Following a chance meeting with Mark Beattie and his Mum as they watched a Samba drumming band, it became apparent how absorbed and inspired Mark was by this experience. Mark danced and created spontaneous rhythmic movements with the group and his Mum told me that he follows the carnival parade every year at the West End Festival, dancing and miming the drumming movements from the roadside.She said that one of Mark's big ambitions is to perform with a carnival drumming group as part of the West-End-Festival.

Seeing the obvious pleasure that Mark gained from this experience, I realised I could help facilitate his ambition.

Tuesday-26th-April-2005

I call the co-ordinator of the group we had watched on Saturday suggesting that Mark and I join the group and practice with them, aiming towards performing at the West End Festival on June 12th. It becomes clear during our conversation that he is sceptical about Mark's ability (as a young man with special needs) to play at the standard required by the group. Even though I assure him that Mark is a naturally gifted musician he is not open to the idea of us joining the group. Although I challenge him on his discriminatory attitudes, I decide to look for a group with a more positive, inclusive outlook.
I then call the band leader of "Partick Beat' a community group whom I've seen perform at many festivals before. I learn that this group promote social inclusion for all and play African and Latin percussion.

I attend a few rehearsals on my own to gague the suitability of the workshops, resources, venue etc. the group seem very welcoming and I enjoy the supportive guidance of the drum tutor.

Wednesday-11th-May

Mark and I travel to Partick, on the car journey he seems very exited, asking questions about the group. I tell him abut my experiences over the last few weeks and about the different kinds of drums they use. On arriving at' The Annexe', Mark receives a warm welcome from all and is invited to choose a drum. He picks out a big African Djembe drum, (a long hand drum which has been carved from a hollowed out tree trunk).

The group sit in chairs in a circle formation, Michelle introduces the first activity by demonstrating an African 6/8 rhythm, I repeat this to Mark then the whole group join in. Mark instantly locks into the pattern and we play solidly for about ten minutes, then we stop. A few people have problems playing the rhythm and need a little one to one assistance from the tutor. During this period I ask Mark to pause from playing for a few minutes. Mark finds this difficult, as he is so keen to get into the music.

Next, everyone is given individual rhythmic parts to play on their drum, then the group layer these over the steady pulse of the bass drum. Mark and I beat out an identical pattern then he transforms his into freeform improvised eloquence, creating spontaneous rhythmic variations over the collective music.

After an hour of rehearsal the group have a break and this provides an opportunity for Mark to meet and talk to people over a can of juice and a snack. During the second half of the rehearsal I can see that Mark's energy levels are fading a bit, so I suggest that he rests a while. He seems happy to do this and we leave shortly after. When I get to Mark's house his mother tells me that earlier Mark had P.E. at school followed by a two hour session at the climbing wall. Too much physical activity in one day. The next day we arrange that Mark's climbing wall activity be changed to a later date.

Wednesday-18th-May

As I arrive at Mark's house he is standing outside waiting with his own drum in his bag ready for action. On the car journey he talks about the previous week's experience at "Partick Beat" and says he's looking forward to the live performance.

As we arrive at the rehearsal venue Mark walks straight over to Michelle, the drum tutor and gives her a hug, and shows the others his own drum. We're all soon involved in a Latin Rumba beat in a close knit circle, Mark becomes immersed in the music but seems to be much more aware and focussed on other people's sounds as well as his own, watching and listening, scanning the circle while moving his whole body to the tempo.

At the break, Michelle, tells me she is really impressed by Mark's fluent ability to improvise and we speak about his need for free self-expression through the music, rather than teaching him strict, set parts. Mark enjoys a can of juice, chatting with Dominic and Bob, beginning to bond and form relationships within the group.

During the next piece we explore Brazilian rhythms and Mark is introduced to the art of stopping and the importance of pauses in the music. This seems to be a challenge for him ,so I give support , cueing him when to stop and respect the silence. This is important , encouraging the discipline of group performance and the dynamic of collective silence.

Wednesday-1st-June

During this session we 'strap up", i.e. we attach drums to body straps to suspend them around our waists and practice the art of drumming and walking simultaneously.This is not an easy task.

The big "Djembi' drum is too heavy for Mark to walk with so he tries the "talking drum" a large narrow African drum, (the pitch of the skin can be controlled by a squeeze on the draw strings with the elbow.) The drum is very light but has a very distinctive sound which cuts through the wall of sound the band produce.
Mark is very at ease with this and it's lightness allows him to dance with it as we move around the room in a circle formation.

Mark approaches different members of the group, faces them smiling and challenges them to a jam. He has really become so much more confident with other group members, now easily initiating activity with others, and enjoying the experience.

