What is Big Noise?
Big Noise is an orchestra programme that aims to use music making to foster confidence, teamwork, pride and aspiration in the children taking part – and across the wider community. It is based on the methods of Venezuela’s “El Sistema” movement.
What’s the difference between Big Noise and Sistema Scotland?
Big Noise is the name given to the orchestras. Sistema Scotland is the name of the national charity behind them.
Big Noise orchestra centres will always be based in the heart of the communities they work in. The Big Noise team is based there and works in that community.
Big Noise Raploch is our first orchestra centre.
The Sistema Scotland team has a national role and manages the organisation’s strategic plans, fundraising, marketing and communication for the Big Noise centres.
Where and when do the children take part in Big Noise?
How often do children attend?
Big Noise Raploch sessions take place in Raploch’s Community Campus. During school term we work with the nursery children, Primary 1 children and children in the special educational needs school during school hours. The older children, in Primaries 2-7, and S1 attend our after school programme from 3.15pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Depending on their age and other factors, children will be with us until anything between 4.15pm and 5.45pm.
During the holidays we run orchestra sessions every weekday morning.
Outside of these learning times there are also various public performances. Big Noise children have for example appeared at Edinburgh’s Queens Hall, Stirling’s Albert Halls and at community events in Raploch. The children are also taken to see performances such as Proms in the Park and BBC SSO concerts.
Why Raploch?
Big Noise orchestras might eventually be based in a variety of different places, but for the first location we were looking for a number of very specific conditions.
Raploch was chosen because:
The community is compact and has a clear identity and boundary.
The local authority and community are enthusiastic.
The community is undergoing a regeneration process that we think an orchestra can contribute to and enhance.
Stirling is centrally located and is easy to get to from all over Scotland. Symbolically it is at the heart of the country.
Raploch has historically experienced some of the social issues we believe orchestras can help address.
The new community campus provides us with excellent shared facilities so we have great access to all of the children during the school terms, and we have great spaces to work in during holidays.
Why is it only children from Raploch who are involved?
We want local people to feel ownership of the orchestra and for a large proportion of local children to attend. If membership was open to a wider area then we believe Raploch people would be less likely to think it was for them, even though it is located in their community. In the longer-term we hope to open up to a wider catchment area, but only once Raploch is established in its ownership of the orchestra.
What happens if a child wants to drop out?
We try to make taking part fun so that children will want to keep coming. If a child wants to leave then we will try to find out why, and see if there is anything we can do differently that would change their mind. If a child is vulnerable or has particular problems we believe will be helped by participating in the programme, we will try especially hard to encourage them to come back. Ultimately, if we find that we have done all we can to remove barriers to the child taking part, and the programme is just not for them, then that’s fine. Children will be able to return at any time if they change their mind.
What happens if a child wants to join in?
There are points throughout the year where we advertise for children in the community to join the orchestra: beginning of summer, beginning of the new academic term (August) and in January. This is when we encourage new groups of children to join. Individual children can join throughout the year. When children join mid-session we buddy them with other children for extra support. We also offer top-up 121 lesson to get a child’s confidence and skills developed before they join or re-join.
Do you have to have your own instrument?
No. We provide all instruments free of charge.
Can you take your instrument home?
Not to begin with. We start working with the children at a really young age, so we want to give them time to grow, and understand how to look after their instrument. After their first year with us, we have supervised practice where the children work on their own or in small groups with teachers on hand to advise where necessary. This is designed to teach the children how to work effectively on their own. Then they can start to take their instruments home.
What are the opportunities for children with additional support needs to take part?
It is our aim to remove all barriers to children taking part. We work individually with some children to give them the playing skills and confidence to join the orchestra. We work with Drake Music Scotland to use the innovative Figurenotes notation system that is designed to help children and adults with additional support needs to read and compose music. We also use electronic equipment to give children with physical difficulties the opportunity to make music. It is our intention to work towards an orchestra in which all children can play together.
What will happen when they move on to secondary school?
Children are very welcome to continue to play in the Big Noise orchestra and we would like some to be volunteer teachers for younger children in the programme. We also hope that some of the children may be involved in making music with other ensembles at secondary school, across Stirling and Scotland.
The first of our children have just gone up to secondary school at the end of summer 2011, and almost all of them have remained in Big Noise.
Why classical music and not Scottish traditional or another type of music?
