Mike, 17, used to have trouble controlling his behaviour. A music-making project run by the Castaway Music Theatre has helped him settle and discover his talent on the bass guitar.
Mike, who has a moderate learning disability, found it hard to learn in school and struggled as a consequence. He would sometimes behave disruptively and was at risk of getting into serious trouble.
Finding a role
Three years ago, Mike began attending Castaway’s ‘Sloop Group’ in his hometown of Goole in Yorkshire. It’s a music-making project for young people aged 10–25 with learning and physical disabilities. The group meets up each week to learn instruments, perform together and create their own recordings across a range of styles.
At first, Mike was reluctant to take part in group activities and would sometimes disrupt sessions. But he persevered in going along every week, and after trying a few different instruments, found his musical role on the bass. He now plays in an ensemble with Sloop (also featuring piano, drums, percussion, cello and voice) and says “working with other people” is his favourite thing about the project.
“Once Mike became an integral part of the group compositions, his behavioural problems disappeared,” says music leader Tom. And the project has become a real anchor in Mike’s life. “He’s always the first one to arrive on a Saturday morning,” adds Tom.
Listen to ‘Is Anyone Out There?’ by Sloop Group, featuring Mike on bass (from around 1:20):
Music-making in an area of need
The young disabled people who take part in Castaway projects face a range of challenges in life. Some of them may also have one or more disabled siblings requiring additional care, or a parent with health issues or who is disabled (Mike’s mum has learning difficulties, for example). Some have also had to deal with being taken into foster care or residential accommodation.
On top of this, Goole is an area of high social and economic deprivation, and the surrounding region is very rural with a lack of good transport connections. For disabled young people in the area, music provision in schools is patchy. And there’s a real shortage of accessible activities on offer that can support or accommodate their needs.
Castaway’s work gives young people like Mike, who might otherwise miss out, the chance to explore their enthusiasm for music and learn, compose and perform in an environment led by professional musicians. And it also opens up paths for them to take their music-making as far as they want to.
Castaway’s Co-Director Jo says: “It’s a great community but many young people come with little aspiration or self-belief. So it’s good to see young musicians like Mike begin to recognise their achievements and feel they can aim higher.”
Composing, recording and performing
Mike says that creating music is one of his favourite hobbies, especially recording his own tracks. “I like listening back to it and seeing if it’s good or not,” he adds.
The main focus for the young musicians in Sloop is on composing their own music, and the ensemble often works with visiting composers and musicians to create new pieces. The group performed some of their most recent work as part of an end-of-term concert, which Mike says went really well.
The confidence and stability Mike has gained from the Castaway project has also helped his transition into college education. He’s currently doing a vocational skills course, and isn’t yet sure what he wants to do afterwards. He’s definitely keen to keep up the music though, and Castaway will continue to play an important role in his life.
Even when other bits of Mike’s life are quite turbulent, we’re always here for him.
TOM, MUSIC LEADER