Music and mentoring at HMP Drake Hall

For the last two years Changing Tunes Midlands (CTM) has been bringing musicians-in-residence into prisons across their region.

Based on a model using a therapeutic approach to teaching music and mentoring developed over 30 years of experience from Changing Tunes in Bristol, CTM has migrated this service to the Midlands. The charity now has musicians-in-residence in HMP Hewell, HMP Stafford, HMP Brinsford and HMP Featherstone.

The programme

Musicians-in-residence at the prisons use music teaching, rehearsing, recording, improvisation and composition to foster improvement in attitudes and self-esteem, building resilience in the students.

In an independent study of this work in 2015, leading criminologist and desistance theorist, Professor Shadd Maruna, was able to evidence that musical training for prisoner participants acted as a medium for self-discovery and self-expression, supporting re-framing of criminal identity towards citizenship.

Plans for the future

The latest project sees the implementation of a new musician-in-residence into HMP Drake Hall, for which the charity is currently crowdfunding to raise money to fund instruments and equipment. CTM hopes to soon expand the service to another women’s prisons in the region, HMP Fosten Hall.

If you want to know more about CTM or its services, contact midlands@changingtunes.org.uk

Image courtesy of Changing Tunes Midlands