East Ayrshire Council - The Jolly Beggars
The Youth Music Initiative in East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire Primary Schools Choir
The Jolly Beggars
What next?
Just like every other local authority in Scotland, East Ayrshire Council has received a 'formula funding' grant from the Youth Music Initiative (YMI) at the Scottish Arts Council each year since 2003 in order to improve youth music provision in the formal education sector (within schools). As the YMI enters its fifth year the projects run in East Ayrshire's schools range from traditional Scottish music to jazz, from rock and pop bands to samba percussion workshops, and from orchestras to specialised music technology for pupils with special educational needs.
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East Ayrshire Council's Primary Choral Development Programme addresses a vital 'gap area' identified by the What's Going On report in 2003 - singing. Almost every primary school in the local authority is involved in one of three Area Choirs from which is formed the East Ayrshire Primary Schools Choir. |
The choir was established in 2002/3 as part of the XtrArts project, but now forms an important part of East Ayrshire's Youth Music Initiative work.
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Scotland's National Cultural Strategy (Scottish Executive, 2000) says that 'culture can be a social thread, uniting people and linking otherwise disparate parts of their lives'. With this in mind, the Creative Minds Team at East Ayrshire Council devised a project that would link members of the East Ayrshire Primary Schools Choir based in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley with Mullavilly Primary School from County Armagh in Northern Ireland. |
Ayrshire was home to Robert Burns and so, as an introduction to the cultural heritage of the area, Burns expert Dr Fred Freeman developed a sketch based on The Jolly Beggars by Burns for the young singers to perform.
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In March 2007 the pupils from Mullavilly made a five-day trip to Ayrshire to rehearse with the Ayrshire choir and perform the sketch at the Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock. The performers wore Burns-era costumes and were joined by Dr Freeman as narrator, together with young traditional dancers and accordion accompaniment. |
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During their stay the Mullavilly pupils visited cultural sites relating to Burns, including Burns Cottage in Alloway, where Burns was born. The Ayrshire pupils joined them for a trip to Mauchline, where Burns lived for some years in a house which is now the Burns House Museum. Poosie Nancy's Tavern, the setting for The Jolly Beggars, can also be found in Mauchline. The choir also took part in other, more social, joint activities such as bowling during the five-day visit.
The showcase performance was a huge success. Some of the Armagh pupils commented:
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'I think we all sound fabulous together!!'
'The rehearsals were very tiring but it was worth it'
'I can't wait to meet up with the Scottish pupils again to sing'. |
In June the Ayrshire pupils will travel to Armagh to stage another joint performance at a showcase of traditional music hosted by the Ulster-Scots Agency.
However, the project was not simply an opportunity for the young people to sing. Working with a new choir developed interpersonal abilities such as teamworking and communication skills. Above all, it gave them an opportunity to learn about and share their own cultural heritage with pupils from other countries. As one pupil from Mulavilly said, 'I learnt a lot about the local area of Ayrshire and also a lot about Robert Burns!!'
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For more information about the Jolly Beggars project, and other projects taking place in East Ayrshire schools, contact Dorothy Lees, Expressive Arts Development Officer.
Find out more on the Youth Music Initiative. | |