Two things that help people of any age get through the ups and downs of life are friendship and music.
A pioneering two-year project, led by acclaimed Edinburgh charities Fischy Music and The Sunflower Garden, to build friendship groups and promote musical creativity for Edinburgh children with family issues, will culminate in a celebration concert at North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Friday (4 September) at 6.30pm.
Weekly after-school projects for four groups of 8-12 year olds have been run since October 2013. These groups have focused on song-writing, discussion and music games as a way of building confidence, making friends and expressing deep emotions about life circumstances that the children may struggle with.
These four moving, quirky and original songs have been recorded onto a special CD, and will be showcased by a professional live band along with selected favourites from Fischy Music – in front of an audience composed of the song-writing children, their families, staff from the two organisations and other invited guests.
“Excited when there’s presents, or going on holiday
Confused when I don’t understand the things that people say
Scared when it gets dark, or going somewhere new
In my house, there are feelings, lots of feelings
Lots of feelings all the time, is that the same for you?
(extract from ‘My House’ composed by project group 2, May 2014)
