Project Background
Cornwall YMAZ (Youth Music Action Zone) is one of the 22 Youth Music funded projects which run region-wide music programmes.  In a bid to spread music making opportunities to as many people as possible CYMAZ (Cornwall Youth Music Action Zone) has to overcome some unique problems relating to particularly high incidents of rural deprivation and isolation as well as economic deprivation, drug and alcohol abuse and mental ill-health.  One of Youth Music priority areas is Singing and Kernow Voice satisfies this priority perfectly.

Project Details
Kernow Voice focuses on singing.  The project has been running for 2 years now and has gone from strength to strength.  The basic premise is simple: young people turn up weekly during term time and to special, more focused workshops in the school holidays to sing with their peers.  There are regular large-scale public performances; on the 12th July 2006 there was a particularly important event at the Hall for Cornwall.  For many young people this was there first chance to perform at the Hall for Cornwall, making it extra special.  Such a high profile event unifies the Kernow Voice project and rewards the hard work from all involved.

What Happened?
Kernow Voice is cross-county project.  Its broad reach is strengthened by its outreach work.  The main of the project is held at the Hall for Cornwall and outreach work goes on in Penzance, St. Blazey and Redruth, where various singing skills are covered.

For those that could not access either the outreach or the Hall for Cornwall projects there were holiday projects which provided singing experiences for all age groups and abilities, offering ‘have a go’ sessions to beginners and ‘master classes’ to experienced singers.

The success of Kernow Voice has been proven in their invitation to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the highly symbolic Hall for Cornwall, such an offer indicates just how relevant Kernow voice is to the county.

What Was Achieved?
• Attendance has grown and grown.
• Kernow Voice is expanding: the voice is free so the project has started approaching hard to reach groups like Young Offenders and travelling communities and engaging them in the benefits of singing.
• Curnow School which is a school specifically for children and young people with physical and mental special needs has been working with Kernow Voice and is now enjoying the benefits of singing across the curriculum.

What Next?
Kernow voice has started working with White Gold, a police run project for young people on the verge of court appearances.  The two projects are working together on a programme of work which will benefit the young offenders on an individual level as well as the wider community.

Words:  Lizzy King

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Editor’s Notes:

1. Youth Music funds and facilitates music-making for young people up to the age of 18, particularly those living in areas of social and economic need. By 2010, Youth Music aims to have reached 3 million children and young people in a nationwide strategy to support youth music-making. More information is available at www.youthmusic.org.uk

2. CYMAZ is one of 24 Youth Music Action Zones set up by Youth Music in England and Wales, providing music-making activities to young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Since December 2000, the Zones have been made up of established organisations from the public, voluntary and private sector. They cover all genres of music and deliver a wide range of activities including workshops, rehearsals, performances, one-to-one, teaching and mentoring. More information is available at www.youthmusic.org.uk