sound52 is one of 24 designated Youth Music Action Zones that can be found in England, Scotland and Wales.
What is a Youth Music Action Zone?
Youth Music is a UK wide charity set up in 1999 to provide high quality and diverse music-making opportunities for 0-18 year olds. It targets young people living in areas of social and economic need who otherwise might lack opportunity and predominantly supports activities which are held outside school hours. The Action Zones are made up of a consortium of experienced partners that link together organisations from the public, voluntary and private sectors.
soundLINCSand Lincolnshire County Council have announced that the pioneering sound52 project has exceeded it’s ambitious targets! Indeed, the project has been so successful that soundLINCS has been promised further funding to continue sound52 until March 2009, extending into areas of the community where opportunities for live music-making are acknowledged to be scarce.
Lincolnshire children taking part in the sound52 First Notes programme for 3-5 year olds.
Photo: John Thomson
Over 18,000 children and young people throughout the county participated in music workshops during the period January 2003-March 2006. Nearly one hundred music facilitators have been inducted and employed to provide over 6,900 individual workshop sessions. The workshops have involved:
The music workshops are creative, involving and fun! They aim to develop singing, songwriting and instrumental skills as well as boosting individual confidence and cooperative group working.
The facilitated groups have enjoyed many forms of music including: Rock & Pop; DJ-ing; Music Technology; Junk Groove; Percussion.
In addition to music workshops the project has:
sound52 has provided a crucial stepping stone on the road to a musical future for hundreds of young musicians from all over the country, 80% of whom had not been involved in any form of live music-making before their introduction via sound52.
Lincolnshire teenagers taking part in the sound52 HeatUp! programme for 12-18 year olds.
Photo: Steve Hill
sound52 has prioritised Continuing Professional Development and training opportunities for music facilitators, enhancing their accomplished musicianship and extending their group-working skills. This has created a wide base of expertise from which the county will benefit for many years to come, with consequent advantages for the region’s economy as a whole.
sound52 is the largest, loudest and hottest participatory music project ever to happen in the East Midlands! It is one of only twenty four Youth Music Action Zones operating throughout England and Wales and has been made possible through a complex package of funding from a range of sources.

