Writer and musician Andrew Peggie continues his series of case studies, meeting young people across the UK to find out just what making music means to them.
Year 10 students Ravi and Rachel go to Arbour Vale special school and music is a big part of their lives.
* Music is a big deal at Arbour Vale special school in Slough
* Ravi and Rachel are enthusiastic musicians from Year 10
* They play steel pans, keyboards and lots of percussion
* Rachel also has guitar lessons at home and sings
* Ravi has dreams of working in a music studio
* There are no limits to their musical enjoyment.
Rachel and Ravi are members of a lively group of Year 10 students from a special school in Slough. They seem to spend much of their time in the music room, some of it for formal lessons and some of it by choice. And perhaps not surprising, for they quickly reel off a list of possibilities: "Singing, keyboard, guitar, all different percussion instruments, steel pans..." Indeed, steel pan playing features prominently in their musical routine, thanks to a visiting pan teacher. Both have lessons once a week, but they also use pans as a matter of course in their general music activities.
Rachel's enthusiasm for anything musical comes across immediately. "I like singing. I'm learning steel pans... [I] enjoy music of all sorts." And on top of this there are the weekly guitar lessons at home. Ravi's sense of exploration is unrelenting, preferring to demonstrate on whatever comes to hand rather than simply describe it. Pushed, he "enjoys making sounds on the keyboard, but likes all different sounding instruments".
The group has had access to regular music activities for three years but there is something refreshing (and doubtless challenging) about Rachel and Ravi's responses - as if every time is the first time. Their heightened sense of living completely in the moment makes music possibly the perfect group activity for them. But it would be a mistake to assume that a reluctance to talk a lot about music means a lack of awareness or indeed understanding at an instinctive level. "Music is good," says Ravi, with a hint of subtext that says surely that's self-evident. "There are new sounds... you can learn from it." How do you know it's good? "You can relax and unwind," says Rachel. She also emphasises its educational potential: 'You learn how to do [sic] music skills better."
For example? "We had to make the pebble music for the sea at just the right time." This was part of a Slough Creative Partnerships (CP) project with members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. There was an intense sense of enjoyment, awareness, challenge and responsibility as they worked in a mixed ensemble with their contemporaries and professional musicians as colleagues. The CP Creative Director wrote: The work showed incredible focus and concentration and a real exploration of new music. Students were elated and felt they had achieved something very special. The music produced… was distinctive and reflective of the performers.
Was that the most exciting thing you've done in music? "Yes," they reply in concert. That the experience still resonates after over a year surely belies the long-term retention difficulties of pupils in special schools.
Moving to more personal ground, both begin to relax. Rachel says, "I listen to music every day. My mum enjoys singing too - that's why I enjoy it." When asked where his inspiration comes from, Ravi says: "Television, teachers, friends." The school itself features strongly in any talk about musical involvement. And both hint at the subtle personal/public dimensions of music. "Friends and family can take part," says Ravi. "It makes me calm," says Rachel. And Ravi? "Happy, cheerful, proud," he says. Rachel's musical personality she describes as "sort of happy/sad". Ravi says: "It has helped to give me confidence."
Imagine the future… They both agree you need to know the right people to get on - as well as having talent and some good teaching. Rachel can imagine teaching music, and Ravi has music studio dreams. Then, with an ironic glint in her eye, Rachel sums it up: "Pop Idol!"