Thanks to funding from a range of partners including the VRU we are delighted to be offering engaging 121 sessions for young people from across our city who are interested in making music. These mentoring sessions provide safe and supportive progression through music, and support the development of music journeys and positive life choices.
The sessions generally take place at our fully equipped Hightown Studios. Our Head of Youth, Craig, is based there full time. If there’s an issue with a young person going to Hightown, we can also use space in MAST Studios in central Southampton. The 6 one hour long 121 sessions can be morning, afternoon or evening, and they can be all in one week, or one a week for six weeks, or spread over a few months – whatever works for each individual young person. We try to be responsive to the needs of each young person, and make them really flexible to fit in with young people’s lives.
The sessions are designed to work on and develop musical capabilities. We take them seriously – we respond to the young person exactly as a producer would to an established artist. Sessions include the young person, our studio tech and someone, perhaps a case worker, from the referring body. Generally, we start with a tour around the building so they know where everything is. We’ll get a tea or coffee and chat to the young person to find out what they want to do, and see what we can offer to make a bespoke programme.
Then we get started on making music and at the end of every single session, the young person gets to take away a completed track of their own. Head of Youth Craig says, “Usually, they’re a bit bowled over by it all! We’ve got used to seeing young people leave with massive smiles on their faces , raring to come back for the second session. This is some of the most rewarding work we do – it’s incredible to see the young people develop.”
It’s fantastic to hear from our partners that the sessions work for the young people they work with, too.
Kelly said, “The 1-1 SoCo sessions are having a fantastic positive impact on my young person – his words are ‘he likes everything’. Parents also think the sessions are amazing, so thank-you Craig! I hope the referrals open up again soon so I can refer further young people into your service”
Between sessions, we might ask the young person to come up with more lyrics or find a beat they’d like to use. We often find they are brimming with ideas even without being set ‘homework’.
After the six sessions, if the young person is is demonstrating real commitment, motivation and talent, we can offer further support through the New Music Development Unit.
This consists of three further sessions, and matching with a mentor. Then, in certain circumstances we can offer two more stages of support.
At stage three, the young person becomes fully part of the New Music Development Unit, having monthly meetings with established artists who provide mentoring, and allocated timeslots at the studio.
Stage four means taking part in our quarterly showcase event in our studios. Artists will get to perform in front of a small invited audience of music professionals including producers and people from record labels, they get to perform in front of professionals. This is an opportunity for young people to get a taster of performing their music to an audience, in familiar territory. Music industry professionals who would like to get involved can contact us here.
We are incredibly proud of these sessions and the impact they have on young people. It’s heartening to hear that partners see this too – bail officer Aaron told us that, ‘I have always found the [1:1] sessions to be professional and delivered in an engaging way. For me this is a positive way to divert young people from risk”. A key part of this for us, though, is providing real opportunities for emerging talent in Southampton, not just to start, but to really develop.
Young people based in the Southampton area can be referred to these sessions by any professional body that deals with young people directly. This could be CAMHS, the police, charities, schools, PRUs and GPs using social prescribing.
If you’d like to refer a young person and you are outside the Southampton area or are a different type of organisation from those listed, do contact us anyway – we might be able to help.
