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The Youth Music Initiative (YMI) is a national music education programme funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Creative Scotland, the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland. The YMI provides annual funding to every local authority in Scotland to enable all pupils to engage with high quality and accessible music-making activities.
A dedicated Arts Service team manages the programme for East Lothian council, working closely with professional musicians, partner organisations and other LA departments including the Instrumental Music Service and Youth Work. Projects are offered to schools at no cost, and can be extended in length where schools are able to contribute further funding such as PEF.
Visit the Arts Service Website for more info about the programme in East Lothian and nationally.
Click on the tiles below for more info on our available projects. If you would like more info or to request a project, please email ymi@eastlothian.gov.uk.
P3-7
Building on our partnership with National Youth Choir of Scotland (www.nycos.co.uk) free singing sessions are offered to all East Lothian primary school pupils from P3-P7...... read more
Upper Primary
Sound Stories aims to engage pupils in music making by encouraging them to explore their emotional responses to music. Pupils explore the use of music in film and television, learn how music helps to communicate ideas and tell stories, and finally create their own story with musical accompaniment which can be performed to another class......read more
Upper Primary
Offered to upper primary age, song writing workshops in East Lothian continue to be very popular, with cross curricular themes in literacy, music, team building, and much scope for pupil led content/structure.....read more
S1-2
Band Jam works with young people who are finding the transition from primary to secondary difficult. Referred by their schools guidance support, young people in our seven secondary schools at S1 and S2 level are offered an introduction to accessible music making during school hours, with signposting and support to continue through a youth work programme based in the community.......read more
Upper Primary
Delivered by our partners ABC Creative Music, this programme involves whole classes in musical learning. "ADDE" has run successfully in East Lothian since 2016 using an approach of shared delivery between specialist face to face sessions and classroom staff (supported by online resources).....read more
Lower Primary
Using simple songs and rhymes, Sing Loud! aims to encourage lower primary children to develop their singing and musicianship in an enjoyable environment. The 35 minute sessions include a mixture of singing & rhythm games, simple songs using Kodaly principles as well as other singing exercises and techniques......read more
Upper Primary
Originating as a project with Lammermuir Festival, East Lothian YMI is delighted to work with long time partners McOpera, whose outreach wing works collaboratively with local people, schools and music providers alongside professional musicians, composers and creative artists.....read more
EARLY YEARS MUSIC and STORY MAKING.
Makin a Brew, delivered by Gica Loening & Claire McNicol, is an Early Years /CPD project which specialises in working with vulnerable families, through Child and Family Centres. It offers a 8-10 week programme of live participative music and storytelling for babies up to four year olds, and includes a CPD session with nursery staff and parents......read more
Early Years
Music and Me (delivered by Dave Trouton) is an Early Years music project that encourages children’s “emotional literacy” skills, as well as helping to establish essential pre-reading cognitive abilities.
These skills include active listening, concentration, sharing, turn-taking, carrying out instructions, leading and following, co-operation, collaboration and self-expression.....read more
Upper Primary
The Big Drum Adventure, led by Mat Clements aka ‘Mat the Hat’, takes a whole class (P4-7) on a musical journey with drums, percussion and voice, taking inspiration from world music and the diversity of drumming from many cultures including Brazil, Africa and the UK....read more
P5-S2
The Trumberbone Streetband led by Oi Musica (with Marcus Britton & Mat Clements) is a targeted project for up to 20 care experienced children and young carers in East Lothian. It is organised in collaboration with East Lothian Youth Services, Young Carers, and the council’s Promise Lead Officer ( The Promise.)
....read more
Drake Music Scotland and freelance music practitioners Nick Cook & Shea Martin offer bespoke creative workshops over a period of eight weeks to the six East Lothian ASN hubs and Nurture bases..... read more
Upper Primary
Science Ceilidh’s DIY Orchestra is an award-winning music programme exploring the science of sound through music, movement and wellbeing. The workshops include an exploration of how sound works, discussing the senses in relation to music, exploring brain anatomy and how we hear/listen...read more
Aimed at P4 – 5, this is a nine week project led by Freya Rae for whole classes and class teachers on how to play the Penny Whistle. The students will learn the basics of reading music notation and four or more songs, with an option to add harmony lines for a more experienced group....read more
Wee Story, Big Sound for P1s and 2s is a development of Dave Trouton‘s “Music and Me” programme that has been so successful in engaging with young children and enhancing early learning.
Wee Story, Big Sound uses music-based games, exercises, activities, singing and group music-making as strategies for developing listening, turn-taking, team work and music skills....read more
Throughout the year we offer continuing professional learning opportunities to our freelance tutors. Often these courses and events are open more widely to teaching and school staff.
Opportunities will be posted here and also advertised on the arts service pages and the eduhub home page.