Heads High

A community is simultaneously defined as:

• a group of people living in a particular local area
• common ownership
• a group of nations having common interests
• agreement as to goals
• a residential district
• a group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other

Heads High’s ethos rests firmly upon these different, yet interlinked definitions of community.

From an organisational perspective, although there is a clear direction and a hierarchical element to the movement, Heads High wishes to inspire feelings of ownership from all who involve themselves and interact with the company. These feelings are amplified by the sharing of common interests and agreement as to the goals and manifesto of the organisation. By it’s very nature, Heads High is a group focussed operation relying on collaboration to achieve its aims and ideals.

Looking outward, we endeavor to interact with individuals and organisations from the local level right up to the global. We do much of this already with our regular events, podcasts and compostions, using the arts to forge connections in our borough, city, country and beyond. Recently, drawing on our combined skill resources and with the help of others in our community, we have been working to set up workshop programmes designed to assist people of all ages, but with a focus on youth, to realise their aspirations. Being a music-based organisation, it seemed logical to start by working with music. This is just the beginning however as our vision extends way beyond the scope of music alone. Future expansions into other areas are planned and will be implemented when the funds, manpower and skills are available to do so.

The Heads High Music Programme is facilitated by Duke Etienne and DJ Judge and is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes:

Ideological

• To encourage a positive connection between the student and his/her cultural and creative heritage through music.
• To practically demonstrate how cultural outputs can be married to produce further positive outcomes
• To allow the reinterpretation and recontextualisation of cultural heritage in a contemporary setting.
• To emphasise the importance of creative innovation.
• To highlight the importance of the creative arts as a force for expression and social change.

Practical

• To experience the relationship between research skills and creative output.
• To learn basic electronic music production techniques.
• To learn basic methods of music presentation
• To explore and employ the technique of ‘sampling’ in the context of contemporary electronic music.
• To learn the value and benefit of artistic co-operation.
• To consider the tonal, rhythmic and vocal content of musical pieces and their effect on audiences.