HISTORY - or rather -
how Sound Waves South West began ....
by
Judyth Gwynne
As
a writer I became interested in the many different roles played
by music in people’s lives, initially through my disabled
daughter, who due to suffering Encephalitis at a period
when she was just learning to walk, lost her balance and ability
to avoid obstructions in her path, together with a semi-paralysed
arm. The medical profession at that time told me she most probably
would never walk or talk. I, as her mother would not accept
this and decided she should be stimulated and encouraged
in every way possible to lead a normal life. Throughout
the years her body developed normally, and it became apparent
that there was an intelligent young person ‘locked in’
by her seeming disability to quickly process thought and muster
a response; however this was soon overcome by allowing her to
go away and think about the query that had been made, or opinion
asked for, when she would return with a perfectly reasoned reply.
By the time she had grown to the age of 17 she was able to reply
normally to any questions made to her relating to everyday occurrences
or previous experiences that she could draw on, and I was able
to send her to a College of Art at 30, where she obtained a
B Tech 1st Diploma. It was in this period of increased communication
skills that she explained to me that ‘music
saved my life’. It was with this small
clue demonstrating the power of music, and its ability to increase
communication that I commenced my two and a half year research
into the subject, leading to my finding the existence of a new
therapy through music.
My first
important interview was with Professor Leslie Bunt of
the MusicSpace Trust who gave me much encouragement
by telling me that I was the right person to carry out a project
that was slowly forming in my mind, to found a Centre for Music
and Music Therapy here in North Cornwall. Whilst in Bristol
I also met Cathy Durham of the British Society for Music Therapy
and Jenefer Lowe, Arts Officer, Cornwall County Council. From
these important meetings I learnt of the existence of a Centre
for Music in Christchurch that was a going concern, and arranged
a visit to meet David Walters the founder and Director of the
Coda Music Centre.
It was from this visit I was able to see that a fully operational
and financially independent Centre for Music was a possibility,
and I then drew up details of an ideal Centre based on the one
at Christchurch.
By early
2000 two friends came to help me with my project, and
we formed ourselves into an informal Committee of three, extended
shortly by a fourth member. Early in February 2000 it was decided
that the way forward was to hold a Seminar and approximately
600 Invitations were sent out to interested parties to attend
a Seminar here in Bude with Professor Leslie Bunt, Dr. Gary
Ansdell and Mr David Walters as guest Speakers. As Chairman
I wound up the proceedings by asking the invited guests to vote
for a resolution to see a Centre for Music and Music
Therapy founded here in the region, which was passed
unanimously. Further results of the Seminar were offers of voluntary
assistance in different areas of expertise together with fund
raising events on behalf of Sound Waves.
By
December 2000 a formal Committee of six was established,
all bringing their own specialist skills and knowledge to the
benefit of the newly named ‘Sound Waves’. The first
task undertaken by this newly enlarged Committee was to commence
fund raising to enable a Charitable Trust to be formed. During
this process we acquired a Logo and on the advice of our Solicitor
a change of name to ‘Sound Waves South West Music
and Music Therapy’ with the word ‘Trust’
to be added as soon as the formalities were completed with the
Charity Commission. A set of ‘Aims’ was agreed at
the same time.
At this
period, during the inception of the formal Committee, it was
also decided that the prudent way forward would be to divide
our project into two phases, the first a Pilot scheme to
provide a fully qualified Music Therapist on a three
year Contract working from suitable rented premises in the area,
who would be engaged in both local and outreach work. As had
been advised by both Professor Bunt and the British Society
for Music Therapy, the Music Therapist should, due to the demanding
nature of the work, only be engaged in carrying out Music Therapy
sessions three days of the week, which would leave two days
a week free to establish Kindermusik for the Under 5’s
and an After School Music Club for children living in the area.
Other areas would include providing Lectures and Workshops.
By
Spring 2001, each of the eight Primary Schools which
feed into Budehaven Community College was visited by Judyth
Gwynne (Chair), Ann Kennedy (Schools Liaison) and Lucy Burrow
(Artist in Residence). The School’s Head Teachers and
their Music Specialists were keen to take advantage of the offer
of Master Classes and Workshops that ‘Sound Waves’
would be able to offer, by arrangement. In addition, there would
be an opportunity to offer the services of an artist (Lucy Burrow)
who will give extra-curricular activities in the Spring/Summer
of 2002 and a musical experience based on the Dehwelans (homecoming
in the Cornish language).
In order
to keep ‘Sound Waves’ in the public eye, and also
to commence our added intentions as laid out in the ‘Aims’
the Committee organized the Bude Arts Festival in July of
this year, and instituted the publication of a small booklet ‘On the Record’ which details music and
music related events taking place in the area, copies of which
have been distributed through Information Centres free of charge.
Several of the events taking place during the week long Festival
were given by the various Bands/Choirs in aid of funds for S.W.S.W.
Other fund raising events have included Bric a Brac Sales, Musical
Evenings and a Public Draw. It is the intention in the near
future to also establish a Membership scheme for the Friends
of S.W.S.W., which will help provide a sure basis for day-to-day
expenses.
At the time
of writing there is a total of 63 Special Units within a 50
mile radius of Bude, some of whom have already expressed a wish
to take part in our pilot scheme including the Plymouth Hospital
School. My Appendix II explains that Cornwall has been awarded
HAZ (Health Action Zone) status and shows the need to help vulnerable
children and young people with a high number of statements of
special needs. This is highlighted by the Indices of local multi-deprivation
relating to North Cornwall, in particular Health Deprivation
and Disability (see Appendix II, pages 1 – 3). The extracts
from letters of support (Appendix ‘D’) represent
a wide area of interest for this exciting and important new
project.
Derek Kitt
*(Cornwall Education Authority’s Music Advisor) has
visited Bude to speak to Judyth Gwynne and Ann Kennedy and
pledged his support for the project.
Derek can supply not only qualified musicians who can offer
music to children of all abilities in schools, but also workshops
and master classes from prestigious orchestras with whom he
is familiar. He has also indicated that there could well be
funding available for specific events with schools. Derek Kitt
is keen to keep in touch with developments of ‘Sound Waves
South West’, and indicated that Cornwall’s Education
Authority is leading the way in the South West for excellence
in Music provision.
This "History" was prepared in 2001
*
Derek sadly passed away on 21st November 2005
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