Songwriting Project: Garden Community Cafe, East London

We have just finished a five week project at the Garden Community Cafe in East London. Our primary aim is to give as many children and young people in the area a musical outlet in which to express themselves. This workshop aims to improve confidence and self-esteem while providing an opportunity to work in a team.
For this project the young people decided collectively to write their song on the theme of Easter time, have a listen!




Some snaps of a couple of the children at work:

Songs written on the Young Songwriter Course, Kilve, Somerset

Written by young people on our ' Young Songwriter' course at Kilve Court, Somerset.

Their first song is themed on Kilve Court and what it means to them, the activities you can take part in, describing the surroundings, including beautiful Kilve beach. Some very good singing/lyrics and a rap about the tutors!
All lyrics and music played in/recorded by the participants. We had live guitar parts and each person contributed to a part of the song.

Their second song was influenced by a story told to them by a long standing staff member at Kilve...
It is rumoured that a young lady of 18 had a baby at Kilve Court in the early 1600's, unfortunately a few months after the birth, the baby died. The mother was so distraught she wouldn't believe he was no longer with her, so refused to bury him. She wrapped him in swaddling bands and sat cradling him in a rocking chair.

There is a door on the first floor of Kilve with no handle, no way to get in. It is said her and the baby are in the room behind the door.
She can be heard late at night singing haunting lullabies to her baby, willing him to wake up...
The students had lots of fun coming up with their song based on this story, a chilling lullaby, tick tock of the clock and some eerie spoken word. Finished with a door slam.

Scroll down to listen to the song and a few photos of them in action...

Acapella recordings

My lovely friend Victoria recently recorded some well known songs completely a cappella. They were for her nan who has Cochlear 'ear kiss' syndrome, a rare occurrence that means she has problems hearing musical backing to songs, and often causes pain. 
Here are links to two of the seven we recorded, the first 'Can't Help Falling in Love' originally by the great Elvis Presley and the second ' You are my Sunshine' written by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell.

https://soundcloud.com/actuallyamy/cant-help-falling-in-love-victoria-leonard

https://soundcloud.com/actuallyamy/you-are-my-sunshine-victoria-leonard

Singing, Songwriting and Stage - the end result.

Supported by the South Northants Council SPLAT programme, the young people that came along to our Singing, Songwriting and Stage course worked really hard writing two songs to consolidate our theme of a 'healthy planet'. All music and lyrics are written by the young people.
Lucie Diedhiou and I worked closely with the participants, Lucie coaching vocals to ensure they got the best out of their voices.
Lucie also worked on singing technique, we used Michael Jackson's Earth Song which they sang live in the performance to parents.

Michelle from Across the Boards Theatre helped the young people to come up with a drama piece exploring issues around saving water. She then taught them how to make their own puppets from recyclable materials. They compiled a drama on pollution using these.

The first song was written on 'saving water':



The second song was looking into 'pollution':

"Singing, Songwriting and Stage" Performing Arts Course for 8-14 year olds

In association with South Northants Council, we have our 'Singing, Songwriting and Stage' course this August at Roade Village Hall. Running for 5 days from the 4th-8th, ActuallyAmy Songwriting will be there each day to coach and guide the young people through the songwriting process. Alongside vocal expertise from Lucie Diedhiou and drama with Michelle from Across the Boards Theatre. 

It's a highly creative, fun week for your 8-14 year olds!The aim of the week is to promote individual development in young people, inspiring and encouraging each other to bring out creativity as a group.

Lucie will be working on voice projection, tone and blending, using fun warm up songs and a variety of different song styles to help each small group work together in a team.
Lucie and Amy will then work alongside each other, Amy will record groups that have already worked with Lucie to finish and complete their original songs. The key ethos of ActuallyAmy Songwriting is to promote well being and ensure every young person feels good about themselves. With some cool vocal effects and funky sounds, Amy will help the young people create their own songs from scratch.

Across the Boards Theatre’s Michelle Henry-Moore will be leading the drama strand where the children will partake in energetic teambuilding games, storytelling, role-play, improvisation and puppetry making.
This is not your typical holiday course where children are being trained to become outstanding performers, but instead is a programme which encourages creative thinking and utilises the group’s ideas and opinions, shaping these to become our finished product.

Contact Sue by phone: 01327 322334 or email: sue.carverhill@southnorthants.gov.uk to book your child's place!

Half term songwriting workshop - May 27th-28th Roade Village Hall

We're running a songwriting worksop at Roade Village Hall - 27^th and 28^th May 9.30am - 3.30pm. Young people aged 8-16 – come along and unleash your creative side!

