Increasing participation in music: the Ethnic Contemporary Classical Orchestra model
Increasing participation in music: the Ethnic Contemporary Classical Orchestra model
By
Mark Troop
Musiko Musika
This report provides an outline of the Ethnic Contemporary Classical Orchestra (ECCO) model, part of the wider programme of education delivered by Musiko Musika. ECCO aims to break down barriers to participation in high quality ensemble playing for children from diverse social and ethnic minority backgrounds. You'll find evidence collected from the ECCO projects at Kensal Rise Primary School and Stoneydown Park Primary School along with further observations from a range of different youth music ensembles and youth orchestras.
One of the fundamental principles of the ECCO is that it is open to, and embraces, the wider community of the children that participate in the ensemble; their parents, grandparents, carers, siblings and friends. The effect of this is that whilst achieving its objective of developing the spiritual, intellectual, emotional and social being of the participants, the project is empowering each child to realise their potential as human beings within the social and cultural context in which they live. This means that, for aspirations and achievements to be shared, the project has to bring the wider community on the journey. The essential quality is one of genuine interest and commitment to this aspect of the project from the project leaders and facilitators.
