Evaluation of Sistema Scotland
Children and Young People, Communities
Jan 2013 - Ongoing
Based on the Venezuelan El Sistema model, Sistema Scotland aims to use music to foster wellbeing, confidence, self-esteem, pride and aspiration among the children and young people taking part. Through its Big Noise programme, Sistema Scotland believes that children from disadvantaged backgrounds can gain significant social and wellbeing benefits and acquire a range of life skills by being part of an intensive and immersive symphony orchestra programme.
There are four Big Noise centres in Scotland delivering a long-term orchestral programme for pre-school and school-age children and young people; currently totalling approximately 2,500 participants.
Project objectives
We have been leading the evaluation of Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise programme since 2013. The aims of the project are:
- to make clear key features of Big Noise delivery
- to describe the impacts of the programme
What is involved
In the short-term the evaluation uses primarily qualitative methodologies to understand the delivery of Big Noise and the nature of its impacts. In the longer term we will examine quantitative life-course outcomes of participants in comparison with an appropriate control group. This will include analysis of education, health, social care, welfare system and justice system records in the decades to come.
Findings & outcomes
The Big Noise programme has positively impacted the children and young people taking part by:
- increasing confidence, discipline, pride, and aspiration
- improving team-working, communication, and leadership
- enhancing academic skills including listening, concentration, and creativity
- increasing resilience, happiness, sense of belonging and fulfilment
- developing strong musical skills
- an uptake of physical activity and healthy eating, avoidance of damaging behaviours
- the development of positive social groups, peer relationships and cultural engagement
- providing respite and protection for vulnerable participants
- changing lives – the strong impacts Big Noise has on participants is based largely upon a long-term, encouraging, trusting and supportive relationship between musician and participant. Musicians act as educators, mentors and role models supporting positive behaviours and life choices. An important factor in this is Sistema Scotland’s recruitment practice which emphasises musicians being caring, compassionate, energetic and patient alongside having strong social values.
- addressing health inequalities – evidence is clear that the types of impacts Big Noise achieves at present act upon important determinants of health and wellbeing in adulthood. Big Noise is targeted at disadvantaged communities, and therefore has the potential to reduce health inequalities in later life.
Project outputs
Publications & Documents
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Statistical analysis of educational outcomes among Big Noise Raploch participants
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People change lives: evaluation of Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise programme
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Evaluating Sistema Scotland – Initial Findings Report Summary
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Evaluating Sistema Scotland: Big Noise Torry - initial findings report
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Briefing paper 50: Principles for effective social regeneration
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Evaluating Sistema Scotland - initial findings report
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The impacts of art on health and wellbeing: systematic literature reviews
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Evaluating Sistema Scotland: Evaluation Plan for Big Noise Program
News
Further resources & reading
‘Transforming lives through music’ as a public health intervention: further reflections on our evaluation of Sistema Scotland. Garnham LM, Harkins C. Journal of Public Health 2017.
Hitting the right note for child and adolescent mental and emotional wellbeing: a formative qualitative evaluation of Sistema Scotland’s “Big Noise” orchestral programme. Harkins C, Garnham L, Campbell A, Tannahill C. Journal of Public Mental Health 2016;15:125-36.
‘It makes me feel happy and joyful’: the evaluation of arts-based social interventions in public health. Garnham LM, Campbell A. Journal of Public Health 2016;38(4);589-e591.
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