Jobs

FREELANCE OPPORTUNITY
WITHOUT BORDERS MUSIC LEADER

Fee: £5,250
Terms: £125 per 2 hour session x 42 sessions
Timescale: October 2024 – March 2026

Project Outline
World of Song is a two-year programme consisting of music and heritage activities delivered by Band on the Wall and Community Arts North West, engaging people who are at different stages of the migration experience, including asylum seekers, refugees, and new migrants. Without Borders is one of six projects in the World of Song series. Without Borders will bring together 10-15 young people aged 13-18 to develop their music making skills and form a band. Participants could include instrumentalists, singers, MCs and music producers.

Young people will meet weekly on Tuesday evenings during term time, with ongoing support from the Without Borders Music Leader and visiting guest leaders, who will support and guide their music making. This will be an opportunity for young musicians, singers, MCs and producers to harness their creative potential, step up their creative skills and exploreheritage through music – their own and each other’s. The group will develop joint songs and tracks, have the chance to visit and learn about a professional recording studio, record their own music, and work with a filmmaker to create content for their group. CAN and Band on the Wall will explore opportunities for the band to perform including a potential performance at the Horizons Festival 2025.

Job Description
We are seeking an enthusiastic and talented Music Leader to lead on delivering these sessions. This is a sustained and rewarding opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of young musicians and contribute to their musical and personal development.
This opportunity will be open to young musicians with a range of abilities, musical interests and playing a range of styles. The music leader will be proactive and flexible, very committed to young people’s wellbeing and be able to work with a diverse range of musical styles and influences.

Key Responsibilities
• Lead engaging and interactive music sessions for young people
• Bring creative ideas to the sessions to enable group tracks to becreated.
• Foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment where all participant’s contributions are valued and where young people feel confident to express themselves creatively.
• Support the group to develop songs and tracks which express their musical identity
• Work with visiting guest leaders to develop specific skills and competencies as required by the group
• Provide leadership for the creation of compositions, drawing on the best ideas generated by the group
• Provide constructive feedback and guidance to participants to help them develop their musical skills and confidence.
• Help the band prepare for recording sessions and performances.

What We Expect
This project has the potential to make a significant difference to the lives of young people who have recently arrived in the UK, some in very difficult circumstances. We therefore ask and expect that all collaborators commit to the following;
• A commitment to the ideals of the project
• An absolute commitment to attend all agreed project sessions punctually
• To ensure all sessions are well planned and inclusive
• To ensure that sessions create a safe space for the young people
• To ensure that co-creation is at the heart of the process

Who we are looking for
Essential
• Strong leadership and facilitation skills.
• Experience of co-creating music with young people
• A strong track-record of engaging and inspiring young people.
• Strong musicianship
• Ability to work by ear, as well as to notate or chart music
• Composition and arranging skills
• Flexible and confident approach to working with mixed groups of instrumentalists and singers
• The ability to work creatively with music technology and produced sound
• An active interest and ability to work creatively across a range of musical genres and styles (traditional, contemporary and popular) and encourage exploration of young people’s music heritages as well as new cross-cultural music collaborations.
• An active interest in music genres from the Global South.
• A commitment to anti-racist practice.
• Ability to communicate clearly and simply.
• Ability to work sensitively and responsively to people whose lives may be complex.
• Current enhanced DBS check or registration with the DBS update service*

Desirable
• Songwriting skills
• Ability to work with music programming packages
• Experience working on creative projects with young people new to Manchester.
• Safeguarding training*
* You will require an enhanced DBS check and Level 1 safeguarding training for this role. If you do not have this, we will ensure a DBS check is completed and you complete online Safeguarding training (paid for by the project) before a full contract is offered.

Schedule:
Days: Tuesday evenings from 17:30-19:30 during term times
Timescale: October 2024- July 2025 then October 2025 – March 2026
Starting date: Tuesday 5 November 2024 (taster session for participants)
Location: Band on the Wall, 25 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JZ.

How to Apply:
To apply please send the following to katherine@comartsnw.org.uk:
• A cover letter outlining relevant skills in relation to the Job Description
• Audio links to examples of your music, and if possible, music you have created with groups

Deadline for Applications: Monday 7 October
Interviews: Thursday 10 October (daytime at Band on the Wall)

More About CAN and Band on the Wall
CAN has led the field in community arts since 1978 and are at the cutting edge of intercultural arts practice. They have built deep, lasting connections with communities and artists across Greater Manchester, through the development of unique, creative projects with people whose voices are not normally heard in the mainstream. CAN have particular expertise in arts and migration. Band on the Wall is a multi-award-winning historic live music venue, promoter and learning centre based in Manchester, celebrating music of excellence from around the world. Band on the Wall and Community Arts North West are equal opportunities employers and actively encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. Band on the Wall is also a Disability Confident employer and guarantee all applicants with a disability, who meet minimum criteria, an interview.