Supported by the National Lottery Young People & Wellbeing Arts Programme, funded by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
In 2023, a Youth Wellbeing Survey (Young Life and Times) found that the wellbeing of children aged 11 in Northern Ireland was at its lowest level since 2016, and that 45.2% of 16-year-olds have a probable mental ill-health. Supporting young people’s emotional health and wellbeing is therefore a high priority for schools across Northern Ireland.
Thanks to funding we received from the National Lottery Young People and Wellbeing Arts Programme, Live Music Now was able to pilot a musical ‘wellbeing club’ with 23 boys aged 11-15 from the Autism Specific Centre at Ashfield Boys’ High School, Belfast.
Running between April and December 2024, the weekly sessions aimed to reduce stress and promote resilience through a range of creative musical activities. The students worked alongside Live Music Now duo ‘Dancing Embers’, Ciara Jackson (flute/voice) and Rowan Warner Leicester (guitar/drums), to explore rhythm, melody, harmony and silence, using acoustic and digital instruments, and ‘jamming’ together to perform their own music. Each session also incorporated relaxation techniques including breathing exercises and visualization within the musical games and exercises using singing bowls, chimes and ocean drums.
“Using the music medicine framework, we experienced how these elements can be beneficial for our wellbeing; rhythm for energising the body, melody for exploring emotions, harmony for exploring interpersonal connections, and silence for relaxing the mind and resting.” Rowan, Live Music Now musician
The project culminated in two showcase events where the young people demonstrated their newly developed skills to parents, guardians, and peers. In total, 18 students took part in the showcase events.
“One student, who sang in the concert, said that he thought there’d be no way he’d ever get up and sing in front of people when he first started with the project.”
In addition to the group sessions, Ciara and Rowan supported whole school wellbeing through 18 ‘mini’ concerts across the school, reaching 600 teenage boys in total.
School staff were also invited to two wellbeing ‘sound bath’ sessions. Every staff member surveyed said they felt relaxed and/or calm after the sessions, with all agreed it had a positive effect on their mental health. Additionally, six staff members received two CPD sessions centred on music facilitation and accessible music technology.
“Staff who took part in training sessions reported feeling more confident in their ability to use music as a tool for wellbeing and pastoral care within their classrooms.” Lead Teacher, Ashfield Boys’ School
“It was lovely to see the boys participate well. There were no issues or apprehension in the lead up to the showcase. It was lovely to see the boys who don’t play instruments feeling happy and willing to perform in front of others.”
Caroline Harris, Teacher, Ashfield Boys’ School
Project Impact: Our evaluation demonstrated that taking part in group music sessions supported the mental health and wellbeing of boys with autism and other statements.
71% of the students agreed that taking part in the program had a positive effect on their mental health. Key elements contributing to the success of the programme included:
- An inclusive and personalised approach to the music sessions helped students to grow in confidence to participate. “It’s great that anybody can play music, even if you’re not a musician.” Student, Ashfield Boys’ School
- Making music together enabled young people to develop new friendships and a sense of group connectedness. “Some students grew stronger friendships with each other during the project. Two boys in particular, who didn’t know each other that well before starting the project, ended up singing a duet at the showcase, afterwards saying they’re ‘brothers for life now.” Rowan, Live Music Now Musician
- Developing new musical skills helped to build young people’s self-esteem. “They were proud to share their music with family and peers at a celebratory concert.”
Caroline Harris, lead teacher for the project said:
“The Live Music Now project within Ashfield Boys’ High School was incredible. It allowed boys with diagnosis of ASD, ADHD, Anxiety and other Co-Morbidities a chance to express themselves and also focus on their wellbeing though music. They benefitted from weekly sessions and always were excited to see the musicians each week. Parents reported positive changes in behaviour and confidence.”
With many thanks to the staff and pupils at Ashfield Boys’ High School and to National Lottery Young People & Wellbeing Arts Programme, funded by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Next Steps: Supporting a musical culture within Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools across Northern Ireland.
Published research shows that around 5-10% of autistic children may have unusual musical potential through exceptional auditory development that occurs in the early years. (Ockelford 2013, 2015). The impact of our wellbeing music project at Ashfield Boys’ High School demonstrates the wider impact that group music-making can have on the wellbeing and holistic development of autistic young people.
With the current expansion of specialist provision in mainstream schools (SPiMS) across Northern Ireland, there is an exciting opportunity to embed creative music provision within specialist classes to support autistic children and young people. Live Music Now is currently exploring ways to support this area of provision.