For a full list of these sources please see our Funders and Partners section.
The sound52 project is now in its sixth round (April 2008 to March 2009). To view the final reports from the first three rounds please select one of the following links:
(Please note: each file is over 750Kb in size. It is recommended that these are only downloaded if you have a broadband connection)
First Notes
soundLINCS, Lincolnshire Birth To Five Service and Youth Music invite you to take part in the nationally recognised project, First Notes.
Early Years Settings are invited to join in this ambitious music-making project for children aged 3-5 (Maximum of 26 in a group), plus their parents, carers, and Early Years practitioners.
First Notes Workshop with Music Facilitator Allison Burrows
Photo: John Thomson
First Notes is a first for our county, region and possibly the whole country! This project is a countywide initiative and is part of sound52, the Lincolnshire Youth Music Action Zone. Following on the success of the past 5 years, First Notes is now available to you!
First Notes is a residency-based project placing experienced Early Years Music Facilitators into your setting. These workers will support and extend the Foundation Stage work that you are already exploring with children.
First Notes consists of a six week residency at your setting, with specially-trained Early Years Music Facilitators who will provide a structure with strong links to the Foundation Stage.
First Notes is flexible to suit your needs - each session will consist of:
First Notes workshop with Music Facilitator Tim Kitson
Photo: John Thomson
The residency concludes with a Mini Melt. This is an informal celebration of the work done during the residency. It may contain only the work of the children, or could also involve the work of parents/carers and practitioners. This Mini Melt is supported with posters and a certificate for each group
Additionally the setting will receive a copy of the new and improved First Notes Resource Pack which is valued at £35! This resource pack contains ideas and activities for use in your setting, and was compiled by soundLINCS staff, music facilitators and Birth to Five service to correspond with the Foundation Stage Principles. For more information about the First Notes Resource pack, please click here
All Early Years Music Facilitators have a First Notes instrument kit, which is overflowing with exciting instruments to bang, scrape and shake!
First Notes Music Kit!
Photo: John Thomson
Click here to see a list of the settings enjoying a First Notes Residency at the moment.
Do we have to pay?
First Notes is free to ‘non-maintained’ settings and is offered at the subsidized rate of £200 to ‘maintained’ settings. To clarify:-
For maintained settings 70% of the residency cost will be met by the funding package that supports the diverse musical ambitions of sound52. We are asking you, therefore, for a financial contribution of £200 towards the residency which is equivalent to 30% of the total cost. £200 will cover all professional fees and expenses and access as detailed above.
If you are interested in having First Notes at your setting, please download one of the following flyers:
First Notes Maintained Flyer
First Notes Non-maintained flyer
Or, if you would like more information, call Annamarie Burgess, Programme Development Officer for First Notes on 01522 510073, or email info@soundlincs.org
Second Sounds
soundLINCS, Lincolnshire County Council, Children’s Links, Lincolnshire Birth to Five Service, Extended Schools, the seven district councils of Lincolnshire and Youth Music invite you to take part in the county wide project, Second Sounds.
Second Sounds workshop with Music Facilitator Jill O'Sullivan
Photo: John Thomson
Settings are invited to join in this ambitious music-making project for children aged 6-11 and Staff, working to provide music for after school clubs and junior youth clubs (Maximum of 15 in a group - please call if you have more than this number in your group).
Second Sounds is a first for our county, region and possibly the whole country! This project is a countywide initiative and is part of sound52, the Lincolnshire Youth Music Action Zone. Following on the success of the past 5 years, Second Sounds is now available to you!
Second Sounds is a residency-based project placing experienced Music Facilitators into your setting.
The project consists of a six week Residency at your setting, working with a consistent group of young people. Our Music Facilitators will liaise with your staff closely to meet the diverse needs and requirements of your group.
Banging the drum for Second Sounds!
Photo: John Thomson
Second Sounds is flexible—we are able to offer a range of musical genres including:
All Music Facilitators have an instrument kit sufficient for the whole group to take part!
Second Sounds in Special Schools
We are also able to offer Second Sounds for Additional Needs settings. The structure of the sessions will be similar to those of the general Second Sounds programme, although with a general music focus, and may be provided within normal school hours.
soundLINCS is able to offer this amazing opportunity to your setting for just £200. The total cost of providing the residency is over £650! We hope that you will agree that £200 represents excellent value for money. The remainder of the cost of this project will be subsidized through sound52.
A list of the settings currently taking part in Second Sounds can be found here
If you are interested in having Second Sounds at your setting, please download one of the following flyers:
Second Sounds Core Flyer
Additional Needs Flyer
Or, if you would like more information, call Annamarie Burgess, Programme Development Officer for Second Sounds on 01522 510073, or email info@soundlincs.org
Secondary Sounds
Secondary Sounds is our newest strand of sound52. Following on from the success of Second Sounds, we are now providing this project for young people at secondary school in Key Stage 3 (ages 11-13).
As with Second Sounds, this project consists of six two hour sessions, which take place after school. Our music facilitator will work with the young people in your chosen genre over the six weeks to provide new musical experiences for the group.
We can work in a number of different genres, including:
  • Rock and Pop
  • Vocals
  • DJ
  • Music Technology
  • Steel Pans
  • Junk/hand drumming
Secondary Sounds is available to your school at the subsidised price of £200. This price includes a music facilitator to work with your group and any equipment required for the genre you choose.
If you are interested in having Secondary Sounds at your school, or you would like any more information, please contact Helen Mayhew, Programme Development Officer for Secondary Sounds on 01522 510073 or email info@soundlincs.org
HeatUp!
sound52 - the Lincolnshire Youth Music Action Zone - also provides countywide music making opportunities for young people aged 12-18. The opportunities are collectively known as HeatUp! and are provided in two distinct ways:
HeatUp! Core Residencies are offered to ‘informal’ groups of young people. These could be groups that already know each other and meet at settings such as youth centres or village halls; or groups that come together specifically for HeatUp! projects at arts centres, libraries or other community based settings. The residencies usually take place in the evenings, weekends, or during school holidays.
HeatUp! Alternative Curriculum Residencies are offered at a greatly subsidised cost to existing groups that meet together for learning based activities. The residencies usually take place during school times and at settings that provide accredited learning based activities, for example a Pupil Referral Unit.
A list of the settings currently involved in HeatUp! can be found here
HeatUp! Core Residencies
soundLINCS, Lincolnshire Youth Service, and Youth Music invite you to take part in the fantastic sound52 HeatUp! project. Youth groups are invited to join in this ambitious music-making project which is now in its fifth year of providing free music workshops to young people aged 12-18.
HeatUp! is a residency-based project placing experienced Music Facilitators into your setting and is able to offer workshops in the following genres:

Rock and Pop
Rock and Pop musicians from Guildhall Arts centre, Grantham
Photo:Steve Hill
Rock and Pop residencies consist of sessions of a two-hour duration, with a minimum of five young people. If you have your own equipment, this can be used, or a full Rock and Pop kit can be provided by soundLINCS, consists of two electric guitars, one acoustic guitar, one bass guitar, a drum kit, microphones, a keyboard and all of the necessary PA and amplification equipment, including a mixing desk.
Everyone is encouraged to join in, regardless of experience. Facilitators are able to go over the basics of each instrument, and also introduce more advanced techniques to experienced players.
Participants are encouraged to work together and achieve a band format, whereby they can learn cover versions, experience performing and also work towards writing their own material.
If rock and pop bands attend the sessions and perform at Burn52, there will be further opportunities for them to progress as part of the Development Scheme.

