Feedback on Aberdeenshire Youth Music Sessions (AYMS) November/December 2023 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.
• You to list 3 things or more that you learned from the sessions.
• Did you get what you expected from the project.
• For your thoughts on the current fee of £6.00 per session.
• If you have any other thoughts regarding AYMS.
• If you were likely to attend Aberdeenshire Youth Music Sessions in the future.
• What other type of musical ensembles you would like in the future.

You told us:

Pupils from 5 Academies and 8 Primary Schools responded to the Survey.

Concert Band - Mackie Academy:

• 50% of respondents attended the Concert Band at Mackie Academy.
  • 36.4% felt the number of sessions was just right, 63.6% would like more sessions offered in future
  • 90.9% felt the music provided was suitable, 9.1% thought some of it was too easy.

3 things or more that you learnt from the sessions:

• Confidence in kids, Passion, Commitment.
• Playing violin in a group and playing together with other instruments.
• Play with others, meet new people, Learn from the conductor.
• Keeping time over longer pieces, remaining focused and following the music, Playing at the correct volume.
• A few new notes, new pieces of music, how to read conductor signs.
• Not sure.
• How to play the pieces, play in a group.
• How to play in a group, Counting, Paying more attention to rests.
• group work, communication skills, teaching skills.
• How to help younger students, how transpose from my instrument to different instruments so I know what they are playing, how to follow more than one piece of music at once.
• Play together, rhythm, conducting.

Junior String Orchestra - Mackie Academy:

• 30% of respondents attended the Junior String Orchestra at Mackie Academy.
  • 66.7% felt the number of sessions was just right, 33.3% would like more sessions offered in future.
  • 100% felt the music provided was suitable.

3 things or more that you learnt from the sessions:

• Confidence, Passion, Commitment.
• New songs, performing in front of the crowd, gaining confidence.
• Playing violin in a group and together with other instruments.
• Playing in a group, about other instruments, Socialising.
• Dedication to practising an instrument - how to play as part of an orchestra - how to follow a conductor.
• How to teach music skills, Posture when playing, Definition of TUTTI.

Strings, Brass and Woodwind - Inverurie Academy

• 30% of respondents attended the Strings, Brass and Woodwind at Inverurie Academy.
  • 16.7 felt there were not enough sessions, 33.3% felt the number of sessions was just right and 50% would like more sessions offered in future.
  • 100% felt the music provided was suitable.

3 things or more that you learnt from the sessions:

• Playing in a group, confidence, meeting other kids who play instruments.
• Child learned how to play in a big group, played to a big audience for the first time and made new friends.
• None.
• New tunes practised, playing in a group, and staying in time.
• How to play in a group, harmony and melody, counting rhythm/timing.
• It was a really great opportunity for my son to take part in an orchestra experience. It has sparked a deeper interest in him. He is very new to his instrument and was not nearly as advanced as most other attendees, which may have been frustrating for them, but he wasn’t fazed, which was great to see. He has volunteered (without any chivvying) to tootle a small tune at the school Christmas show, which is fab! It’s lovely to see his pride in his achievements. Thank you very much for the opportunity.

Common themes from respondents:

• Playing in a group.
• Meeting new people.
• Working with a conductor.
• Commitment.
• Performing to an audience.
• Learning to teach younger students.

Your project expectations:

• 50% said that the project met expectations and 50% said the project exceeded expectations.

Your thoughts on the current fee:

• 83.3% thought the project was value for money and 16.7% thought it was appropriately priced.

Your other thoughts regarding AYMS:

• Love to see this at a greater platform.
• Would like more. Currently there is no musical instruction at Udny Green Primary School so great to see others playing too.
• So accessible having the sessions at Mackie Academy as a hub. Attending 3 sessions is achievable, a longer period would be more difficult to fit with rugby commitments.
• The sessions are a brilliant opportunity, and we are looking forward to attending more in the future. The end of session concert for parents was great.
• Hopefully there will be more opportunities for brass to join more concerts.
• Really enjoyed it. Looking forward to doing it again
• Excellent well led sessions that help pupils progress.
• Very good initiative. Enjoy meeting people from other areas.
• Would like to join future sessions.
• Can we have them weekly as they really motivate me to play.
• It’s fab.
• I loved the sessions provided though I would be keen on the idea of a more challenging group for grade 4 and above.
• More please!
• Great sessions, please continue.

90% said they were very likely and 10% said they were likely to attend AYMS in the future.

Musical ensembles you would like in the future:

• Electronic.
• Possibly ceilidh music but happy with anything I can attend and play in.
• Scottish/ceilidh music.
• Orchestra - string and woodwind.
• Concert band.
• A full orchestra.
• Big band.
• Orchestra with strings, woodwind, and brass.
• Brass band, soul band.
• Maybe a jazz/skiffle type ensemble?
• Brass band.

Based on the data:

We organised more projects for Academic Year 2023/24.

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

We will aim to cover a larger geographical area.

Participants would like sessions to continue and develop.