Adults with Mental Health Problems

For the past three years I've been working at a drop in centre for adults recovering from mental illness. Activities successfully carried out are:

• Singing
  Developing the voice and helping people to gain confidence by learning a repertoire of songs.
  
  
• Songwriting & creative writing
  Helping people to come up with ideas for songs and poems. I employ an accessible, non-technical and non-threatening approach to composition.
  

 Older People

• Snatch a song out of thin air
  Old photos or objects of sentimental value can be the starting points for a song. Song making is not just for Tin-Pan Alley…anyone can do it!
  
  
• Travel around the world in eighty minutes…
  Explore the sights, sounds, tastes, textures and aromas of the world…tell us a travelling tale…hear exotic stories and music.
  
  
• Design a personalised relaxation tape…
  Sounds that glisten, soothe and trickle? It's all down to individual taste. Lots of possibilities to choose from.
  
  
• Move the body and make instant music…
  Wave an arm, a leg or head and hear a sound in the invisible beam. Creative exercise!
  
  

 Children with learning disabilities

I have several years' experience of running workshops for young people with specific needs who enjoy making music and playing with sound…some activities successfully carried out are:

• Plucking invisible notes from the Soundbeam.
  Waggling a finger or just diving into the beam that responds with exciting sound to your movements.
  
  
• Making sound effects of rain, the sea, an alien landscape…or the magical world of Harry Potter…
  
  
• Learning rhythm in a fun way by playing interactive games with a whole variety of tactile instruments
  
  

 School Projects

This is a growing area of my work. Some of the projects so far have involved:

• A soundbeam workshop as part of a 'gifted & talented' poetry festival day at a Birmingham school.
  
  
• Using soundbeam as a stimulus for poetry. Stimulating the imagination through sound into creative expression through words.
  
  
• Song writing workshops as part of a celebration week at a school in Wednesbury. Inspiring the children to compose and perform a song celebrating thirty years in the life of the school.
  
  
• Soundbeam workshops at a local primary school as part of an arts day. Using sound, movement and drama linked to the theme of Harry Potter.
  
  

 Young People

This is another growing area of my work. Some of the projects so far have involved:

• Soundbeam workshops for Sampad Easter play-scheme project. Working alongside Asian musicians to facilitate music activities in youth centres.
  
  
• Wot Windz You Up Music & Words Workshop for young people as part of a Youth Consultation on crime. The venue was Millennium Point. Production of a CD.
  
  
• Soundbeam workshops in an inclusive settings. Helping young people to make a film soundtrack.
  
  

 Early years work

I have completed a course at the Birmingham Conservatoire in working with children in the 0 - 5 age group. I'm hoping to branch out into early years work as soon as my current work schedule allows. I anticipate using a variety of instruments, singing and soundbeam activities.

 Adults with physical disabilities

See Year of the Artist