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Why should prisoners take part in something as enjoyable as music?
They are in prison to be punished.
Changing Tunes exists to rehabilitate prisoners and help prevent re-offending after release. Our work is effective in doing this, so to stop our work would simply result in more victims of crime. Removing everything enjoyable from a prisoner's life simply serves to harbour bitterness and resentment and reinforces destructive patterns of behaviour. It is a myth that prison deters people from re-offending, a depressing 61% will re-offend within two years. This figure is reduced to less than 15% for prisoners who have actively participated in our programme.
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Where do you get your money from?
Charitable Trusts, prison budgets and individual supporters. We also raise some funds from the sale of CDs.
How many staff do you employ?
We employ a full-time Director, two Team Managers, a part-time Assistant to the Director and nine part time Musicians in Residence (between 1 and 3.5 days per week). We also have a network of unpaid volunteers. For more information please see our Personnel page.
Which prisons do you work in?
HMP Bristol, HMP Bronzefield, HMP Eastwood Park, HMP Erlestoke, HMP/YOI Guys Marsh, HMP Kingston,
HMP Leyhill, HMP Isle of Wight (Parkhurst and Camp Hill), HMP Shepton Mallet, HMP Gloucester, HMP Exeter and HMP Winchester. For more information please see Where We Work
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How much does it cost to have a CT musician in prison?
The basic cost for one musician to provide 3 sessions per week in one prison for one year is approximately £9,000.
How can music reduce re-offending?
Click here for information on this.
What sorts of prisoners do you work with?
We work/have worked in all forms of prison establishment, from AA through to D categories. Within these categories we work with training prisons; local prisons; dispersion prisons; male and female establishments; dedicated lifer establishments; short-term, medium-term and long-term prisoners; adults and young offenders; segregated prisoners, etc. In effect, we work with all kinds of prisoners in all kinds of establishments.
How many do you have in your group on average?
On average, six. Although this can vary wildly from one week/session to the next. We rarely have fewer than two or more than 10.
Are they all beginners?
No. We work with prisoners with a wide range of musical skills, from ex-professional musicians to complete beginners.
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How do you choose who comes?
Anyone is allowed to attend (provided there are no security issues) and prisoners simply apply to the Chaplaincy to be added to the waiting list.
Do they mess around in the sessions?
No. All those who attend value the sessions hugely and would not do anything to jeopardise our work in the prison, or their attendance at sessions. The very occasional issues we do have are usually a result of personal differences within the group, but these are invariably resolved on the wings and do not disrupt our sessions. The prisoners often come with emotional issues of the day, and we find that these are often dealt with through interaction, understanding and support from the other prisoners, or through the music making itself.
Are you music teachers in prison?
Not exactly. Although there is a certain amount of traditional one-on-one teaching, the majority of our work involves encouraging prisoners to work together in groups towards common goals. We are more like facilitators, providing guidance, but allowing sessions and individuals to develop organically. It is often good for the men and women to take initiatives themselves, and to realise that they can have important creative input into the groups.
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