DJ
DJ'ing workshop with sound52 Music Facilitator Rob Young
DJ residencies consist of sessions of a two-hour duration, with a maximum of five young people per facilitator. The workshops will cover basic skills including mixing and beat-matching as well as looking after and maintaining equipment. The latter stages of the residency will look into more complex techniques such as turntablism and putting together a play list. All equipment is supplied by soundLINCS, including vinyl library if necessary.
Vocals
Vocalists from Sturton by Stow HeatUp!
Photo:Steve Hill
HeatUp! vocal workshops cover every voice form available, including rap, gospel, classical, and the use of technology.
Participants will be able to discuss with their facilitators the style of vocals they would like to develop, and work on their chosen style over two-hour sessions with a group of around 10-15.
Junk Percussion
Junk Percussionists from The Foyer, Sleaford HeatUp!
Photo:Steve Hill
Junk percussion is an exciting twist on traditional percussion sessions, in which young people can make their own instruments from found objects, then learn to play rhythms and create pieces. In the past these groups have worked together to create a CD of their own rhythms and grooves.
Each residency aims to develop musical skills, co-operative group working, and the chance to perform in “Burn52” - a series of performances by all participating HeatUp! groups at local venues, in March.
HeatUp! can offer you three free taster sessions, of up to two hours in duration. Following these, we will organise a meeting involving the young people at your setting, your facilitator and a member of soundLINCS staff to coordinate a bid for the Youth Opportunities Fund. This money will then be used to provide as many music sessions as you would like, as well as providing opportunities such as gigs, CD production, and equipment purchase.
If you are interested in having HeatUp! at your setting, please download the following flyer:
HeatUp! Core Flyer.
Or, if you would like more information, please call Helen Mayhew, Programme Development Officer for HeatUp! on 01522 510073, or email info@soundlincs.org
HeatUp! Alternative Curriculum
What do we class as an ‘Alternative Curriculum’ Group’?
Alternative Curriculum groups include XL, Solutions 4, E2E and Pupil Referral Units
A residency will consist of either 6 or 12 workshops with the workshops taking place on the same day and time every week, for 1 hour. These workshops can be in any of the genres provided by the Core HeatUp! scheme.
The residency supports key areas of curriculum such as interpersonal, personal and social skills, as well as covering the skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and Units on the Youth Train programme (accredited by Open College Network).
We are ask you for a financial contribution of £200 (6 sessions) or £400 (12 sessions) towards the residency which is equivalent to 30% of the total cost. 70% of the residency cost will be met by the funding package that supports the diverse musical ambitions of sound52. This set price includes all the necessary instruments and equipment (dependent on genre) and one of our professional Music Facilitators to run the workshops.
If you would like HeatUp! at your setting, please download the following flyer:
HeatUp! Alternative Curriculum flyer
Or, if you would like more information, please call Helen Mayhew, Programme Development Officer for HeatUp! on 01522 510073, or email info@soundlincs.org
HeatUp! Development Scheme
The HeatUp! Development scheme is open to any group of young people that has completed a 20 week Rock and Pop residency, including having performed at their Burn52 concert, and that has received good feedback from their facilitators and their youth leaders as having a good level of dedication and attendance. The band will then have a meeting with soundLINCS, their youth worker and their music facilitators to discuss the goals for their band over the coming year. This could include recording a CD, organizing a series of gigs, or any other realistic goal that the young people set themselves. Over the next year, the band will work, both alone and occasionally with their music facilitator to achieve these goals. The idea of the development scheme is to give the band the independence they need to build confidence and grow as musicians, while also giving them the support they need to achieve their goals.
The Producers
The Producers is the open-access strand of the sound52 programme. It involves giving young people the chance to work with an experienced music producer to gain skills in techniques such as sampling, mixing, editing and recording using equipment provided by soundLINCS. In the past, this project has seen young people making their own tracks in a professional studio, libraries and the soundLINCS offices, creating numerous CDs and having their tracks played at exhibitions and launches. Now, the project continues with Sshhh…It’s Oh So Quiet, with young people coming together for a day in libraries across the county to produce their own tracks.
For more information about the current Producers project, please click here.
If you are interested in receiving information about upcoming Producers projects, please call Helen Mayhew, Programme Development Officer for The Producers on 01522 510073, or email info@soundlincs.org
Funders and Partners
Youth Music. Youth Music was established in 1999, with Lottery support of £30m for 3 years to fund and support participatory music projects for under 18s. The support is particularly focused towards children and young people with least access to music making opportunities and usually occurs out of school hours.
Arts Council England is the channel through which the Lottery support is provided. In April 2000, Youth Music Trustees discussed large scale programmes specifically to reach those who were exceptionally isolated in areas of high social and economic deprivation, or geographical isolation. These large scale programmes are called Youth Music Action Zones. The first award was made in October 2000.
sound52 was conceived by the Director of soundLINCS and the Arts Development Officer for Lincolnshire County Council. sound52 builds upon the success of previous projects undertaken by soundLINCS and was developed in line with information and advice offered by the project partners. It is being managed and delivered by soundLINCS in conjunction with Lincolnshire County Council. The project offers job opportunities and access to training for musicians from all over the county who have become involved as workshop leaders.
soundLINCS is in partnership with many organisations who are helping to provide sound52 for Lincolnshire:
Past Projects and Events
VInvolved Project
Structured Volunteering Opportunities for Young People



Trick and Treat took place on the 30th October at Mablethorpe as part of Youth Music Week. The event was organized and publicized by volunteers on the Voltage scheme, who also arranged decorations for the venue and food and drink for the participants, and involved workshops followed by performances by artists from Mablethorpe and Lincoln. Performances included Dark Intent, Sarah-Jane, Kezza Kid and Kid Flowz, Loving Disposition and Audio Junkie.
The evening was a real success, with participants in the Voltage scheme calling the event a ‘confidence boost…knowing at the end this is what we had achieved’. If you would like any more information on Youth Music Week, or the Voltage scheme, please visit the Youth Music website (links are on the What is soundLINCS Page).

