Topic: Music Technology within prisons

This topic has 5 voices, contains 5 replies, and was last updated by FE tutor 161 days ago.

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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July 17, 2011 at 3:47 pm #560
Sharon (PCET Boss)	There are a couple of prisons that run a Music Technology course which I think is great, but how does this link in to reducing reoffending?
August 9, 2011 at 1:22 pm #617
Monet2u	Music Technology courses offer offenders the opportunity to get skills in music creation and production that are useful within the underground as well as commercial music industry. Much of our prison population is made up of that section of society that has, at one time or another become disillusioned or disenfranchised by much of ‘traditional’ eductation. Music/ music technology is widely perceived as ‘cool’ and carries significant kudos within a large section of the criminal population; specifically young offenders, whose role models are often gangster rappers and artists who themselves are or have been involved in crime. Offering offenders an opportunity to make music is also a powerful way for inmates to vent frustrations and express themselves, sometimes for the first time in their lives. I believe this can have a very cathartic effect on individuals and is a step along the way to their rehabilitation and reconciliation with society. Much of prison life is dominated by the need to feel significant and to have a ‘voice’. Making music allows prisoners to articulate their needs and desires in a way that is non-threatening and entertaining. Music technology is a large subject area and is not limited to ‘electronic’ or computer based musical styles. The skills developed in music technology classes can lead to various potential employment pathways. Such as working with audio for film, tv and radio, the computer games industry and many more. Music technology skills can be a learner’s passport to a vast range of jobs in a fast changing and exciting sector. Many of my learners are very keen to develop as musical artists and they value both the skills they develop on the courses and the experiences they gain from working with others very highly. For many of them it is the first time they have been given the opportunity to create something of worth for themselves and others, which I believe has a value that is difficult to overestimate in terms of prisoner rehabilitation.
August 14, 2011 at 10:39 am #621
HMiller	Hi Monet2u. Sounds like the Music Technology course you run provides an outlet for “expression” which is great… but I do not understand how “rapping” provides them with a secure pathway into society. Should they not be focussing on raising their basic literacy and numeracy levels and engaging in jobsearch programmes whilst in custody or am I being naive?
September 1, 2011 at 10:29 am #642
PeterP	Couldn’t it be that basic literacy and numeracy be included in the type of educational programmes that Monet2u is referencing? I mean if they are in the context of the music industry or at least certain aspects of it I wonder if it would make it more viable from the learner’s point of view.
November 15, 2011 at 1:29 pm #688
Monet2u	Fortunately Music Technology is not the only form of education offenders are provided with in prison. There are dedicated classes in Numeracy, Literacy and ICT etc. Not to mention the embedded skills found in music technology. The real strength of this subject area is that it engages disenfranchised learners precisely because the learning process is seen as ‘painless’ by most learners. There is a good deal of basic numeracy and literacy etc included in music technology, but learners are so keen to ‘make music’, that they embrace these skills with a ‘means justifies the end’ approach on the whole. Society needs functioning citizens who are capable of contributing positively both in terms of work and behaviour. Having basic numeracy and literacy skills is just way to produce this ‘end product’. Also vitally important and often overlooked are things like, self-discipline, morality, parenthood skills, sense of self-worth, all of which are currently not given much emphasis in education currently, but are essential in building a functioning society.
December 10, 2011 at 8:20 pm #698
FE tutor	I think that there should be more focus on subjects that will engage leaners and embed the essentials than provide them with the essentials and try and make them enjoyable. I am all for enrichment activities and like you, Monet2u, I can see the value this type of course. I believe that the aims of Offender Learning isnt about the students having fun. Its about them becoming positive contributors to society, by (more or less) any means necessary!