The Fifth Week At CME

On Tuesday I went to a Short Breaks workshop for children with disabilties in Attleborough. It was almost the same group as before so it was easy for me to join in again and I felt like I had some sort of interesting vibe about me because all the kids were more interested and found it easier to engage with me.

We started off with the usual hello song and dance and some musical activities, then, after lunch we set up a crash mat assault course and a human bowling area on which I was the guy getting knocked over most of the time! After the kids got bored of that we finished the day with a goodbye song and dance.

On Thursday I went to a Short Breaks workshop in Great Yarmouth and I wasn’t the least experienced there! I felt like I had an advantage over someone, ha-ha. I started off by setting up the touch pads which was a little difficult as it was my first time. Then we set the rest of the equipment up. There was a separate room filled with loads of arts and crafts and animations which really interested a couple of the kids. After lunch we went outside and enjoyed the sunshine for a bit and the kids had an awesome time running around. After that we had a massive cool down period, listening to classical music while making animations with play dough.

Week 4 at CME

Tuesday was really cool as Mark took me and Billy to a Short Breaks workshop in King's Lynn. Even though we were only there for a short time I had a really good time interacting with the kids. One of the tutors there (Blake) had set up a ‘loud corner’ which consisted of a couple of amps, a keyboard and a few touch pads. If we didn’t have to leave I could have stayed on the touch pads all day long. The variety of sounds and music recordings they had on them was amazing. You could create a song with just three rubber pads. I found it really fun and especially when the kids where doing beats in time with the music, it made me feel like we had really accomplished something that day.

On Wednesday Billy and I wrote an observation of what we saw at King's Lynn for the first part of the day. After lunch we spent the rest of the day doing odd jobs such as guitar maintenance and various cleaning jobs. I also researched a few new bands on the scene to see what they were like.

Thursday was one of the best days I’ve had working for CME. I went with CME tutor Rob to Attleborough for a Short Breaks workshop. It was a big surprise for me as I did not expect there to be so many adults there to help. It was almost two adults to every child. This was really good as the carers where always at hand to help. This was good as it meant I felt like I could interact more and get more stuck in. It wasn’t just me and the tutors trying to engage the kids, because in every activity all the carers got really involved.

The third week at CME

Monday: starting my third week was just as fun as starting the first, last week we were making a small song and putting a video together using Windows Movie Maker. We took loads of pictures of each other and put them into a slideshow. It was really funny because after we took the pictures and arranged them it looked like we were doing robot dances. I found Windows Movie Maker really user friendly and just a good program to get along with.

Tuesday: Billy and I started off Tuesday by finishing of some write ups. One was about a primary school on Colman Road the other was about a day care centre in Sprowston, then Billy and I observed the learning foundation. After lunch we had to learn a computer program called Logic and it’s like a version of Garage Band but has just been pumped with loads of steroids. I really like Logic as it seems the possibilities can be endless but I first need to learn how to use it properly.

Wednesday: Billy and I began Wednesday of with some of the contacts data base, then we spent the rest of the day exploring Logic which I had a great time doing.

Thursday: We started observing the learning foundation course until lunch, then, after that we had to start writing a primary school song we done up until 2 o’clock the Billy had to leave and I had a support meeting with Paul Weston and that helped me out a lot, especially as I’m now getting a few training courses from that meeting.

Friday: Billy and I spent all day Friday finishing of the primary school song which was good as we got more experience using Garage Band and had a little more (well needed) singing practice.

 Above: Billy practising our Boris the Bumblebee

 Right: Me practising Boris the Bumblebee

Week 2 at CME

The second week at CME

On Monday Billy and I had to copy some dvds in the morning with a dvd copier, we also had to put covers on them and put them into plastic casing. That was cool as I have never mass produced dvd’s before. We also spent a long time updating our contacts database which so far I’m finding is making me more confident speaking to people on the phone. After lunch Billy and I started to write our first blog which was interesting as I have never done a blog before that.

On Tuesday we had to go to a few shops and grab some equipment. When we got back we had to restring a guitar and observe the learning foundation group which I find interesting and fun because I like to see how different all their music styles are and where they are trying to go with them. After that we went to a primary school on Colman Road and observed what the tutors, Ian and Jo, where doing with the kids which I liked as I have now experienced working with most age groups.

On Wednesday we spent some time tidying the music equipment and storage room. Then we started on the contacts database again and made some headway with that. We also had to restring some guitars which I like doing as im starting to see a wider range of guitars and how they have been made. For the last part of the day we made a song on Garage Band and we are in the process of making a slideshow video for it and we also put it onto CD.

Thursday was exciting as we done a little observing of the learning foundation then I went to Sprowston to observe Ian and Jo with their workshop. This was really good for me as all the participants encouraged me to get more involved and I started to sing a little bit which was a massive confidence boost as I never really sing in front of people but because everyone else was getting involved I felt comfortable enough to join in.

Friday was really good, Billy and I went to a Crash Course in the Music Industry training day and the speaker went on for ages about copyrighting but it was really good as I learnt a lot about it and believe I have taken something away from that.  He also spoke about how to make money in great depth. And then he spoke about the best ways to build yourself a fan club and finally spoke a lot about social media.