i facilitate rap music and spoken word workshops. the creative process is tailored to deliver;

Literacy
IT skills
Communication skills
Teamwork
Self Confidence

We work on laptop computers set up for music production. Session are structured around the production of a music CD. The process will incorporate working as a group to write raps and/or song lyrics, compose digital music, and record the lyrics onto the music to make a finished track.

The session begins with warm up exercises, and leads into a quick demo of my skills as a freestyle MC and poet. The participants will then work as a whole group, making a track to which everyone will contribute some part. Then we split into small groups and work on one of the laptops to make more tracks. By the end of the session we will have several tracks to put on our CD, which is made available to participants at no extra cost.

While the above plan has been tried and tested, the workshop structure is flexible. i use a client centred approach that seeks to empower the participants through encouraging them to take control of their own process. The sessions are delivered in a safe and supportive environment, with a focus on having fun being creative in a relaxed but serious atmosphere.

While Rap music workshops can be tailored to benefit everyone, the medium of rap has proven itself particularly valuable in working with young people at risk of social exclusion. Rap is an excellent tool for issue specific youth work, particularly applicable to drugs, crime, health education, self-image, future aspirations and young people in care.

In addition to my rap and music workshops, i also deliver sessions in slam poetry, tree poetry, and have devised and led courses in workshop facilitation for community artists.

Demo CD / DVD and References are available on request

Contact thepoetmd@hotmail.com
www.myspace.com/martindaws