Am I Engaging Enough?

by Rocca Gutteridge, 14 Apr 2011

The boys hard at work

Harry working his magic on a Ugandan instrument

Benni getting his swag on!

Benni’s pure brill lyrics

Eugene looking serene on the drums

Yesterday I met again with my Shared Territories Music Group in Muirhouse, Edinburgh.

I had a bit of a freak out before hand. Am I engaging with the group enough? Should I be setting more goals for the group and doing far more prep before the sessions?

The group are a core of about 6 young people, ranging in cultural backgrounds from Zimbabwean, Ugandan, Pakistani, Scottish, Mixed Race. Already they’re incredibly focused and getting stuck into rewriting the much too cool for me song “Get Your Swag On” by Soulja Boy weblink

The session went brilliantly, at first I did my usual, just sitting with the group, listening and showing them I’m not some mad artist there to make them do ridiculous experiments with cardboard and cheese (or similar).

And then after time, the sitting, smiling seemed to work, and the group invited me to start rapping with them and I felt like I’d genuinely made a bit of a bond.

It’s a funny thing being plummeted into North Edinburgh Arts (where we’re meeting). I’m quite posh and walking from my car to the centre terrifies me- all those youths kicking balls and talking about eights and ounzes and what not. As soon as I enter through the automatic doors of NEA and into the quiet, clean surrounding of the art centre I feel my body going, ‘ah you’re safe’. Pathetic.

On entering the centre as well as physical calm I then had an overwhelming mental panic of ‘what am I doing?’ ‘Can art really do anything at all?’ ‘Why do I still have some overwhelming passion for the concept of art and social change?’ I’ve studied and vigorously thought about Art and Social change for two years- the Artachat facebook site is full of links and info exploring this area weblink

But now, while sitting with my Wednesday evening group wondering how I can get them to feel the power and magic of art in their lives, and how this will absolutely make them feel better about themselves- their ups and downs, their boredom at school etc I did start to wonder if I’d had my head stuck in the books for too long.

But as I disclosed to them my ideas of bringing the brilliant Ugandan breakdance group, Tabu Flo up to Edinburgh to do an improvised dance routine to their music. The group were really excited about the possibility of their music coming to life in new ways and finally finding a platform to perform from. A wee success?

After the session I left through those same doors, this time with the group, feeling like I’d started to make some friends and in return had come up with ways that I could contribute and help along the talents that the youth group already hold.

I’ll write more soon, in perhaps a calmer more considered way!

Rocca