MUSIC PROJECT PERFECTLY PITCHED
DUNCANRIG SECONDARY SCHOOL ON SONG WITH INNOVATIVE IMAGINATION STATION SCHEME WHICH IS HAILED AS BIG SUCCESS
FINDING your feet in high school can be a challenge but a groundbreaking music project at an East Kilbride secondary is helping pupils to shine.
The Imagination Station at Duncanrig Secondary – believed to be a Scottish first – teaches students about all aspects of music technology, from mixing and editing to performing and managing.
Just 12 months into the programme it has already been hailed a success by teachers, pupils and parents.
Principal teacher of music Jane Ramsay explains: “The Imagination Station grew out of a pilot project we ran in 2015 called Rig it Up.
“We wanted to give a selection of pupils, from those struggling a little bit and in danger of losing interest in school, to high achievers, the chance to develop a whole range of new skills.”
She adds: “In the first year, we concentrated on the different skills associated with music technology, but because it was so successful, we decided to extend it this year to include young performers as well as young sound engineers.
“Young people from a whole variety of backgrounds got the chance to learn a musical instrument, to socialise and make music with others and to develop all these practical skills in music technology.”
Pupils spent six weeks working with music teacher Chris Shanks, with support from Alex Nichol, a BSc audio student with considerable experience in the music industry.
Mr Shanks says: “Alex was fantastic – she worked really hard to teach the students techniques in recording, mixing and editing and helped them to record a CD of the Imagination Station bands.
“To see the pupils up on stage performing alongside more experi-
enced musicians, and getting a great response, was brilliant.”
He adds: “We were fortunate to receive funding from the Curriculum Innovation Fund and we hope we can secure more funding to grow and develop the project in years to come.”
The bands created through the project were managed by a group of sixth year pupils, Reece Gormley, 18, and 17-year-olds Grant Perston, Jamie Paterson and Sean Reilly.
“It was an unusual project for our Leadership course because we were basically managing bands, taking them all the way from initial meetings and getting to know them, to recording a CD and performing on stage,” explains Sean.
“It was really enjoyable and we felt proud of the bands, some of whom had never performed on stage before, when they took part in our school concert, Rig Rock,” adds Reece.
First year pupils Craig Brown and Abigail Berry, both 12, got the chance to sing in two of the bands.
“I’ve sung in choirs before but this was the first time I’d ever done anything like this,” says Craig. “It was amazing and really different.”
Abigail agrees: “We got a really good reaction from the audience at Rig Rock, which was brilliant. I hope I get the chance to take part next year.”
Second year-pupil Sean Flanagan and first years David Paterson and Joshua Morrison, were part of the sound engineering team.
“This was a first time experience for me and I really enjoyed it,” says Sean. “I really want to develop what I’ve learned and go on to work in the music industry, it’s brilliant.”
David says: “Some of the things we learned were really complicated so it was great to get the chance to do stuff we wouldn’t normally do at school.”
Joshua says: “It makes you feel more confident about yourself and what you can do and it helps you settle down at school.”
Mrs Ramsay believes the project is the first of its kind in Scotland, helping a whole range of pupils get the most out of school.
“There is a huge push in Scottish schools to make sure every child gets the most of out of his or her education – there is a recognition that the same curriculum does not work for every single child,” she says.
“We wanted to involve a wide selection of pupils, challenging high achievers and supporting those in danger of disengaging from education entirely. The feedback has been fantastic – teachers are reporting much higher levels of attention and positive attitudes, more confidence and a general sense of enjoying being at school.”
Duncanrig Secondary has a successful music department, with several bands and ensembles picking up awards and acclaim across Scotland.
Its concert band and ceilidh and folk group both won their respective categories at the Glasgow Music Festival and the school’s pioneering transition project, Primary Partner Music Initiative, helps hundreds of primary school-age children get used to the secondary school environment through rehearsing and performing with older students.
Mrs Ramsay explains: “Music is a powerful way of engaging with pupils, allowing them to develop their own talents and skills and we often see a different side to the children than perhaps some of their other teachers do. We’re really proud of what the Imagination Station has achieved so far and look forward to starting it all again next year.”