Feedback on Aberdeenshire Youth Music Sessions (AYMS) February & March 2024 Evaluation

In our survey we asked:

• Which school you attended.
• Which year group you were in.
• What instrument you play.
• Did you attend any of the AYMS projects?
• What AYMS project you attended.
• Did you get what you expected from the project?
• Are you likely to attend Aberdeenshire Youth Music Sessions in the future?
• Did you attend the AYMS Concert?
• For your thoughts on AYMS.
• Are you likely to attend Aberdeenshire Youth Music Sessions in the future?
• For comments from the Young Leaders.
• If there are any other types of ensembles you would like.
• If raising the fees would affect you/your child’s ability to participate.

You told us:

The table below shows the number of pupils in each year group:

The table below shows the instruments played:

Concert Band at Mackie Academy

• 55.2% of AYMS participants attended Concert Band at Mackie Academy.
  • 64.7% felt the number of sessions was just right, 35.3% would like more sessions offered in future.
  • 100% felt the music provided was suitable.

3 things or more that you learnt from the Concert Band sessions:

• Leadership.
• Playing with peers and benefiting from experience of older year groups.
• Building child's confidence.
• The invaluable part of teaching music to the young in schools. The amount of work involved in organising and the amazing relationship between the teachers and pupils. It was a pleasure to hear and watch them perform.
• Enjoyed playing with a large group.
• I liked it when we played as a whole orchestra rather than just myself.
• My daughter became more confident in her playing abilities as she has just started. She also learned what it is like to play in a band.
• My two daughters attended and found it extremely useful to practise and be part of a concert band.
• How to play as part of a band and help younger/less experienced musicians.
• Daughter learnt social skills as well as developing her musical skills.
• How to play different notes.
• How to play new notes and different tempos.
• It was a great chance to play as part of a band and learn about different types of sound, working together etc.
• How to help others.
• Gained confidence performing with a large group.
• Teamwork, patience, discipline, keeping to time.

Junior Strings Orchestra at Mackie Academy

• 37.9% of AYMS participants attended the Junior Strings Orchestra at Mackie Academy.
  • 9.1% felt there were not enough sessions, 72.7% felt the number of sessions was just right and 18.2% would like more sessions offered in future.
  • 100% felt the music provided was suitable.

3 things or more that you learnt from the Mackie Junior Strings Orchestra sessions:

• Confidence.
• Wonderful experience.
• building child's confidence.
• Watching the development in my child’s cello playing.
• New songs and playing in a band.
• I liked it when we played as an orchestra rather than me on my own.
• Dedication, commitment, teamwork, listening skills.
• Working with a conductor.
• Playing in a group and helping the younger students. Would like more challenging music for next time.

Junior Strings Orchestra at Inverurie Academy

• 27.6% of AYMS participants attended the Junior Strings Orchestra at Inverurie Academy.
  • 12.5% felt there were not enough sessions, 50% felt the number of sessions was just right and 37.5% would like more sessions offered in future.
  • 100% felt the music provided was suitable.

3 things or more that you learnt from the Inverurie Junior Strings Orchestra sessions:

• Was a wonderful experience playing with various standards of musicians and different instruments.
• Building child's confidence.
• More progress and loved hearing all the groups preform together.
• New songs, playing in a band.
• Confidence in performing, supporting younger ones, practice opportunity and fun.
• Playing as part of an ensemble. Having fun with other musicians.
• How to be a mentor and assist with younger pupils.

Your Project Expectations:

Concert:

Thoughts from respondents:

• Very enjoyable and worthwhile.
• Would like more band opportunities.
• These sessions are hugely beneficial to the musical development of young people.
• Can’t thank the music department enough.
• It was fantastic.
• Great resource, wish it was every weekend.
• I think this is a very invaluable resource. I was impressed with the way it was delivered and the concert was fantastic.
• Please keep them going, they are excellent.
• When is the next one, and can there be a higher level one in Inverurie please?
• Great opportunity as my daughter is the only child who plays woodwind at her school.
• Some icebreakers and getting to know you type games would have been invaluable for these sessions. It would have helped them to invest in the outcome more and to enjoy the sessions more. My son spent the breaks alone with a book which compounded his shyness.
• Invaluable opportunity, professionally run with high expectations.
• Enjoyed these sessions, would attend again.
• Could we have a senior string group?
• I really liked it.
• We hope they continue, it’s a massive gift to our children. So important for their musical development, brain health and social skills.
• We attended a brass one in May it was very good although my daughter felt that everyone else was far more advance than she was and she could not play at times as had not learnt the notes they were playing. We only joined the school in May 2024 but had we been here we would have attended the AYMS sessions. We would be very interested in attending future sessions at Mackie Academy.
• No but would like to when older.
• I will do this in future.
• Good and well supported for all levels attending.
• My daughter would like to attend some sessions, but they are impossible for her to get to by bus and my husband and I are not home from work in time to take her.
• 31.3% of all respondents said they are not very likely to attend AYMS in the future, 38.9% said they likely would and 29.8% said very likely.

Thoughts from Young Leaders:

• I loved it.
• Really enjoyed the experience.

Musical ensembles you would like in the future:

• Woodwind only.
• I don't know.
• All are good I feel.
• Choir.
• Concert bands.
• Geography is the biggest barrier - especially if a parent does not drive. So a good spread of locations would be good.
• Mix.
• Jazz.
• Yes, is it possible student learning instruments in schools should have school best music instruments playing competitions. This creates enthusiasm in kids to learn, perform well and represent their school.
• More in-school bands and ensembles.
• Small orchestra, string group. Also, the Aberdeen Benedetti sessions were fantastic.
• Just the same.
• Band ensemble and jazz ensemble.
• Guitar ensemble / rock band.
• Fiddle group/orchestra.
• More orchestrated shows.
• String orchestra, full orchestra.
• Pipe Band.
• No it was just right.
• I play in the Inverurie Concert band and enjoy the youth section there.
• An orchestra for intermediate players, approximately Grade 5, which offers a residential week similar to opportunities provided in other council areas.
• Drumming and percussion groups, rock ensembles for non classical instruments..
• Any ensemble form is welcome, but location, location, location??? More peripatetics needed so that travelling, and its costs and inconvenience are more equitably shared.
• My child is not currently interested in playing within a band.
• Yes, I would like my child to go dancing.
• Concert band and strings collaboration.
• Brass band.
• I would like to play classical music.
• Already attend youth orchestra in Fraserburgh.
• Saturday rather than Sunday sessions.
• Orchestra and concert band together.
• Jazz or saxophone ensembles.
• Rock bands.
• Scottish ceilidh type music?
• As stated previously, my daughter would love to play her flute in a band or an orchestra. As we live in Aboyne, she would have to go somewhere on a bus route.
• Senior string group and folk band.
• Jazz band please.
• Smaller strings based one.

Your thoughts on the fee increase:

Based on the data:

We recognise that playing in an ensemble is valuable to you and will continue to organise projects.

Young Leaders placed importance on leadership and mentoring to support younger musicians. The Young Leaders element of projects will remain and be developed.

We will explore ways to develop ensembles which will involve more advanced/senior pupils.

We will work in partnerships with national organisations to offer more opportunities for ensemble playing in different geographical areas.

Fees will increase in academic session 2024/25 in line with the Retail Price Index.

We will aim to offer a greater range of types of ensembles next academic session.