Big Noise is a high-quality music education and social change programme that works intensively with children, young people and families within targeted communities. 

Sistema Scotland runs six Big Noise programmes in Raploch & Fallin (Stirling), Govanhill (Glasgow), Torry (Aberdeen), Douglas (Dundee), and Wester Hailes (Edinburgh). We started with Big Noise Raploch in April 2008, with six musicians supporting 35 young schoolchildren. We now work with over 3,500 children and young people across the five cities.

Big Noise uses the symphony orchestra as a community through which children gain an invaluable range of life skills and experiences. They develop confidence, teamwork, resilience, pride and aspiration as well as the capacity to work hard, supporting them to reach their potential and lead successful and fulfilled lives.

The Glasgow Centre for Population Health has identified that the benefits of taking part in the Big Noise programme are underpinned by the long-term, encouraging, trusting and supportive relationship between the Big Noise musician and participant, where the musician acts not only as an educator, but also as a mentor and a role model, supporting positive behaviours and life choices.

The Big Noise programme is particularly focused on early years' intervention and long-term delivery. Each new Big Noise centre begins by working with children at nursery and in Primary 1 and 2, gradually building on core skills such as listening, concentration, rhythm and teamwork whilst learning to play an instrument in a group.

As children reach Primary 3 and beyond, Big Noise evolves into an intensive and immersive programme of after-school and holiday club music teaching, performance and social interaction. Our Big Noise children receive up to four after-school sessions of intervention and support a week during term time; and up to four days each week during spring, summer and autumn holidays until they leave school.

The Big Noise Journey