10 Years on – soundLINCS Celebrates
Musical ‘Revolution’ rolls into second decade
Hundreds turned out on a chilly summer Sunday to herald a special milestone in Lincolnshire’s cultural heritage. The county’s Music Development Agency soundlincs celebrated its 10th anniversary in June in a truly appropriate manner, bringing together musicians of all abilities, ages and genres to perform ‘Revolution’, a mass performance event in the grounds of Lincoln Castle, the backdrop to so many other historic events in the city’s past.
Everyone from pre-school children and picnicking families to seasoned music professionals and officials bearing chains of office were greeted with equal warmth by soundlincs CEO Nikki-Kate Heyes and Chairman David Lambert. However, the real stars of the event were the participants.
After a morning of open workshops, the event began with 100+ players arranged in groups around the castle grounds, all contributing to an improvised musical ‘Revolution’. In a juxtaposition of cultures, genres and musical traditions, African drummers, Samba and ‘junk’ instrumentalists played alongside woodwind, brass, and string ensembles, vocalists, guitarists, bassists, percussionists and even an Early Years group: all drew upon a series of riffs composed by community musicians from the soundlincs team, interpreting them as befitted their instruments, ability and the whim of the section leaders.
The effect was a mesmerising and powerful demonstration of community music-making at its most inclusive. But more was to come: the rock classic Bohemian Rhapsody and Stevie Wonder’s Happy Birthday To Ya had been specially arranged for the event, again by the soundlincs team. The open-air debut performance was the culmination of several intensive rehearsals, and drew to a finale with flags, fireworks and water fountains just as the rain started in earnest.
In addition to their own copy of the ‘Revolution’ riffs which had echoed round the castle grounds, everyone was given a certificate to show they had taken part, plus a soundlincs umbrella - which, happily, most participants hadn’t needed for much of the day. Iced buns were also passed round the entire assembly of players and audience at the end of the performance.
‘Our Revolution was a unique musical event to celebrate a unique moment in Lincolnshire life,’ reflects soundlincs CEO Nikki-Kate Heyes. ‘But it was also great fun for all who took part! 10 years of music-making across Lincolnshire has shown time and time again that community music must be accessible to everybody – regardless of age, ability, cultural background or geographic location – and it was this inclusive spirit which made our event a Revolution to remember.’
Words: Jill O'Sullivan


Burn 52 - Round 5
Burn 52 had its fifth anniversary in March 2008, with soundLINCS once again taking over two venues to produce two fantastic celebrations of musical talent.
First to be hit by our gig swaps was The Cell in Lincoln, with five bands and two DJs showing us what they could do on 23rd March 2008. Participating bands joined us from the following settings:
  • No Right Turn - Bardney Youth Centre
  • Birchwood Youth Centre
  • Branston Youth Club
  • Urban Monsters - Hemswell Cliff Youth Club
  • RAF Scampton Youth Club
  • Spilsby Youth Centre (DJs)
Sundown in Soho chill before the big performance!
Our second gig swap was made all the more special as we linked together our Burn52 Event with the final performance of 321, our singing project linked with the County Music Service. On 3rd April 2008, Springfields Exhibition Centre in Spalding was invaded by three HeatUp! CPM bands, and over 200 primary age children (for more info about 321 please click here). Participating bands came from these settings:
  • Sundown in Soho – Deepings Youth Centre
  • 2 Things and a Thing – Sutton Bridge Youth Centre
  • Stars Of Reason – Spalding Youth Centre
Stars of Reason getting into the groove
We’d like to congratulate and thank everyone who was involved in these performances, whether as a member of a band, a youth worker, a parent or a venue: your continued support of this project is what makes it so successful! Once again we really enjoyed another brilliant event; here’s looking forward to the next one! Check out our photo gallery for more pictures of the event.
Burn52 – Round 4
Once again, the end of March saw young HeatUp! bands performing together as part of the annual Burn52 gigswaps.

On Tuesday 20th March, the South Holland Centre, Spalding played host to bands from the following Youth settings:
  • Deeping St James Youth Centre
  • Great Ponton Youth Centre
  • Spalding Youth Centre
  • Holbeach Youth Centre
Young people performing at the South Holland Centre
Photo: John Thomson
On Tuesday 27th March, Bishop Greaves Theatre, Lincoln was taken over and saw bands playing from the following settings:
  • Woodhall Spa Youth Centre
  • Bardney Youth Centre
  • Birchwood Youth Centre x 3
  • Lincoln Drill Hall
Chilling out before the gig at Bishop Greaves
Photo: John Thomson
The final gig was held at the recently refurbished ‘Slum Gothic’ venue in Gainsborough and proved top be a stunning end to the gigs. Performing were:
  • Horizons Youth Centre
  • Sturton by Stow Youth Centre
  • North Hykeham Youth Centre
  • Trinity Arts Centre
  • Ruskington Youth Centre
  • Branston Youth Centre
  • Saxilby Youth Centre
‘No Exit’ perform at Slum Gothic
Photo: John Thomson
soundLINCS would like to congratulate all of the young people who took part in the gigs-they were fantastic! We’d also like to thank the venues, the Youth Workers, and the parents for their continued support of the project. We couldn’t do it without you!

