Case History - Prisoners & Young Offenders
Friday 6th June 2008
In one of the largest projects LMN has run in a prison, 20 participants have been shown to develop skills which will support their future employability.
Creating Music was delivered over twelve weeks in HMP The Verne. The programme involved 20 participants, selected by the prison, and was created in partnership with the University of Exeter Department of Research & Development for their pilot qualification in 'Personal Effectiveness and Employability'. Crucially, the project's extended duration gave time for participants to change and develop, and that change was measured through the University's assessment procedures.
Under the direction of 3 LMN musicians - Moss Velez, Robin Harris and Ben Hughes - the inmates took part in workshops in Flamenco guitar, African drumming and jazz focusing on areas such as rhythm, melody and song writing. The participants wrote and recorded their own music and a professional CD was produced using artwork created by a prisoner. Participants were also awarded a Creating Music certificate at a final performance they did to the rest of the prison population.
All participants were assessed before, during, and afterwards against the criteria of the qualification. These included things like concentration, social interaction, confidence, communication, emotional management, and organizational skills, all things necessary for successful employment. The assessment measured each participant's progress in these areas rather than specific musical skills. After assessment each individual was given feedback to support improvement.
The assessment showed that the project made a real difference to the participants involved:
- New lines of communication were opened up between inmates.
- Many participants practiced between sessions and wrote songs.
- They formed strong groups seeing themselves as musicians with a purpose.
- They learned to take turns and supported each other throughout.
Specific skills were developed which will have an impact on the participants' employability:
- Development of Leadership skills & ability to take on responsibility
- Improved negotiation & communication skills
- Tolerance of other cultures & decreased aggression
- Development of team building skills
- Increased confidence & self esteem
- Organizational & time management skills
An example of a positive result is in that one participant has become a peer mentor in the prison as a result of this program. Another is that one has reconnected with a community arts project in his native Africa and would like to find ways of developing the music side of it.
The benefits to participants in this project are a clear indication that using music programmes as an intervention in the Prison Service produces positive results. In the words of the participants themselves:
Playing instruments that make music enables us to become confident, competent, and articulate, it gives us a sense of positiveness that ensures we are reaching out to others using the tool of communication.
I take more time listening to other people's views and ideas.
It showed me that we can work together and get something finalized. It was excellent!