KAREN students at Bendigo Senior Secondary are being encouraged to get behind a microphone in a new program.
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The Music Breaks Barriers program is run by Bendigo musician and Rock ride Music founder Albert Skipper.
It see students spend an hour each week in the RPM studio working on their music skills.
Since first joining the program, the students have further developed their Englsih skills and also formed a band.
Music Breaks Barriers is supported by BSSC and the City of Greater Bendigo Community Grants program.
It gets the students more involved in the Bendigo community.
“Music makes you feel part of something bigger; part of a community,” Mr Skipper said.
“I’ve seen this kids transformed from being shy and stand-offish to picking up a guitar and learning basic chords, even getting behind a microphone.”
MS Skipper said troubles with language barriers were quickly broken down thanks to the students’ interest in music.
“When I first met these kids I couldn’t understand their language, and they couldn’t understand me,” he said.
“But what they did understand immediately was this amazing, magical thing called music.
“In a short space of time we’ve formed a band. We started with no skills at all – just crawling – and now we’re running and it’s incredible.
“Everyone working together to help each other.”
As the group continues to build their repertoire of songs, there are also plans for a public performance at the end of the school term.
“I can see their confidence growing every week and that’s an incredible thing.”
So far the group has learned Bill Withers’ Lena On Me, Ben E King’s Stand By Me and Wiz Khalifa song See You Again from the Furious 7 movie.
“It’s really basic stuff but quite powerful,” Mr Skipper said.
“They have got the timing down pat and the suggestions are from themselves. We went through a few and figured out which ones they connected with.”
Mr Skipper said he was proud to see the students’ talents developing.
“We’ve got some guitar players, drummers, bass and keys players. It’s now good see them helping each other once I’ve showed them something,” he said.
“Music is part of communities and our goal is that public performance. We want to show what they have achieved.
“It doesn't matter whether you’re from a different country or have a disability, (Music) is about breaking down barriers.”