The First Event The Women's 10 Kilometre Road Race - Glasgow

A beautiful sunny day, Mark and I wearing our multi-coloured "tie-dye" "Partick Beat" t-shirts, matching the rest of the group. After a loud blast of the whistle we all begin a "Gomeh"- African beat, as the first women runners sprint by us. Mark looks excited and is full of energy. The music becomes a pounding soundtrack for a constant flow of runners as they race by us. Many of them share their appreciation by calling out to us, clapping, or give us a wee dance in mid sprint. Mark's Mum and two sisters dance among us. It takes one hour and ten minutes for all 7000 runners to pass by us then we finish with a loud "call and response" rhythmic phrase. Mark's Mum gives us bottles of water, which we gulp down in seconds, pouring a few dribbles over our sweaty faces. Mark and I compare hands; both our hands are bright red, swollen and feel very numb.

Saturday 4th June 2005, The Sighthill Carnival (North Glasgow International Festival)

This event is a community initiative project aiming to integrate and celebrate cultural diversity promoting respect and understanding of a variety of cultures within Glasgow. The project has a focus on asylum seekers who are living in the North Glasgow area.

The festival unfolds as Mark and I drum our way along the streets with the "Partick Beat" group among a throng of belly dancers, bagpipe bands, jugglers and Indian Banghra- musicians. The parade snakes its way into the heart of the festival site;- four big performance tents, a funfair, and the smells of exotic food. Mark and I go to experience Japanese percussionists, Iranian traditional singers ,Sri lankan pop music, and with his mum we dance to a wide range of ethnic grooves.

Our next performance kicks off in a big gazebo and a crowd gather round. Mark is loving the audience attention being such a natural performer.Many children and young people want to join in with the group so we hand out the extra percussion instruments. Our group quickly doubles in size till the whole tent becomes one big musical party.A man in traditional African robe dances towards Mark and begins beating on his drum.Mark laughs and is happy to share a jam with him.

One hour later we,re asked to play on the main stage.As we walk on stage,we are introduced by a Radio Clyde dj. Mark puts his drum down and walks straight for her microphone and begins a dialogue with the presenter which delights the audience. He then rejoins our circle to play a latin-"cha-cha".After a spell on the bongo drums, Mark stands up and begins to dance across the stage in an articulate display of pure self expression while beating out a sequence on the go-go bells. This in turn gives an intensity to the whole group performance, as everybody shares a real sense of creative expression.

Wednesday-8th June

The group practise moving in formation while playing our drums. To make it even more difficult we practice African chants as well. Mark seems to have no problem and dances around each member of the group, chanting and rhythm making with them, changing instruments throughout, exploring a variety of contrasting sound-textures.

Sunday 12th June 2005 Carnival Parade (West End Festival)

Geared up in our "tie-dye" "Partick Beat" t-shirts we meet up in the Botanic Gardens for a warm up rehearsal. Mark and I practise the various African and Latin rhythms. A make-up crew decorate our faces. Mark seems to really enjoy having his face decorated with stars and sparkly green face paint. Hundreds of different performers change into their costumes. Soon everybody lines up along the path, getting ready to launch into the carnival parade.

There is an expectant silence, everyone anticipating the moment, to begin. We wait for the signal. Eventually we're off at a jaunting pace ,drumming into life. At points the huge parade accordions inwards as the throng of performers ebbs and flows on its journey out of the park and into the street. As we make our way into the street, Mark regularly looks up to check that I'm still with him as though feeling anxious he might get lost in the crowd. I give him some vocal reassurance and he bounces back into the groove with a roll on the drum.

From the top of Byres Road the parade opens up into a magnificent spectacle, awash with colour and a cacophony of sound that somehow doesn't seem chaotic but feels very uplifting. A huge crowd lines the street. Occasionally Mark stops to gaze up at flowing silk dragons above him carried by giant clowns on stilts or the spinning ballerinas who dance around us. At times Mark seems mesmerised, sometimes dazzled, other times laughing and filled with delight. The street is flooded in sunshine making us sweat. Mark's Mum hands around bottles of water, much appreciated in the sweltering heat, then we rejoin the pulse of the band and sing the call and response vocal chants. Mark seems constantly driven by being a valued part of the whole dazzling spectacle, not merely a spectator as he was before. After twenty minutes of our dancing, drumming journey Mark's Mum offers him his wheelchair in case he's feeling tired. Mark waves her off and launches back into his dancing pace, determined to perform as an equal to everybody else in the street.

As the parade turns the corner and back up Byres Road towards the finish a heavy rain shower breaks out. After the sweltering heat it feels good, refreshing for a while. Then the rain becomes very heavy, soaking us completely, still we carry on ,determined to keep the music going and everybody breaks into laughter.

By the time we reach the top of the road for the finish the sun beats down once more and the music ends with a final vocal chant and a big closing drum-break.

The whole experience has been fantastic and Mark and I sit with his Mum in the park with the rest of the group reflecting on the day. A very fulfilling journey and one where Mark has shown inspirational creativity and motivation. Another huge achievement for Mark in his wide range of personal feats.

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