For more pictures of this and other events please see the photo gallery
NCMA Childminders

Music Sounds Inclusive
Following the first hugely successful phase of the Music Sounds Project (in association with the National Child Minders Association), we are very excited to announce Music Sounds Inclusive!
We are offering an exciting ‘training and workshop’ package for Childminders based in Lincolnshire. There are eight opportunities at eight venues. This package will comprise of:
2 daytime Music Workshops for Childminders with their Children (under 5) & 1 evening session for just Childminders which are all FREE! In the evening session our Early Years Music Facilitators will work together to develop and expand on the work that will be covered in the Children’s session, helping to make music inclusive.
The workshops will cover elements of Music such as:

Making Musical Instruments
Musicreation! (Utilising household products for Music Making)
Making Music together
All workshops will be run by experienced Early Years Music Facilitators and they will provide ample materials to help you form your house-hold band!
All children taking part will receive a certificate to take home with them — as will all Childminders!
The Producers – February 2009

‘Sshh…it’s oh so quiet’ workshops are running in five locations across the county between Monday 16 February and Friday 20 February, and are open to young people aged 12-18 with an interest in midi and loop-based music production. Guided by a professional soundLINCS music facilitator, each participant will use a laptop equipped with GarageBand music software to create and mix an original track, which will then form part of a compilation CD to be released later this year.
Participation is free and all equipment will be provided. No prior experience of digital music production is needed, though participants must be available from 10:00am to 4:00pm to attend at one of the following venues:

Monday 16 February (Gainsborough Library)
Tuesday 17 February (Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Lincoln)
Wednesday 18 February (The Collection Museum, Lincoln)
Thursday 19 February (Grantham Museum)
Friday 20 February (Mablethorpe Library)
Places on ‘Sshh…it’s oh so Quiet’ are limited and anyone considering taking part is urged to contact Adam as soon as possible. Download the flyer here. To find out more, and for details on other music-making opportunities open to young people in Lincolnshire, call soundLINCS on 01522 510073, or email info@soundlincs.org
The Producers – Youth Music Week

soundLINCS provided three more days of Producers workshops in heritage venues across the county as part of Youth Music Week. The sessions were completely free, and open to anyone aged between 12 and 18 in Lincoln, Gainsborough and Stamford.
The Producers - Round 4

The Round 4 Producers project will be run in several phases between April 2006 and March 2008 with each phase taking place in the School half-terms. This project will work on three basic principles, Record, Edit and Create. Using professional recording equipment under the guidance of specialist music facilitators, the participants will visit music workshops and other venues around the region to make initial recordings, which will then be downloaded to computer and edited into a series of samples. These will form the basis of original sound tracks, to be turned ultimately into a CD.


BATTLE!

On Friday 17th November 2006, sound52 in association with Lincoln Early Music Festival and musicians from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment presented BATTLE!-an extraordinary performance that featured music, songs and dance, devised and taught as part of an Early Years pilot project for Lincolnshire.
Children performing at the ‘BATTLE’ project.
Photo John Thomson
Three experienced musicians from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment worked with over one hundred and thirty children and young people in two hectic weeks of workshops, coaching sessions and a lecture/recital. The musicians, supported by class teachers and soundLINCS music facilitators used the historic and dramatic context of battle warfare within 15th and 16th Century Europe as a starting point for creating original music and musical instruments, costume, song and movement.
Playing Early Years Instruments.
Photo John Thomson
The four Schools participating in the project were St Johns Primary School, Bracebridge Heath, Heighington Millfield Primary School, Washingborough Foundation Primary School, and The Priory LSST, Lincoln.
soundLINCS provided BATTLE! as a special genre project within sound52-Lincolnshire Youth Music Action Zone. It is hope that this pilot will be repeated as a Countywide project, allowing opportunities for School children within each of the seven districts of Lincolnshire.



Now Playing
A DVD feature film celebrating the groundbreaking and inspirational music project sound52. The DVD received its world premiere on Wednesday 25th October 2006 at Burlesque Showbar, Lincoln. The event was well attended and included guests such as the Mayor and Sherriff of Lincoln, various Lincolnshire Councillors, representatives from Youth Music and Arts Council England, and of course some young people!
The Mayor and Sherriff try their hand at DJ’ing!
Photo: Roger Cousner
The day allowed guests to view the full length DVD as well as watch two live sound52 bands – ‘Last Minute’ and ‘Edge of Reason’. There was also an opportunity to have a go at DJ’ing with one of the soundLINCS facilitators!
‘Last Minute’ from Holbeach Youth Centre.
Photo: Roger Cousner
As well as a celebration of the past three years and the continuation of the excellent work, the day saw the launch of a new scheme dedicated to giving the young people of Lincolnshire a voice. This is a new initiative developed in consultaion with young people to enable soundLINCS to listen to their view about music projects across Lincolnshire. It’s two current representatives, Will Saywell and Laura Crust were at the event all day promoting this new project.
Laura Crust and Will Saywell promote soundOUT!
Photo: Roger Cousner
The DVD features footage from Round 1 and Round 2 and was put together by Lesley Stableford of Transmission Media Arts. If would like to order a copy of the DVD, it is being charged at the cost price of £6.50 plus £2.00 postage and packing. For more information please contact the office on 01522 510073, or email info@soundlincs.org


