contact us

We are currently working with:
 

• HMP Bristol
• HMP Bronzefield
• HMP Eastwood Park
• HMP Erlestoke
• HMP Exeter
• HMP Gloucester
• HMP/YOI Guys Marsh

overview

why is our work needed?

• HMP Kingston
• HMP Leyhill
• HMP Parkhurst
• HMP Camp Hill
• HMP Shepton Mallet
• HMP Winchester

how can music reduce
re-offending?

the work itself

after release

what people say about us

where we work

Our sessions are largely “prisoner-led” in the sense that we encourage prisoners to choose the music and instruments they wish to play. Our employees are there to develop/maintain good professional working relationships/attitudes and provide prisoners with the resources, technique, knowledge and self-confidence to develop their music as far as possible, as well as nurturing a framework of trust and support between group members. A typical prison music session involves:

• two to two-and-half hours of guided musical activity for between 2 and 10 prisoners
• working with musicians with wide-ranging skills and musical tastes
• rehearsing existing material
• practicing new songs
• helping with composition and technique
• discussing and preparing for upcoming events
• training competent musicians to be ‘mentors’ to other prisoners
• one-to-one instrumental or singing tuition
• setting practice/work to be done between sessions

Our prison concerts vary hugely. Over the last 12 months we have concerts with following themes/elements:

• music from around the world (part of ethnic diversity week)
• concert for disabled children
• ensemble
• solo
• vocal
• instrumental
• classical
• reggae
• rock
• gospel
• pop
• blues
• metal
• funk
• soul
• songs from the shows (Grease, Oliver, etc)
• incidental music for a play
• Concerts inside prison have been attended by anything up to 150 prisoners and prison staff

To employ a Changing Tunes musician to deliver three sessions per week costs just £7,000 per annum. In return, the prisoners (average 7 per session) receive a combined total of 2,079 purposeful hours' activity (not including the work they undertake in their cells). In addition we will hold an average of three concerts attended by an average of 25 offenders plus performers, which equates to another 216 purposeful hours activity.

Changing Tunes is seeking to expand, particularly into prisons within a hundred mile radius of Bristol. We normally seek funding for our work from education budgets and base our musicians in the Chaplaincy Team. This enables them to work without the support of an accompanying officer and to collect prisoners from the wings when necessary.