Tinderbox:
Igniting a spark through music and art
Tinderbox is an Edinburgh-based collective on a mission to build a vibrant and eclectic community of young musicians and artists in Scotland.
The work they do has a seriously positive impact on their participants and the local community. Discover the projects Tinderbox offer, and what makes them so important to youth arts in Scotland.
“I have been given the opportunity to develop skills and confidence in working with young people in music and also to work with people I would never normally collaborate with. I am humbled every session when I see how far the participants have come, especially knowing some of their histories.”
Participant, Tinderbox
Image: courtesy of Tinderbox
From music lessons to games festivals, they cover all bases when it comes to engaging young people in activities that will inspire and develop skills.
Tinderbox aims to ignite a spark in young people – one which fills them with confidence, imagination and sense of possibility, and which enables people to achieve things they never thought possible.
Their work uses music and the arts to bring people together and strengthen communities, providing exciting opportunities to those who need them most, and supporting young people to build their confidence, skills, self-esteem, and professional experience.
The charitable objectives include Advancement of Education, Advancement of the Arts, and Organising recreational activities for young people, with the object of improving the conditions of life for these people.
They work primarily with children and young people aged between 10 and 25 and deliver a range of music and arts workshops, courses, events and other opportunities.
Image: courtesy of Tinderbox
Tinderbox Orchestra
This certainly isn’t your average show, bringing rappers and singers together with strings, brass, woodwind and back-line to create a high energy, modern take on what an orchestra can be.
Just one example of the work of Tinderbox, this video is a must watch.
Like what you see? They’ll be at the Knockengorroch World Ceilidh, which has been rescheduled for Thursday, September 16 – Sunday, September 19.
A vibrant and varied programme
Their activities cover:
● Alternative Orchestras: Large bands & music projects that bring together a wide array of young singers & rappers with strings, brass, woodwind, drums, backline and other instruments.
● Digital Arts: Workshops, courses, residencies & a shared studio space exploring electronics and digital technologies in music and the arts.
● Youth Clubs: Workshops and weekly music hubs with young people of different ages, often working in partnership with youth clubs, community centres and other third sector organisations.
● Schools: Song-writing, composition & digital music-making workshops & creative projects with primary & secondary schools.
● Hospitals: Working with Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity to deliver workshops & musical ward rounds with children at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
A Project Worker at the Rock Trust was thrilled by the response they saw:
“The feedback from our young people has been overwhelmingly positive, and more music group sessions are requested whenever the group takes a break. One of our most prized achievements is seeing young people continue their musical activities independently from the Rock Trust; several people have taken up and continued to learn instruments, attend Tinderbox rehearsals and performances independently of the Rock Trust, and help with assisting newer members who join the groups.”
1,000
Tinderbox work with around 1,000 young people per year
70
In a year, Tinderbox work with around 70 trainees
30
Tinderbox put on over 30 public performances and events annually
“Tinderbox provide a unique and inspiring programme of study that engages, motivates and supports our young people to work creatively with Music and Drama.”
- Teacher, Craigroyston Community High School
Andrew: A Tinderbox Case Study
Tinderbox shared a case study to give just one example of the difference taking part in their programmes can make.
“Andrew (pseudonym) is a 19 year old multi-instrumentalist who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
He first became involved in Tinderbox through workshops at his school 5 years ago. The school workshops culminated in a concert that happened at our large open access music club at North Edinburgh Arts. Andrew’s school catered specifically to people with ASD and opportunities to socialise in a mainstream environment were quite limited.
When he came to the Hub for the concert he immediately loved it and started to come to the hub independently of school every week. He has been a stalwart of the club for years and a regular performer for our ‘open stage’ slots.
He has become one of our ‘Champions’ (our youth committee), who help us shape our plans and projects and act as ambassadors for the organisation. Over the years we have seen his musicianship develop incredibly well. We’ve also seen him become more sociable. At first we would not expect any conversation at all from Andrew, but as time has gone on he will now hold detailed conversations with a lot of people, mostly about his vision for what we should be doing with Tinderbox.
He has taken a number of significant steps this year; he’s started coming to our more advanced orchestra rehearsals; he’s also started helping in a volunteer role at our music club where he helps manage equipment; and he’s begun a course in Music at Edinburgh College.
It can sometimes be hard to get direct comments from him about his experience, but his mother says that participating in Tinderbox has been the single most beneficial thing that has happened to help him integrate with mainstream culture and activities.”
92%
92% of participants say that Tinderbox helps them feel part of a community
94%
94% of participants say they feel active at Tinderbox
96%
96% of participants say Tinderbox makes them feel included
“I’d been an apprentice for 2 weeks and this wee girl was saying ‘I cannae (can’t) do it’ and the lead tutor took her over and showed her some stuff on the keyboard and within a minute everyone else had joined in, so there was this jam being led by this wee girl who says that she can’t play an instrument.
It’s just such a powerful thing to see.”
— A Tinderbox participant
Jed Milroy, Assistant Director of Tinderbox, on the importance of the arts
“The most important thing that I see the arts being able to offer in this context is to break down barriers between people of very different ages, backgrounds and abilities.
Despite our differences we can come together to be part of one band to make one sound and share something we think is worth sharing.
There are many ways to find a sense of purpose and meaning to our lives but artistic expression is surely one of the most accessible and versatile. Sharing that expression with others can transform lives.”
“There have been so many moments of surprise and excitement. They happen almost daily.
When someone who you’ve worked with for years suddenly sings in front of the group for the first time and it’s so beautiful and vulnerable that everyone starts crying!
When a someone brings a song or a piece of music they’ve written and it’s genuinely brilliant and moving.
Seeing longstanding deep friendships that have developed between participants and how people support each other.
The feeling of pride and excitement seeing the full orchestra launch into action in front of a full house and genuinely not being able to think of a performance I would rather be seeing.”