The social benefits of Sistema come from the structure, challenges and cooperative nature of a symphony orchestra. The orchestra is big enough and flexible enough to challenge children with a wide range of abilities – and yet allows them to all play together with a common purpose.
The orchestra can as a whole and in smaller sections play many different types of music – and that can include Scottish traditional and various other kinds of music.
We would throw the question back however: “Why not classical?”
There is no reason the children of Raploch or other future Big Noise centres should be excluded from making and listening to classical music.
Why a music programme?
Orchestral music is beautiful, and we think beauty is important. In addition the orchestra gives us a structure to foster life skills, cooperation and confidence. An orchestra is a natural learning place for self-discipline and communal discipline, as well as encouraging performance and celebration of what can be achieved by working hard together.
Can Big Noise offer some other kinds of music tuition?
Big Noise is an orchestral programme. Sistema’s social benefits come from the intensity, immersion and scale of a symphony orchestra. We don’t have plans for anything else – be it rock guitar, bagpipes etc. There are many other worthy musical pursuits but we don’t believe they bring the same level of social benefit that our orchestras are set up to achieve. It will be wonderful if the children grow up to get enjoyment from playing whatever kind of music they develop a taste for.
What Instruments do you teach, and to what age groups?
We offer violin, viola, double bass, cello, trumpet, trombone, French horn, euphonium, clarinet, oboe, flute, bassoon and percussion.
We started in 2008 teaching vioin, viola, double bass and cello. We started with just strings as this is the foundation approach developed in Venezuela for the age group. Also, we had to start somewhere, and we feel that strings are the core of any orchestra to which other instruments can be added to over time. The oldest children who started in our strings programme were in Primary 3. As of January 2011 these children are in Primary 6. In 2010 we began offering woodwind, brass and percussion instruments and tuition to children who as of January 2011 are in Primary 6 and 7.
What methods do you use?
We use a variety of teaching techniques, exercises and repertoire recognisable from mainstream music education – such as Suzuki, Kodály, Dalcroze and Colourstrings. The teaching however is immersive and focuses on ensemble playing.
Is three days per week immersion enough?
We would love to work with the children even more, but three days was a good start for us. It is certainly enough to start building the orchestra and generating its social benefits. It also helps that we have a Big Noise Base right in the heart of the community so we are never far from sight. We also get to work with the children most days during the holiday periods.
How does teaching of large groups affect the quality of musicianship?
We believe it improves the children’s musicianship, and they become very good ensemble players from an early age. The children learn in a different way to that which has been the custom in this country before, but they are learning well.
Do they get individual/small group lessons?
Yes. We see every Big Noise child once a week for a 20 to 30 minute individual or paired lesson. The children also work in instrument sections (eg cellos together) and in ensembles of varying sizes right up to the full orchestra.
How do you support children progressing at different rates?
We operate more than one group during lessons so that everyone can progress in a way that suits them. Ultimately though the children are all brought together to play – and with different musical parts appropriate to them. Everyone, regardless of ability can contribute to the full orchestra. We will also from time to time work individually with children who are struggling to cope in larger groups. This additional support is always given with the aim of giving them the confidence and ability to rejoin the larger group, rather than have them work permanently in isolation.
What are the social changes that Big Noise hopes to bring about?
We want the children we are working with to grow up to be well-adjusted and happy adults. Through music we want them to learn they can work hard at something – succeed – and feel confident as a result. We hope having struggled and succeeded at learning to play an instrument (which is difficult), they will struggle and succeed in other areas of their lives. As a result they will develop a resilience that helps them make good choices, and realise their full potential.
Is Big Noise a musical or a social programme?
It is both but Big Noise is first and foremost a social programme. The orchestra is used as a tool to counter exclusion, foster confidence and provide challenges. We can only succeed however if we strive to make the best music we can.
Is the musical side or the social side more important in Big Noise?
You can’t have one without the other. We are here because of our social aims, but it is the music that delivers them. Rather than say one is more important than the other, we think musical creativity could be a solution to many problems – so it is very important to us.
Perhaps our society has not put enough value on artistic creativity. That said, if we don’t produce any professional musicians from Big Noise, but lots of happy, confident citizens, we will be very pleased.
What are the musical goals of Big Noise?
We want to have a full symphony orchestra that will play amazing, beautiful music and blow everyone’s socks off!
