Riverside Routes - St Aidan's Church of England Primary School
Ken Masters and Adam Cogdon, Gateshead Arts Development Team, emcee Ken Master and DJ Adam Cogon worked together with staff and year 5 pupils at St Aidan's C of E Primary School. Riverside Routes project is part of 'The Tyne-Derwent Way' programme by The Gateshead Riverside Partnership. The Tyne-Derwent Way programme is funded by The UK Government.
St Aidan's is a voluntary aided Church of England School in Gateshead. The school is in the Teams area of Gateshead in the top 10% of deprived neighbourhoods nationally. We worked with the newly appointed arts lead Mrs Veronica MacCabe. Veronica identified Year 5 would be a good fit as they were studying rivers in Geography. Gateshead Arts Development team appointed Emcee Ken Masters and DJ Adam Cogdon to work with the class to explore the Staiths and surrounding areas.
The project
Session 1 - The project comprised a research walk around Staiths from the café to the salt marsh via riverside bird hide then two in-school sessions. Whilst most of the children had been to space before the walk offered an opportunity for a deeper connection and observation. Adam shared, "The walk was a great way to build relationships with the group and space."
Session 2 - The first session in school supported the children to express their feelings towards and observations of the Staiths. Ken guided the children to co-write verses and a chorus. He encouraged the children to think about rich vocabulary.
You will note their use of sensory words and imaginative metaphors. They also considered how words sound and how assonance helps improve performability and flow. They considered the reaction they wanted to elicit from listeners and were keen to convey a message about caring for our local environment.
Adam used professional sound recording software with the learners. He helped them choose samples and instruments for an original composition. They layered percussion, strings and more building a unique sound whilst evaluating how tone, tempo and instrument selection could complement their lyrics. They opted to record in A minor as minor chords are typically associated with melancholic feelings.
Session 3 - Adam prepared the composition for recording before the session. Ken and Adam supported the children finalising their lyrics, rehearsing and recording their final piece. Children shared how rapping helped them to focus on projecting their voices.
After the delivery period, Adam created a music video to accompany the track with project photographs and additional filmed footage. He hoped this would increase the reach of the children's work when it is later published online and their sense of accomplishment. The film was showcased in a school assembly by Veronica and year 5 celebrating and sharing their piece's message.
Impact
Although a shorter project Riverside Routes had a powerful impact. On the day of the walk, 72% (18 of 25) of the children said they would 'probably' or 'definitely recommend' others spend time in the area around the Staiths. Those who would recommend it focused on the riverside being a great place to relax and destress which is vitally important when an increasing number of children report feeling anxious nationally.
"I'd definitely recommend it because it's a peaceful place to be and it's calm." Joy
After the walk, 77% (20 of 26) rated the day as excellent. This finding illustrates that the walk is a vital component of Riverside Routes projects. Learning outdoors provides a huge boost to children's well-being and makes learning more engaging, fun and purposeful.
Ken commented the children were keenly aware of the consequences of anti-social behaviour. They were angry about the arson attacks on the Staiths and littering. The children were and how they were motivated to do something positive.
At school, most of the children enjoyed composing their rap piece.
"I was very inspired because it made me want to make my own music at home." Tamzin
"I like making music and exploring the river" Christobel
Despite the tight timeframe the class managed to create an original piece highlighting changes they would like to see in their community along the riverside Namely the estoration of the Staiths and a greater sense of civic pride and care for the space amongst the public.
Ken shared, "It was poetic and powerful how the children articulated their views."
He felt Riverside Routes allowed Year 5 to express their concerns and hoped it might inspire follow-up action. It would be great if the children's message encouraged follow-up action that improved the area.
"The children have thoroughly enjoyed working together with Ken and Adam and are very proud of what they have achieved." Veronica MacCabe
During a post-delivery evaluation meeting, Adam and Ken commented, "It was fantastic to work with an enthusiastic teacher and teaching assistant fully invested in the project."and that they felt,"trusted us to do our thing.". Adam reflected taking the local area as inspiration was an excellent and immediately engaging topic for lyric writing.
On reflection, the group would have benefitted from at least one more session, as it was quite challenging to get everything complete. However, the arts development team felt in this case it was more important to prioritise the children having the experience of working alongside two musicians reflecting the often collaborative nature of professional practice.
In conclusion, the project had a significant impact on the children, with a high percentage recommending the area around the Staiths and rating the overall experience as 'excellent'. The project was a vital opportunity for the children to express their concerns about their community and articulate their views through music and outdoor learning. The enthusiasm and dedication of the teachers, as well as the collaboration with musicians, played a crucial role in the success of the project. It is evident that programmes like Riverside Routes with Gateshead Arts Development Team have the potential to not only positively impact children's well-being but also inspire positive change in their communities.
