Peter Nicholson - The Big Noise
Thu, Oct 22nd 2015 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
President Mary raising a tune with Club Members
THE BIG NOISE: TRANSFORMING LIVES WITH MUSIC
“Music hath power” – the start of a well-known saying – might well be the strapline for The Big Noise, a community initiative launched in Raploch some seven years ago. Peter Nicholson, one of the earliest musicians working with the project, was guest speaker at the Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Rotary Club meeting. As he explained, “We are on a mission to transform lives through music”.
Big Noise is an orchestra programme based on the methods of Venezuela’s “El Sistema” movement run by the charity Sistema Scotland. It aims to use music making to foster confidence, teamwork, pride and aspiration in the children taking part – and to increase the confidence of the community. Peter continued: “We take the Sistema name from the orchestra movement established in Venezuela in 1975 by Maestro José Antonio Abreu. We are very proud to be official partners with the original organisation in Venezuela. We seek to benefit from the South Americans’ expertise, while adapting their methods to suit conditions in Scotland”.
In the 1970s in Venezuela Maestro José Antonio Abreu began running music lessons for a handful of children. Today “El Sistema” now involves 300,000 children in centres across the South American country. Initially, having heard of the success of the project, in 2006, Dr Richard Holloway persuaded the (then) Arts Council of Scotland to fund a visit to discover whether and, if so, how the concept might be brought to Scotland. Seeing the amazing success of the project in deprived areas in Venezuela, it was decided to launch an initiative on the same lines in Raploch.
A start was made in Raploch in 2008, initially with seven musicians who began to recruit young people with the offer of regular music lessons and the opportunity to play together. The concept was given a great boost following the visit to Edinburgh in 2012 of the Simon Bolivar orchestra, made up of young people from Venezuela who had progressed through the project. From this came an invitation for 56 young people from Raploch to visit Caracas and to join in music-making with young people in the project there.
Since its start in 2008, the project has gone from strength to strength. The initial staff of 7 musicians has now grown to 40, and two new centres have been added in Govanhill and Torry in Aberdeen.
Raploch now involves 490 young people on a weekly basis. This represents about 50% of those from Raploch eligible to join the initiative. The scheme starts in the nursery schools where the children enjoy games around musical themes and songs. As they progress to P1 and 2, they make their own instruments from paper, learning the basics of playing. From then they make a start on real stringed instruments – the brass and other wind instruments are introduced later. Even at this early stage, the children are encouraged to take part in an orchestra which rehearses three times a week.
As evidence of the success of the initiative, many people will remember the extraordinary outdoor televised concert given by the Big Noise orchestra. Even the heavy rain did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the players, or the rapturous response from the audience.
The acid test of the initiative is, of course, its success with the children, and, through them, the positive affect on the community. Peter was confident that these goals are being fully achieved: “We want the children we work with to grow up to be well-adjusted and happy adults. Through the orchestra we want them to learn they can work hard at something, succeed and feel confident as a result. We hope having succeeded at learning to play an instrument, they will succeed in other areas of their lives too.”
Peter concluded his presentation with a short film made by six members of the Big Noise illustrating the success of the initiative, and confirming the enthusiasm and commitment of those involved- including the obvious support of parents.
It was clear from the engagement of the Rotarians that they were deeply impressed by the achievements of the initiative; a call for appreciation from the Speaker’s Host, Billy Phillips, was given a very positive response.
The next meeting of the Rotary Club will be held at the Westlands Hotel, Doune Road, Dunblane on Thursday 5 November at 6.00 for 6-30pm. The guest speaker will be will be Colin Renwick, Minister of Dunblane Cathedral. On 12 November Ranald Shepherd will give an illustrated account of the Battle of Sherrifmuir,c one day before its three hundredth anniversary. Visitors are very welcome.
“Music hath power” – the start of a well-known saying – might well be the strapline for The Big Noise, a community initiative launched in Raploch some seven years ago. Peter Nicholson, one of the earliest musicians working with the project, was guest speaker at the Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Rotary Club meeting. As he explained, “We are on a mission to transform lives through music”.
Big Noise is an orchestra programme based on the methods of Venezuela’s “El Sistema” movement run by the charity Sistema Scotland. It aims to use music making to foster confidence, teamwork, pride and aspiration in the children taking part – and to increase the confidence of the community. Peter continued: “We take the Sistema name from the orchestra movement established in Venezuela in 1975 by Maestro José Antonio Abreu. We are very proud to be official partners with the original organisation in Venezuela. We seek to benefit from the South Americans’ expertise, while adapting their methods to suit conditions in Scotland”.
In the 1970s in Venezuela Maestro José Antonio Abreu began running music lessons for a handful of children. Today “El Sistema” now involves 300,000 children in centres across the South American country. Initially, having heard of the success of the project, in 2006, Dr Richard Holloway persuaded the (then) Arts Council of Scotland to fund a visit to discover whether and, if so, how the concept might be brought to Scotland. Seeing the amazing success of the project in deprived areas in Venezuela, it was decided to launch an initiative on the same lines in Raploch.
A start was made in Raploch in 2008, initially with seven musicians who began to recruit young people with the offer of regular music lessons and the opportunity to play together. The concept was given a great boost following the visit to Edinburgh in 2012 of the Simon Bolivar orchestra, made up of young people from Venezuela who had progressed through the project. From this came an invitation for 56 young people from Raploch to visit Caracas and to join in music-making with young people in the project there.
Since its start in 2008, the project has gone from strength to strength. The initial staff of 7 musicians has now grown to 40, and two new centres have been added in Govanhill and Torry in Aberdeen.
Raploch now involves 490 young people on a weekly basis. This represents about 50% of those from Raploch eligible to join the initiative. The scheme starts in the nursery schools where the children enjoy games around musical themes and songs. As they progress to P1 and 2, they make their own instruments from paper, learning the basics of playing. From then they make a start on real stringed instruments – the brass and other wind instruments are introduced later. Even at this early stage, the children are encouraged to take part in an orchestra which rehearses three times a week.
As evidence of the success of the initiative, many people will remember the extraordinary outdoor televised concert given by the Big Noise orchestra. Even the heavy rain did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the players, or the rapturous response from the audience.
The acid test of the initiative is, of course, its success with the children, and, through them, the positive affect on the community. Peter was confident that these goals are being fully achieved: “We want the children we work with to grow up to be well-adjusted and happy adults. Through the orchestra we want them to learn they can work hard at something, succeed and feel confident as a result. We hope having succeeded at learning to play an instrument, they will succeed in other areas of their lives too.”
Peter concluded his presentation with a short film made by six members of the Big Noise illustrating the success of the initiative, and confirming the enthusiasm and commitment of those involved- including the obvious support of parents.
It was clear from the engagement of the Rotarians that they were deeply impressed by the achievements of the initiative; a call for appreciation from the Speaker’s Host, Billy Phillips, was given a very positive response.
The next meeting of the Rotary Club will be held at the Westlands Hotel, Doune Road, Dunblane on Thursday 5 November at 6.00 for 6-30pm. The guest speaker will be will be Colin Renwick, Minister of Dunblane Cathedral. On 12 November Ranald Shepherd will give an illustrated account of the Battle of Sherrifmuir,c one day before its three hundredth anniversary. Visitors are very welcome.