Burn52 – Round 3
On the 15th, 20th and 28th March 2006, 70 young people performed in 3 Countywide concerts, marking the end of the round 3 HeatUp! activities.
On the 15th March, Blackfriars Arts Centre in Boston played host to the following bands:
  • Bedtime Origami (Spilsby Youth Centre)
  • Fallen Angels (Gosberton Youth Centre)
  • Random Play (Boston Youth Centre)
  • Riverhead Theatre JunkGroove collaboration
Fallen Angels
Photo: Rebecca Patchett
The 20th March saw the following bands perform at the South Holland Arts Centre, Spalding:
  • The EP Project (Great Ponton Youth Centre)
  • The EP Project (Great Ponton Youth Centre)
  • RWeapon Of Choice (Deeping Youth Centre)
  • The Put Together (South Holland Arts Centre)
The EP Project
Photo: Rebecca Patchett
The final gig was held at on the 28th March at Trinity Arts Centre, Gainsborough and contained the following bands:
  • Lincoln SOVA Centre
  • PAHK (North Hykeham Youth Centre)
  • Artistic Suicide (Branston Youth Centre)
  • Siverfish (Branston Youth Centre)
  • Orange Llama (North Hykeham Youth Centre)
  • Helpline for the Helpless (Horizons Youth Centre)
  • Aliss (Market Rasen Youth Centre)
Artistic Suicide
Photo: Rebecca Patchett
The Burn52 gigs were held in Arts Centre’s following last year’s feedback that the young people wanted bigger, better gigs.
The performances involved Rock and Pop, Vocal, JunkGroove and Development Worker groups.
Over 70 audience members attended each gig and each performance was thoroughly enjoyed.
Participant Feedback
“It was an awesome gig, thanks!”
“It was fab. Thank you so much!”
“Absolutely fantastic!”
“Thank you for a great experience.”
“Thanks for the opportunity and friendly staff!!”
Burn52 Round 4………………………..Bring it on!!!
RMX '05
During May, June and July 2005, 12 young people form sound52 were offered the chance to remix tracks from commercially successful artists such as Kasabian, Faithless and Natasha Beddingfield, as part of a Nationwide competition to win state-of-the-art music making equipment. National charity Youth Music has teamed up with Apple UK and record giants Sony BMG to launch the project. The competition offered young people the chance to demonstrate their creative skills using Apple's latest music software, Garageband, and a series of 'loops' provided by Sony BMG
Music Sounds!
 In partnership with 
soundLINCS – The Lincolnshire Music Development Agency, in partnership with NCMA invite you to take part in Music Sounds! as part of the sound52 project.
We are offering an exciting training and workshop package for Childminders based in Lincolnshire. There are seven opportunities at seven venues. This package will comprise of:
2 daytime Music Workshops for Childminders with their Children & 1 evening session for just Childminders, which are all FREE! In the evening session our Early Years Music Facilitators will work together to develop and expand on work covered in the Children’s session.
The workshops will cover elements of Music such as:
  • Songs
  • Using Musical Instruments
  • Making Instruments
  • Making Music together
All workshops will be run by an experienced Early Years Music Facilitator, who will provide ample instruments to bang, scrape, tap and shake!
This training will count towards your Gold Star Award.
Childminders attending all three workshops will receive a complimentary instrument in order to continue music making.


Burn 52
The 10th, 11th and 12th June saw the rock youth of Lincolnshire come alive, as three Countywide gig-swaps were held for bands and Vocal groups involved in the HeatUp! programme.
'Paranoia' from Sturton by Stow
A total of seven groups took part, performing at either Deeping St James Youth Centre, Spilsby Youth Centre or North Hykeham Youth Centre. Bands performing were:
  • Tabletop (North Hykeham Youth Centre)
  • Paranoia (Sturton by Stow Youth Centre)
  • Lost Cause (Market Rasen Youth Centre)
  • Bedtime Origami (Spilsby Youth Centre)
  • Stand for Nothing (Boston Youth Centre)
  • Fallen Angels (Gosberton Youth Centre)
  • Guildhall Youth Choir (Guildhall Arts Centre)
Vocal Group 'Fallen Angels' from Gosberton Youth Centre
All groups performed a twenty minute set for an audience consisting of friends, family, sound52 staff and members of the public.


