Musical Futures Young Champions
Our network of Young Champions was established in 2010 to provide informal peer-to-peer advice, guidance and support to other students following Musical Futures.
Young Champions are supported by NUMU to complete fortnightly mentoring tasks - such as providing constructive criticism on other students' music; suggesting musical advice; providing signposting advice; as well as blogging regularly about their musical and mentoring activities.
Our Young Champions have been active in supporting other young people since January 2011. The following occurred through NUMU during the Young Champions’ first year:
• 1,154 comments were made by Young Champions to other students
• 185 blogs were written by the Young Champions
• In total 261 young people from Musical Futures schools received comments, advice and mentoring
"I really like helping other young people with their music...I think it has also improved my social skills and I now feel I can talk to people in a more constructive way and give more constructive feedback" (Young Champion)
Example of comments from Young Champions:
• “Your beats are really good, although it sounds like your recording could be better, next time try and amplify the vocalists more!”
• “Your lyrics are amazing, do you write about personal experiences? My tip is to write when you're feeling emotional, the songs come out personal and stunning at the end! :)”
• “I think you should try Set Fire to the Rain, it's a really good song and it would definitely fit your voice”
• “All your songs are AMAZING!!! I write myself, and I can tell you put so much emotion into writing your songs, can truly feel the passion :)”
• “Was it hard to learn the chords or did you find it easy?”
• “What do you use to record your songs? have you ever considered adding vocals?”
Young Champions 2011-2012
The Young Champions programme for 2011-2012 sees a slight shift in emphasis, as the schools involved each run a 'NUMU Young Champions Club', where up to 10 Young Champions work collaboratively on mentoring and coaching others. To ensure we showcase all the fantastic mentoring taking place, we’ll be spotlighting a different Young Champions school every fortnight, starting with Hirst Park School in Newcastle.
Schools involved this year are:
• Monks Walk School, Hertfordshire
• Steyning Grammar School, West Sussex
• Perth Academy, Scotland
• Hirst Park School, Newcastle
• Ysgol Bryngwyn School, South Wales
• Carranballac College, Australia
• Limavady Grammar School, Northern Ireland
• St. Brigid's College, Northern Ireland
• Harrogate Grammar School, Yorkshire
• Benton Park School, Yorkshire
Also trained and participating is Rydon Community College, West Sussex.
During 2011-2012 schools will be hosting 'Young Champions Collectives' where teams of Young Champions will work together to mentor and support as many young people as they can. Watch this space for further details!
See photos, video and resources from NUMU Young Champions Training 2011-12.
Get involved!
If you are using Musical Futures in your school, and would like students in your school to receive informal mentoring from one of our young champions, sign your school and students up to NUMU now (it's free and very simple to use!). Make sure that you identify your school as following Musical Futures, and start getting your students to upload their work.
Keep up-to-date with how the programme is developing here and follow us on Twitter for regular updates.
For more information about the programme please contact Joe Weiler, NUMU, tel. 0113 246 9989, email joe.weiler@radiowaves.co.uk
Last year’s Young Champions
Ground rules established by the Young Champions during 2011 were:
1. Provide constructive and positive criticism without being patronising
2. Be genuine with your responses
3. Don’t be overwhelming with your advice: be specific
4. Be a friend not a teacher
5. Ask questions
6. Give examples of other artists to listen to
7. Encourage new music and songwriting
8. Be controlled in what you say and how you say it
9. Use appropriate language
10. Share your own musical experiences
"I think the thing I have liked most about being a Young Champion is how much it's helped me learn about other people and music genres. It's also helped build my confidence in myself." (Young Champion)
"Most of them have risen to the occasion and their confidence has grown enormously" (Head of Music)
With many thanks to our superb team of Young Champions from 2010-2011 from the following schools: Ashington High School, Northumberland; Banovallum School, Horncastle, Lincolnshire; Baylis Court Arts College, Slough; Cramlington Learning Village, Northumberland; Dawlish Community College, Devon; Hirst Park Middle School, Northumberland; Holly Lodge High School, Smethwick, West Midlands; Monk's Walk School, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire; Newlands Girls School, Maidenhead, Berkshire; The Purcell School of Music, Hertfordshire; Tor Bridge High School, Plymouth, Devon; Waddesdon C of E School, Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire.
