“My singing has improved lots and I am really proud of the work I have put in.” Callum, year 6.              

Project Background
Dorset Music Service’s work on the Voicelinks project was based in a deprived area of North Dorset where there is a lack of social cohesion and little opportunity to engage with singing.  The work of Voicelinks has permanently changed the face of singing in the area and has provided the children of the 3 schools involved with a greater sense of belonging both within their schools and their community as a whole.

Project Details
Voicelinks worked in three schools: Gryphon Upper School and its 2 feeder primaries, Abbey and Sherborne Primary.  The work was done on a school by school basis, with much of the singing activity taking place in lunch hours and in free afternoons.  The schools then had sharing events where respected musicians held a 2 day workshop where the primary schools and the years 7s and 9s from the Gryphon Upper School all worked together.  The sharing events were really worthwhile for the young people; many of whom were moving up to the Gryphon school or were new to year seven there and were still getting to grips with life in secondary school: this daunting issues could be put to one side for the 2 days where singing took precedence.  More transition links were formed with the help of the music department at Gryphon School who invites all of the upcoming participants from either Sherborne or Abbey Primary School to a meeting in their first days at the new school to work through their singing development in the new setting.

What Was Achieved?
The benefits of the Voicelinks project are still being felt in Sherborne thanks to the excellent staff training provided by Dorset Music Service work is still happening in the area.  During the project attendance was above average and universal improvements in behaviour and concentration were reported across the board.  At the Gryphon School two young people were on report and any further rule breaking would result in instant expulsion; both pupils attended the Voicelinks workshops and in one instance outshone many of her contemporaries, a real confidence boost both for her, her parents and teachers at the school.  Another big surprise for the teachers was the enthusiasm shown by the normally withdrawn boys.  Across the community as a whole people feel that there are better links between the primary and secondary school, making the all important transition so much easier than previous years.

What Next?
Having performed at the Children’s Concerts at the Lighthouse, Poole to a full house the Voicelinks project is now en route to London, where the three schools will perform at the Royal Albert Hall’s Dorset Rocks concert on 4th April 2008.  Performing at such a grand venue will be a massive boost to the performers and will hopefully inspire them to continue their musical development.

Words:  Lizzy King