Workshops at High Close School, Wokingham
Our 2017-18 Songs of Courage project is currently taking place at High Close School, a Barnardo’s School for young people with a range of social, emotional & mental health difficulties, along with speech, language & communication needs.
La Folia musicians are working alongside students to creatively explore ‘ordinary’ people’s extraordinary acts of courage, starting with Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on the Alabama bus in 1955. The students have been creating their own Songs of Courage, drawing on inspiration from the stories they hear about in the workshops as well as from their own lives.
I would like to say how utterly AMAZING the ‘Songs of Courage’ project is and what a buzz it is creating. Time after time we are seeing young people touch parts of their innermost selves through music and song in a way that they have never experienced before. Considering how trouble and anxiety ridden so many of these young people are it is extraordinary to watch the process. Howard and the team are doing it all over again…! It’s life changing.
Hilary Craven at High Close School
Feedback from participants:
“I didn’t tell you my real name because I was scared, but now I’m feeling more brave”
“I love songs of courage because we get to make something amazing out of our deepest thoughts.”
“When we first started this I couldn’t believe that we would make our own music. I thought that our song would be rubbish but it is really good.”
“I’m proud of myself because I find doing new things really scary. At first I really didn’t want to do it but the people are really fun and nice and now I look forward to it.”