 07808 523111/01837 55105 or email music@communitylinks-sw.co.uk