    

Write and record your own song

     

     Learn about different instruments

     

     Express yourself through music

     We will have a keyboard, guitar, bass guitar and electric drum kit to demonstrate, there

     will be lots of opportunities for the participants to have a go on each instrument.

     Songs are available to download from iTunes and the Soundcloud website for free, to share with friends and family.

     The cost is £40 for for the two day course, bring a packed lunch! Contact Amy on

     07919525893 or info@actuallyamy.co.uk to book!

      

       ActuallyAmy Songwriting – ‘Motivating empowering and inspiring through song’

How does music help children with special educational needs?

Music is universal and should be made accessible to every child, regardless of disability. Children with special needs find it hard to communicate and relate to others, so learning an instrument or being encouraged to sing gives them an alternative way to connect with others. For instance, ‘improvising’ or making up tunes with another person on a piano is similar to the back and forth nature of social interaction.

Singing promotes learning in children. It improves their sense of rhythm, motivates and empowers them and provides comfort. Repetition and familiarity are strong latches for children, and especially for children with learning disabilities because they find it harder to undertake every day tasks.   

For instance, an autistic child will find it hard to communicate or relate to other people on a day-to-day basis. Learning an instrument can give them a focus, a creative outlet and a way to express themselves.  It may also give them something in common with someone that they are finding it difficult to relate to.

Getting to know nursery rhymes and lullabies from a very early age are important. It gives children with special needs a sense of belonging and well being. This can help them participate in a class with other children and can prevent them from feeling alienated.

Each time a child finishes a creative project; it gives a strong sense of achievement, taking pride in their new skill by playing or singing to family and friends. For a child with special needs, the therapeutic benefits are much more prominent. Music therapy is a popular way of breaking down boundaries and overcoming difficulties for children with special needs; it helps to improve speech, cognitive development and communication. For example, it develops the creative right side of the brain, which can contribute to a child’s ability to develop creatively in other areas of their life.

As seen above, there are many benefits to learning through music. Ultimately, music is a positive influence for children; it encourages a sense of fun and can be an enjoyable way to for a child to develop personally and socially.

'Spinning in the Stars' by YouthPOD Stars

Eleven young people from Khameleon Kompany's YouthPOD wrote their song today in a masterclass lasting just 90 minutes. Describing their experience of YouthPOD, their lyrics talk about singing, dancing, performing and being on stage. Brilliant work!

'Multi-Coloured Coat' - THC Feb14

Thirteen young people from Towcester and the surrounding villages wrote this song themed on the story of Joseph. Describing the jealousy of the brothers due to him being favoured by their father, the amazing coat he was given and the strange dreams he had...

'Rain, rain, rain' written by Rhythmic Rainfall - Feb 2014 Creative Workshop

We had an awesome day songwriting and doing arty things with a lovely group of young people. Featuring a rain stick, cool echo voice effects, 'droplet' piano figures, lovely lyrics and a storm section! Have a listen to the song they wrote here:

'Project Lullaby' a resounding success

On 26th September 2013 I ran a workshop with Park Street Music CIC with young mums and mums-to-be in Northampton.
We worked with the young girls to write lyrics and come up with melody lines. It was a challenging project because the girls were in different stages of pregnancy, or with babies, so had lots of things going on outside of the workshop.
One girl sang the lyrics and the other five contributed through writing lyrics, recording rattle sounds and finally at the end one of the participants brought her baby in to be recorded laughing!
They also all typed up and laminated their lyrics with their own chosen border and font.

The girls are also submitting the song to be part of their expressive arts GCSE. Brilliant project!

Songs from Paulerspury songwriting workshop

Three very different songs written in the workshop yesterday...

'Be True' is by Holly, Izzy and Robyn, written and performed on guitar by Holly, she sings vocals too. Izzy and Robyn are singing backing vocals.

'Holiday' is by Ethan, Niamh and Max, lovely song written about their take on a perfect holiday.

'Follow your Dreams' is by Alice Jacob and Sophie, inspiring lyrics about being yourself, believing in yourself and following dreams.

'Be True'


'Holiday'


'Follow Your Dreams'

Feedback from Paulerspury summer songwriting and dance week

Lovely article with testimonials describing how the week went and what amazing work the young people produced!

http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Northamptonshire/Towcester/NN12/Villages/Paulerspury/231016-Young-People-Enjoy-Summer-Songwriting-And-Dance-Week

Enjoy :)