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PRODID:-//Pi Internet//Homebuild//www.pihomebuild.com
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DTSTART:20090819T000000
SUMMARY:Case History - Scottish Prisons
DESCRIPTION:Over the year LMN worked for the first time with young offenders in three\n Scottish prisons: HMP Greenock, HMP/YOI Cornton Vale and HMYOI Polmont, in\n a project supported by the Scottish Arts Council's Youth Music Initiative.\n \n \n Before going into the prisons, the two LMN ensembles leading the workshops\n - Skerryvore (Scottish traditional) and Thistle Brass (brass quintet) -\n undertook specialist training with Ewan Easton of the Hallé\n Orchestra. Ewan is highly experienced in working in this sector,\n particularly through a long-term workshop project he runs at Thorn Cross\n prison in Manchester. This level of training is a vital component of\n successful projects, ensuring that musicians are aware of practical issues\n and equipping them with the skills and confidence to face the challenges of\n working in the sector. But beyond that, the musicians also found their\n training with Ewan to be inspirational and, as a result, approached their\n workshops with enormous creativity and enthusiasm. Just after their\n training, Thistle Brass wrote to Ewan: 'All of us came away from the\n training absolutely buzzing!! We have already managed to secure instruments\n for the project, and are all meeting early next week to put together our\n game plan based on all the information that you gave us.'\n \n \n The project benefited the young offenders immeasurably, giving new-found\n self-confidence, a sense of self esteem and self worth, skills in making\n music and in playing instruments as part of an ensemble. These transferable\n skills will stand them in good stead on release, making them more likely to\n gain employment, housing and success in forming relationships as part of a\n team.\n \n \n The prison staff also saw the young offenders in a much more positive light\n and were visibly impressed by what they had achieved over the course of the\n workshops.\n \n \n \n \n \n 'Nicola', a participant in Skerryvore's workshops at HMP Cornton Vale,\n wrote:\n \n \n "I found it very enjoyable and looked forward to getting up in the\n morning, whereas any other day I would have lay in. I took the part of\n playing the drums and learned how to put a beat together to produce\n something better. I will definitely continue to play the drums when I leave\n prison as I believe this is a talent I didn't know I had. I will probably\n never get the chance to do anything like this again but am keen to learn\n more about music as it really made me think about all the things I could be\n doing with my time on the outside, rather than getting into trouble and\n drinking.\n \n \n \n \n \n "Also, the feeling of achievement and success, and the fact that other\n people enjoyed watching definitely beats any dunt I've had on drink or\n drugs. I got a natural high and I can say I haven't had many of them, but I\n will strive now to make them a more regular occurrence.\n \n \n \n \n \n "Thank you again for helping me to achieve something different and see\n life in a completely new light."2009-08-19
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