Count Me In! is our flagship programme supporting group music-making in specialist schools. Over 10 weeks, Live Music Now musicians work closely with students and staff to create and perform a piece of music where every child has a meaninful role suited to their interests and level of musical development.
In the past two years, musicians have led Count Me In! projects in seven schools, working with over 120 pupils. Ellen O’Brien, whose PhD research focuses on the programme, visited schools to reflect on its impact on students, staff and musicians so far.
Impacts on pupils
Increasing confidence, engagement and self esteem
The Count Me In! projects have given pupils more opportunities to make music in ways suited to their interests and abilities. This has led to a growth in confidence for pupils taking part. For example, at Baytree School the musicians used the Count Me In! approach to create a new song for the groups based on their interests, called “These are the things that we like”. By developing musical roles which built on children’s existing skills, the projects promoted engagement with music making. The focus on group collaboration built social skills, whilst working towards a performance gave a sense of pride and purpose.
In some cases this also had an impact on the wider community. At Baytree School the final celebratory performance included an audience of students, staff as well as a class from the neighbouring mainstream primary school. Some of the students from the mainstream primary school mentioned that they had been inspired by the performance to write their own song in class.
"The sessions had an extremely positive impact on the children's self-esteem. Pupils beamed when they were given instruments they enjoyed using, and loved the team honing in on their interests. We had children at the start who struggled to engage and by the end they were participating in almost the whole session. We had children becoming proper music makers - keeping to a beat - which was incredible to see."
“Pupils that find it hard to interact with others opened up with the Live Music Now musicians, expressing [themselves] through music and voice. The whole group matured and developed skills they can use throughout life.” (Teacher, Mowbray School)
“It really developed their ability to focus for a prolonged period to perform and produce music. They were calm and really enjoyed their sessions. I felt the end of project performance allowed them to demonstrate their skills in a very dignified way.” (Teacher, Village School)
Impacts on school staff
Building classroom community through music
The use of the Count Me In! resources, including online backing tracks and bespoke resources created by the Live Music Now musicians, allowed staff to remind students of the songs. Teachers used the resources to support students’ learning, and had also learnt a lot of the songs themselves. One staff member mentioned how a student had been “singing it all week!” Another commented that “as an older member of the support staff, I am also learning new skills as I’m being included with the learners.”
Count Me In provided an opportunity for all staff and pupils to make music together: a real “classroom community”.
"I think I will continue with a similar project myself in school, inspired by this project."
Teaching staff were really proud of their students’ achievements:
"I know already the pupils are loving it, especially by their smiles. They are learning skills and they are happy and are taking aboard on what they are being taught…. Our learners will also gain confidence to perform, and their learning will contribute towards their BtEC that they are doing in school.”
Impacts on musicians
Understanding inclusive practice
Musicians took a student-led approach to the sessions, dealing with initial challenges confidently, and constantly learning & reflecting on what worked for individual students. The clear definition of musical roles in Count Me In! was very helpful in supporting this student-led approach.
"There's a really broad wheel of inclusivity. I think that everyone in the room had a role... I do think that the model for Count Me In! helped with that."
The projects also fostered a collaborative relationship between musicians and school staff. Feedback for the musicians from schools was extremely positive, and musicians appreciated being able to draw of teachers’ knowledge of their pupils.
"All staff members were really supportive, engaged, and focussed on helping the learners engage with our activities. They were really keen to provide additional useful information about individual learners and their needs, learning styles and strengths.”
We will continue to share the learning around Count Me In so that other musicians, schools and students can continue to benefit from inclusive music making.
Ellen O’Brien’s Masters dissertation explored musicians’ perspectives of delivering Count Me In! projects and includes further insights from Live Music Now musicians.
