Music for Me is one of Common Ground's core programmes of arts development and work. It is currently open to children who access the services of Homework Clubs in Dublin 8.

Music for Me facilitates children to play, listen to, participate in and experience the type of music that appeals to them. Since 2005 the programme has been facilitated by professional musicians, in collaboration with homework club staff, and includes weekly and seasonal music sessions.

As an art form, music is deeply rooted in human nature. It is a unique form of communication and a means by which feelings and interests are organised and expressed. With this in mind, Music for Me aims to empower children to successfully communicate feelings and interests about themselves and the world around them. Each section of the programme involves elements of listening, responding, performing and composing, underpinned by a desire to create an atmosphere of joyful participation.

The Aims of the Music for Me programme are to:

• Broaden each child's musical frame of reference.
• Allow children to explore and experience different musical styles, genres, periods and cultures.
• Provide a high quality service to all children accessing the music programme.
• Encourage and support each child in making informed decisions about the type of music programme that they would like to access.
• Enable the child to develop his/her natural abilities and potential.
• Provide each child with the opportunity to practise newly acquired skills and techniques.
• Enable each child to see and to solve problems creatively.
• Enable each child to explore and express ideas, feelings and experiences.

The strands of the programme are delivered through:

Group music sessions - these take place during the school holidays and are structured to meet the developmental needs of each specific group.

Individual music sessions - these take place on a weekly basis between the child and a specific musician and last for the duration of the school year.

Performance - children are provided with the opportunity to perform on a regular basis in both local and wider community contexts.

Musical appreciation - this strand involves a dual process of musicians travelling to local venues to play for the children and the children travelling to professional venues to hear musicians play.

Training - opportunties for training is provided to all musicians and local leaders working on the programme. This aims to further their skills as music educators and to explore and develop appropriate training methodologies for all homework club leaders working on the programme.

Background

The Music for Me programme has expanded considerably since its inception in the Dolphin House Homework Club in April 2005.

A short 'Introduction to Music' programme in April of that year provided the genesis of what was to become the Dolphin House Music Club where children between the ages of six and 12 years of age came together at regular intervals to play and perform a broad range of percussive and musical instruments facilitated by musicians Elaine Agnew, Klaus Vormehr, Dara O' Brien and Nick Roth.

In April 2007, in a culmination of nearly two years of the programme, an exciting musical performance of both Irish and International music was staged by the Dolphin House Music Club in the Rotunda Room of Dublin City Hall.

From September 2007, the programme continued to expand into Fatima Homework Club and the After Schools of the Family Resource Centre at St Michael's Estate. New music tutors have been introduced and workshops and performances scheduled throughout 2008 and into 2010 included children from Dolphin House Homework Club performing their own composition 'The Power of Music' in the Kevin Barry room of the National Concert Hall in April 2010.

A number of new and exciting programme elements are currently in development. These include; a pilot singing programme, further expansion of the weekly guitar and keyboard tuition programmes, plus 'Introduction to Music' sessions featuring a diverse programme of workshop and performances. In 2011 Common GRound will also introduce Music for Me into Our Lady of the Wayside Primary School

The musicians currently working on the Music for Me programme are:

• Elaine Agnew
• Nick Roth
• Mark Ellison
• Robbie Harris
• Pia Dunne
• Ray Boyle
• Maeve O'Hara

Music equipment for this programme was donated to Common Ground's musical instrument bank by the IRMA Trust and purchased through Dormant Accounts Funding.