Be Free & Play Music

The Intention of the Youth Music Programme
The basis of the programme is, through the media of music and performance, to help youth to consciously use and improve their existing skills, resources and creativity, to give them new coping and leadership skills, and to provide an association with success, hence increasing their confidence, self-esteem, sense of self-worth and purpose, and take responsibility for their actions. Importantly, it will provide them with a choice as to how they can spend their leisure time in a way that is positive and contributes to the community. We hope they will become positive role models for their peer group. The programme is aimed at youth aged between 12 to 19 years who may not be primarily academic in the traditional sense and, as a result, may not be reaching/or reached their potential at school. The programme will also support “at risk” youth who are struggling with main stream education or are not engaged in education as well as youth that are identified with behavioral issues. The programme is also aimed at helping youth with an interest in music to develop their skills and to begin to consider how they can use their talent to further their career opportunities. Not just for “Musicians”. In addition to youth that are musically inclined, the programme is open to youth who would like to develop an interest in the arts, or who may like to become involved in the promotion, production and fund raising for the programme and the Community Concert. The programme will provide youth with a safe and encouraging environment where they can develop their creativity, mentored by people who are positive role models. Youth enrolling in the programme will also be provided with general youth mentoring covering drug & alcohol issues, strategies, goals, team work. We will also help them to work through stress in a resourceful manner. They will receive music tuition, support and guidance in a healthy and encouraging environment resulting in performing/participating at an end of course Community Concert and Competition. o The programme will initially take place once a week for 2 hours,
o Youth will need to apply to join the programme, stating their interests. This may be, for many, the first time they have ‘applied’ for a position. Their successful application will be the first step to increasing their self-esteem. Feed-back will be provided on how they could improve their applications. o We will be working with the support of Kerikeri High School and for those students who have chosen Music as an option, the programme can be aligned with NCEA level I, II and III requirements which will afford the young person NCEA credits. This meets with our aim for each participant to ‘succeed’. o Music & performance tutoring will be available
o General youth mentoring will also be provided

In addition, they will be working collaboratively as a team, and building leadership skills to achieve a successful end of Course Concert and Competition. Not only will the young participants be able to apply for band positions, solo artists, song-writers, etc., there will be various “management” and “admin” positions available, particularly around organizing and running the concert and fund raising events. All youth on the programme will be given responsibilities and goals to meet. Various situations are likely to arise throughout the programme, which will afford the opportunity to help the youth with strategies around stress management and empathy skills, successful communication, working with others, etc. Tutors
All of our tutors/mentors are positive role models from the community, thus creating a positive peer group and environment for the youth. The youth will all be encouraged to maintain contact during the week, and to carry out additional practice, etc. On-going Support
It has been shown that through working in groups, (and this is particularly relevant in smaller communities) youth will find that they have their own support network and therefore now have a clearer choice as to who their peer group is going to be and what path they are going to take. Before the programme, often they only knew who they knew, and so it became difficult to break from the mould – easy to drift back to old “friends” and old habits. By forming new relationships within a group that is both succeeding and doing “cool” things, provides youth a choice that did not necessarily previously exist. They will become a positive part of the community as opposed to being apart from the community. Additionally, we will encourage youth that are of school age, or still in education, to participate in Music events such as the Smoke Free Rock Quest and local Talent Quests. Be Free Inc is a Charitable Trust, established in 2006 with a mission to:

- Promote freedom of addictions in our community
- Promote effective youth services that are community based
- Create opportunities for youth that support positive life choices & leadership

The supportive mentoring proposed in the ‘BE FREE ‘YOUTH MENTORING THROUGH MUSIC PROGRAMME’ acknowledges the youth’s inherent skills, strengths and creativity which will help them experience success, enhance their self-esteem and confidence with the resultant improvement in attitude, resiliency and decision making skills, encouraging them to become “leaders” and achievers. The Outcome
The aim is that by the end of the programme the participants/youth will have gained:

Personal Attributes
o Improved music, promotion, production, fund raising skills & appreciation
o Youth leadership qualities
o Improved self-esteem and confidence
o Developed strategies & met goals, associated with success and positive decision making
o Become team players and an ability to work collaboratively
o Have become a positive contributor to the community

Future Opportunities
o May consider further education and gain skills through training options
o Are better prepared for employment
o Are more likely to participate in the Smoke Free Rock Quest, and local talent competition