Classic Combo
Sunday 13th - Friday 18th February
Over 100 young performers from all over Lincolnshire took to the stage during the evening of Friday 18th February to perform in 'ClassicCombo', a multi-genre participatory music event in Lincoln Cathedral.
Conceived and presented by sound52 - Lincolnshire's Youth Music Action Zone - ClassicCombo was intended as a 'celebration', marking two years of running community-based music projects with children, teenagers and their families all over the county.
The evening opened with a polished demonstration of JunkDance, performed by youngsters from workshops run by in conjunction with lincolnshire dance. The audience was also visibly moved by a large-scale audio/visual presentation inspired by the Anne Frank story, using original material created by young people during group composition, digital production and recording sessions.
The second half of the evening was devoted to the premiere of 'The Commission', a unique cross-genre composition especially written for the event and composed by sound52 musicians John Stafford, Mike Nicholls and Danny McCaughern.
Lincoln Cathedral 'ClassicCombo' style!
Photo: John Thomson
How it all started……
The Lincolnshire town of Tattershall saw the ClassicCombo preparation week kick off, as Gartree Secondary School played host to four intensive days of rehearsals.
Sunday 13th February began with a run through of the commissioned piece for all ClassicCombo section leaders, and various musicians who were prepared to give up their Sundays for a free lunch! This was the first time the pieces had been performed by a live orchestra and the reaction to the music from those involved was extremely positive. After a successful day of playing, the equipment was set up in preparation for the descent of the CPM and JunkDance groups on Monday morning.
Monday 14th February began at 10:00am, when Gartree opened its doors to young drummers, guitarists, bassists, Keyboard players, and two JunkDance groups. After listening to a recording of The Commission, the CPM players split up into sectionals allowing the individual instrument groups to learn their pieces separately. Elsewhere in the building, JunkDance was in full swing, with one group rehearsing a performance that had been developed over the course of their residency, and the other group composing and rehearsing a piece from scratch.
The presence of a professional photographer and video person added to the excitement of the day as they compiled a 'behind the scenes' look at the rehearsals, including action shots, group photos, workshop style footage and interviews.
The workload undertaken on this day was astounding, with both facilitators and young people going away with a feeling of satisfaction regarding what they had achieved. Bring on the orchestra!
Tuesday 15th February saw Gartree School looking slightly more crowded as the orchestral players, vocalists and pianists turned up to rehearse. In a similar format to the previous day, the piece was listened to, before the musicians divided up into their various sections and went into rehearsals, not to be seen again till lunchtime! In the main hall, it was time to witness what the CPM groups had been up to the previous day as the various sections were put together to run through the piece. By the end of the rehearsal, everybody was ready to go for the full run-through the next day!
Wednesday 16th February and the moment we were all waiting for! The whole day was dedicated to playing 'The Commission' through as a full orchestra and looking at the more technical elements of the piece, such as timing, watching the conductor, and counting a 247 bar rest! More importantly it was time to make the decision as to which McDonalds everybody would like on the Friday night! At 4:00pm it was a very tired yet excitable group of young people, leaving Gartree School. All they had to do now was wait. At 5:00pm it was a slightly more tired, yet just as excitable group of facilitators that drove away their equipment laden cars in the direction of Lincoln. Despite the rehearsals being over, there was still plenty of unpacking, carrying and setting up to be done!
'The Commission'
Photo: John Thomson
Friday 18th February and it was really about to happen! The get-in the previous day had been extremely smooth and the Cathedral now represented a concert venue to be proud of! At 1:00pm, the young people arrived and were similarly impressed by the stunning combination of funky lighting, beautiful architecture and the vast array of technical equipment supplied and run by WIGWAM. The afternoon provided only a short run through time for 'The Commission' and the JunkDance and it wasn't long before the next performance would be the real one!
At 7:30pm, when an audience of approximately 500 people had taken their seats, ClassicCombo began……


"A fantastic evening. I am so proud of all the young people. Thank you to everyone who made this possible" - Dr Cheryle Berry. Director of Education and Cultural Services
"There is much talk about how bad young people can be. Tonight was wonderful and shows how good they are" - Councillor Chris Underwood Frost. Chairman West Lindsey District Council.
"Fabulous! - So professional. Brilliant Music, superb lighting, great videos (esp. First Notes). Whole thing amazing. MANY THANKS!" - Member of audience.
"Absolutely fantastic! - an incredible evening. The quality of music from such simple components has been astounding. A most uplifting experience from the orchestra-The timing! And what a great start for the children!" - Member of audience


Anne Frank: The Music For Today
In October 2004, 22 young people from around Lincolnshire worked with five professional music producers to create tracks based upon the themes and issues inspired by the story of Anne Frank and the Holocaust. After a visit to the exhibition, Anne Frank: A History For Today, the young people were able to draw inspiration and after three days working together in a studio, had recorded and produced twelve original tracks. The tracks were then premiered at the Anne Frank Touring Exhibition when it came to Lincoln Cathedral in January 2005.
Wolds Words
In September 2004, two young people from Lincolnshire worked alongside a professional music producer to create two rap tunes, featuring funky samples and Tennyson's poetry as inspiration. The two tracks were premiered at the Louth Wolds Words festival-a celebration of reading, performance and writing.



Burn It!
BurnIt sparked into life, phoenix-like, from the glowing embers of Meltdown. HeatUp! participants highlighted in their evaluations a passionate interest in developing and recording original material. HeatUp! facilitators agreed that this would represent an excellent opportunity to develop the creative talent bursting from the groups.
Photo: Steve Hill
BurnIt began in January 2004 when fourteen groups from 12 HeatUp! settings identified an original piece and continued to develop it. soundLINCS employed a Producer to visit each group and make eight track recordings of their piece. The pieces were mixed and mastered in a recording studio and soundLINCS compiled a CD that was burnt and distributed to all participants. Bands involved were:
  • 70 Acres of Nothing - North Hykeham Youth Centre
  • Congeniality - Boston Focus One Youth Centre
  • Obey the Sounds - Branston Youth Wing
  • Camels Eat Lettuce - Grantham Guildhall
  • Paranoia - Sturton by Stow Youth Centre
  • Double=D - Birchwood Youth Centre
  • Foyeristics - Sleaford Foyer
  • Aces High - Branston Youth Centre
  • R8 - Tetford Youth Centre
  • Destructive Bliss - Deepings Youth Centre
  • Terminal Velocity - Trinity Arts Centre
  • Bassline - Sturton by Stow Youth Centre
  • Warpath - Sutton Bridge Youth Centre
  • Draven - Birchwood Community Centre
In March 2004, the bands were given the opportunity to perform in three regional concerts entitled 'Burnit Alive'. This series of concerts gave the young people the opportunity to perform in front of a supportive and enthusiastic crowd of family, friends and soundLINCS workers.
Cre8
October 2003 saw young people from sound52 joining forces with the Corby and Kettering YMAZ to compose, record and play an original track. Confetti Studios in Nottingham played host to the budding producers for two days, providing professional engineers and sound technicians to aid the young people. The tracks from all 21 YMAZ's were premiered in November at a launch attended by Darius and Dr Fox.
The Producers
The first of the sound52 Producers projects brought together fourteen young people and five independent music producers to explore the potentials of technology based music making. In July and August 2003, each producer worked with a team of young people to collect audio samples from eleven HeatUp! music workshops. Each producer and their team took the audio samples into a recording studio and explored how they might be manipulated/extended for use in the composition of an original track.