Within the orchestra we want individual children playing the best music they are capable of, and for everyone to contribute regardless of ability.
Have we seen a change in the children?
Yes.
They have progressed extremely well as musicians for one thing.
When they are with us we see an improvement in their behaviour, attention span, and focus – compared to when we started the orchestra.
Others tell us these changes are apparent elsewhere too – such as in the classroom and at home.
What skills are the children learning?
Aside from purely musical skills, the children learn the skill of mastering something difficult. That hard work pays off and brings admiration. They learn to cooperate with each other, in some instances to teach and encourage each other. They gain confidence in themselves and their abilities. They are developing commitment, and a feeling of affiliation to something. They are learning to be excellent listeners.
What makes Big Noise different from the Venezuelan orchestral programmes?
We hope only a few thousand miles!
We work very hard to make sure that Big Noise is not just an orchestra inspired by Sistema. It is Sistema. We are completely true to the philosophy of the Sistema approach – and are formally partnered with El Sistema in Venezuela.
El Sistema in Venezuela is very flexible. It adapts itself in different locations around the country to what teachers are available, different buildings, the children’s needs etc. Any adaptations we have made to suit conditions in Scotland are very much in keeping with that. So we might be different from an orchestra in Venezuela, but no more different than that orchestra is from one elsewhere in Venezuela.
The main differences are outside the room. Our society is different so we have different barriers to overcome to get the children in the room. Once everyone is in the room there are fewer differences with Venezuela.
We have had visitors from Venezuela who on seeing our orchestra sessions in action have told us they strongly recognise them as Sistema.
Can people work as volunteers in Big Noise?
Yes, we have local volunteers from the community and external volunteers. We encourage longer-term volunteers, as our work is based on building relationships and trust. For further information on volunteering you can contact us at admin@sistemascotland.org.uk
Is there an opportunity for adults to learn an instrument?
Yes. We run a group called The Noise for adults in the community.
Do we have links with other services in the community?
We work closely with education and social work staff from Stirling Council; we work with Forth Valley College to provide all of our catering for the programme; and we communicate regularly with the youth team and Raploch Community Partnership.
Who pays for Big Noise?
All instruments, tuition, snacks, and participation are offered absolutely free of charge to families in Raploch. Sistema Scotland and the Big Noise Orchestra were set up and are running with funding from the Scottish Arts Council (including cash from the National Lottery), BBC Children in Need and a number of charitable trusts and private donors including the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and others. Our initial programme, funded from public and private sources, seeks to demonstrate what orchestras like Big Noise can achieve. Ultimately we hope that central government and local authorities will provide significant funding for Big Noise orchestra centres.
How will Big Noise be able to keep funding this programme?
By demonstrating that it works. Demonstrating that children involved in Big Noise orchestras are showing increased confidence and capacity for learning across their lives, and that the Big Noise centre is contributing to transforming the community, and contributing to creating a wealthier, fairer, healthier, safer, stronger, smarter and greener Scotland. We aim to share responsibility for funding Big Noise centres with local authorities and central government.
The programme is innovative and is making a huge impact on people who come to see it in action. So we anticipate that even in these difficult economic times, charities, trusts and individuals will want to back us. And ultimately, local authorities and central government will provide funding.
Have you discovered in Raploch some really promising music talent?
It is still very early, but some children are showing particular promise.
How are you nurturing that talent?
We operate more than one group during lessons so that everyone can progress in a way that suits them. Ultimately though the children are all brought together to play – and with musical parts appropriate to them. Everyone, regardless of ability can contribute to the full orchestra.
How much One to One teaching do the children get?
Each child gets at least 20 minutes a week in an individual or duo lesson.
What proportion of Raploch children take part?
In Year 1 more than half of eligible children took part. At the beginning of Year 2, 85 % of the new Primary 2 children opted to be part of the after-school orchestra. The vast majority of children in Raploch from nursery through to Primary 7 are in the programme.
Of the ones who have started what proportion have stayed the course?
The vast majority of children are still with us. Some dropped out and then came back. Others have dropped out and may yet be back. New children have also joined.
What are your plans for bringing Big Noise to other places in Scotland? How many Big Noise Centres do you plan to have?
Initially we plan another two centres by 2013. Ultimately there could be an orchestra anywhere that needs one.
Updated November 2011
