2 minute read
SCO at WHEC
Wester Hailes Residency
In school we usually don’t talk, because of the pressure of thinking that others will stop liking us just because we’re talking to them, but then in music we’re all there, just free, and we started talking and getting on really well and helping each other out… It was a great experience.
Each year as part of our Wester Hailes Residency we run two series of creative composition workshops at the secondary school, Wester Hailes Education Centre (WHEC). Led by Paul Griffiths, distinguished workshop leader and artistic director of SCO VIBE, the workshops enable young people to develop their own musical ideas and to create pieces which combine ideas and influences from everyone in the group.
Paul and the team of experienced musicians who work alongside him understand the transformative power of music and its ability to bring people together. Our ambition is to help young musicians at WHEC to develop their
sense of self, self-confidence and social confidence by giving them a forum to contribute to and influence creative decisions, and to empower them to develop their musical and artistic skills.
We talked to the young people about their experiences of the workshops in June 2018 to find out whether we are fulfilling these aims: I really liked how everyone had your own part in it… everyone engaged in every single piece of music. Also that I always thought music was only for certain people making it, but it really enlightened me that it’s really easy to make your own music…
In school we usually don’t talk, just because of the pressure of thinking that others will stop liking us just because of the fact that we’re talking to them, but then in music we’re all there, just free, and just started talking and getting on really well and helping each other out… It was a great experience.
Don’t hold back what you’re feeling. Even if you think that it’s not the greatest idea, it could be turned into something really, really amazing. Don’t give up. Thank you for the amazing time, can we do it again please! ––––––Kindly supported by The Castansa Trust, The Robertson Trust, Paul and Clare Rooney, The Christina Mary Hendrie Trust, Mrs Rowena Goffin’s Charitable Trust, The Stevenston Charitable Trust, The Nancie Massey Charitable Trust, Geraldine Kirkpatrick Charitable Trust and Ponton House Trust
