The Riverbrae School Choir

The Riverbrae School Choir has provided a safe space for pupils to express themselves through music

Riverbrae School is in the southwest of Scotland and supports children and young people with additional support needs. Since 2021, music therapist Stella has worked with pupils at the school.

The Riverbrae School Choir started out as a group of just five pupils from the same class. They were all referred to music therapy with Stella as although they were progressing well at school, they found it difficult to understand and tolerate others, which would lead to arguments and upset in the classroom. The hope was that music therapy would help them to explore their identities, relationships, and interests by making music together.

Each pupil brought their own musical strengths to the group. Connor*, a talented songwriter, was great at remembering lyrics, whilst Callie could create catchy melodies (as well as rhyming couplets!). Liam had a natural gift for adding harmony parts to any song, and Chuck was a strong drummer. George was great at reflective feedback, and he would let the group know what needed more practice or suggest changes to the structure of the music to help make it more emotive. For several months, they worked hard, creating original music as well as covers of their favourite songs including a new school song, “That’s the Riverbrae Way!”.

Choir makes me feel happy. I like it because singing is fun. You get to use your voice! It opens up new opportunities for people who want to sing but don’t know how.

Connor, Riverbrae School Choir member

After a few months, the group were working well together and invited more pupils to join. Some of the new members brought their instrumental or Makaton signing talents to the group, instead of singing. And not long after, the group became the Riverbrae School Choir, which welcomed all pupils who might benefit from rehearsing and performing in a musical group.

The Riverbrae School Choir has created a safe space for pupils where the flexible approach to music making means that all accessibility needs can be accommodated. This creates important opportunities for pupils to experience both being included, and of including others. It has helped the choir members to grow their language, teamwork, turn-taking and comprehension skills.

The choir have gone onto share their music with the community on many occasions. This has included at parent coffee mornings, the local care home, Christmas busking at the local Tesco, and most recently at an educational conference in the local town hall. Being part of a musical group has helped the pupils to discover that practicing and performing can be a fun way to learn and grow, as well as something to share with other people. Music has been an outlet for the pupils to express themselves and to build their confidence in their abilities.

I am always struck by how the simple act of coming together to sing has such a ripple effect and impact on the communities around this group. When these pupils lead others in song, we see them for the creative, expressive, supportive individuals they are, and how they are integral contributors to a compassionate and caring society.

Stella, Music Therapist and facilitator of the Riverbrae School Choir

*Names have been changed to preserve confidentiality.