Meltdown
The Commissions
During 2003, sound52 commissioned two new pieces of music: Waiting For This Moment by the legendary Midge Ure and Samba y Mabmbo by the celebrated world musician Mauricio Venegas. Oasis kindly agreed to license their classic track Masterplan to the project.
The work provided by the writers was orchestrated and arranged by four sound52 facilitators especially for HeatUp! participants. Musical parts were created to suit the diverse instrumentation and broad range of musical abilities within the project. The parts were presented as pictograms and conventional score with both manuscript and tabbed versions.
HeatUp! facilitators met together in July 2003 to learn the three pieces and ‘test drive’ all the musical parts. The facilitators explored, developed and taught the parts to HeatUp! participants during workshop sessions in July and August 2003.
Mauricio Venegas and Midge Ure on sound52
The Performance
A team of twenty sound52 Facilitators met with twelve soundLINCS employees and helpers at seven am on Saturday 30th August 2003 at Butlins, Skegness. A logistical operation of military proportions was already underway! Seven vans had delivered fourteen sets of music equipment to be divided into three rehearsal venues.
Six buses and numerous cars were on route to Skegness carrying nearly two hundred young performers together with their families and friends. The performance required additional staging and lighting, sixteen track live audio recording, video and photographic recording. Invited guests representing funders and oartners were converging on Skegness from all over the Country, including the celebrated composer Mauricio Venegas.
The performers were traveling from all over Lincolnshire and represented twenty-four HeatUp! settings. They had all been working on the three Commissions at their individual settings during the previous two months.Meltdown rehearsals would be the first time that everyone had come together to play the pieces through. As if that wasn't complicated enough - many Vocalists and Junk musicians were playing in all three pieces!!
Meltdown was THE massive performance event of sound52 round 1. A huge logistic and artistic success that ran on time and brought tears to the eyes.Meltdown premiered three Commissions, ten Producers tracks, involved nearly two hundred partcicpants from twenty-four settings and attracted an audience of approximately five hundred. A double CD containing three live recordings and ten Producers tracks was created.
What the Audience thought….
"Well done everyone!! It was a fantastic day and I enjoyed every moment. The musical talent and creativity were outstanding". Dr Cheryle Berry - Director of Educational and Cultural Services, Lincolnshire County Council.
"Congratulations on a logistical triumph! Given how little technical and rehearsal time you had at Butlins, the event ran remarkably smoothly with excellent self-discipline from all the young people involved". Katrina Duncan - YMAZ Co-ordinator, Youth Music.
"We would like to say a very BIG thank you for a fantastic day at Butlins. Our Youth Club only had three representatives, but what an experience they had! To work alongside other groups and musicians was a chance in a lifetime and one that they grabbed with both hands". Youth Leader (SHDC)
Funders and Partners
Youth Music
Youth Music was established in 1999, with Lottery support of £30m for 3 years to fund and support participatory music projects for under 18s. The support is particularly focussed towards children and young people with least access to music making opportunities and usually occurs out of school hours.
Arts Council England is the channel through which the Lottery support is provided.
In April 2000, Youth Music Trustees discussed large scale programmes specifically to reach those who were exceptionally isolated in areas of high social and economic deprivation, or geographical isolation. These large scale programmes are called Youth Music Action Zones. The first award was made in October 2000.
sound52 was conceived by the Director of soundLINCS and the Arts Development Officer for Lincolnshire County Council. sound52 builds upon the success of previous projects undertaken by soundLINCS and was developed in line with information and advice offered by the project partners. It is being managed and delivered by soundLINCS in conjunction with Lincolnshire County Council. The project offers job opportunities and access to training for musicians from all over the county who have become involved as workshop leaders.
soundLINCS is in partnership with many organisations who are helping to provide sound52 for Lincolnshire:
  • Arts Council England (East Midlands)
  • Boston Borough Council
  • East Lindsey District Council
  • Lincoln City Council
  • Lincolnshire County Council
  • Lincolnshire Early Years Childcare Development Partnership
  • Lincolnshire Youth Service
  • North Kesteven District Council
  • South Holland District Council
  • South Kesteven District Council
  • West Lindsey District Council
  • YMCA
  • Youth Music
With other support from:
  • Guildhall Arts Centre, Grantham
  • Hamilton Hall, Tetford
  • Hill Holt Wood
  • lincolnshire dance
  • Lincolnshire County Council- Education and Cultural Services
  • Lincolnshire County Council- School Improvement Service (CfBT)
  • Lincoln Library Service
  • Lincolnshire Pre-school Learning Alliance
  • South Holland Centre, Spalding
  • SOVA Centre, Lincoln
  • The Foyer, Sleaford
  • Trinity Arts Centre, Gainsborough