SPaRK Music Project

Harris Trust has developed an exciting music project with Sam Johnston and Erin Highton to provide opportunities for junior and senior students at Selkirk High School to learn, feel inspired and enjoy music and all the benefits it gives to our mental health and well being. Sam and Erin are working with 18 students over a 12-week period on song writing, composing, playing and performing as well as learning about sound production and the music industry. Jordi is following progress through film that will be available to view at the end of the project.

Sam Johnston, award winning musician from the Scottish Borders, has joined forces with Harris’s Trust to deliver an innovative new music project at Selkirk High school. The Songwriting, performance and recording Kickstarter or S.P.a.R.Ks for short is a unique 12 week project giving students the opportunity to learn songwriting, performance and recording techniques whilst also building aptitude in confidence, collaboration and creative thinking. Sam says “this project is aimed at students who walk a path of their own, who are different to the crowd. We want to give them a creative outlet where their individual uniqueness can be supported in a person-centred environment. It will give the students a flavour of aspects of the contemporary music business. “ Sam is a multi instrumentalist currently studying a songwriting and performance BA Hons at The Academy of Music and Sound in Glasgow. He is also the frontman of a dynamic and energetic Punk/Alternative band “Three out of Four” who are making waves in the Scottish Rock Scene.

Erin Highton, is a singer/songwriter and small business owner based in the Scottish Borders who aims to enrich people's lives through music. Erin says "I use music to support people who have learning disabilities and/or struggling with certain aspects of their life whether it be mental health, school life, identity etc. I have studied to a Postgraduate level, BSc(Hons)PgDip, focussing on inclusive education, childhood development, mental health and social psychology. My hope for these sessions at Selkirk High School is to support pupils to develop a new positive coping strategy using songwriting. I am looking forward to seeing the final outcomes from our current students, who so far have been showing great enthusiasm towards the project.”