Popular band surprises Clydebank schoolchildren with special visit

Ross McNae and Barry McKenna from Twin Atlantic visited Kilpatrick School in Clydebank to take part in music therapy sessions.

The sessions were delivered in partnership with Nordoff and Robbins, the UK's largest music therapy charity.

The musicians visited the school ahead of the Specsavers Scottish Music Awards where they will receive the Disruptor Award.

During the visit, Ross and Barry sat in on two one-to-one sessions delivered by the school’s music therapist Polly Harris.

Music therapist Polly Harris helps five-year-old Oliver connect with others through music (Image: Wattie Cheung) Polly delivers weekly sessions with children who have additional support needs, including five-year-old Oliver and 11-year-old Amber, who the band members met.

Throughout the sessions, both pupils played a leading role in creating music as well as listening and responding to Polly singing and playing a variety of instruments including the guitar, the ukulele, keyboard, and tambourine.

Polly aims to offer Oliver the opportunity to connect with others through the therapy sessions.

She said: "I try to frame the music to make Oliver feel like he is the musician – he is the soloist; I am just the accompanist interpreting what he is saying.

"Music therapy supports people to connect and communicate through music who otherwise are unable to."

Oliver is a young pupil with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and a visual impairment.

Oliver’s mum stated that: "Music therapy has hugely impacted Oliver’s life."

After the session with Oliver, Ross and Barry met Amber, who has been attending music therapy sessions for the past two years.

Amber uses music therapy to improve her communication skills (Image: Wattie Cheung) Amber was referred to music therapy in an effort to improve her communication skills and foster social interaction through creative expression.

Amber’s mum said: "Amber has gained confidence in communicating and has vocalised so much more since starting the sessions."

The band members were moved by the experience.

Ross said: "Today has been incredibly heartwarming and at times quite emotional.

"The visceral connection between the kids and the music is incredible –watching their eyes open and search for the sound - it's a phenomenal thing to witness"

Barry added: "Watching the way that Polly uses her voice and the instruments to engage with the kids is really special.

The most important thing about the Scottish Music Awards is what it does for Nordoff and Robbins – without them I think the world would be a darker place."

In addition to the music sessions, the band visited the school’s on-site radio station, where they spoke to a group of S6 pupils doing their National 5 music year.

Rihanna, 16, was one of the fortunate pupils to meet Twin Atlantic.

16-year-old Rihanna got her guitar signed by the band (Image: Wattie Cheung) She said: "It felt amazing to meet Twin Atlantic.

"I got introduced to the band by one of the teachers at the school about a year ago and I love them.

"I look up to them because I feel warmth and emotion from their music."

The Specsavers Scottish Music Awards is a celebration of Scottish music and a vital source of funding for Nordoff and Robbins.