dr. B. (Beate) Peter

School Transition Project (2023 - present)

This project supports pupils transitioning from primary school to secondary education through engagement with Hip Hop. In collaboration with Unity Radio, we are working with two primary schools and two secondary schools in deprived areas of Greater Manchester. As part of the provision, young people are engaging with all elements of Hip Hop (MCing, DJing, breakdancing, graffiti, knowledge ) through workshops both in the physical world and through Virtual Reality (VR). Aiming to increase levels of efficacy in participants, we aim to evidence that through Hip Hop education school attainment rates increase. Beate oversees the music-making (rapping) component of the project, analysing the use of voice both in the rapping and in workshop participation (focus groups).

Funders: One Education, Manchester City Council Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF)

Amount: £18.000

Hip Hop and Home (2020-2022, Principal Investigator)

Spoken word popular music is not part of the mainstream school curriculum but often used by alternative education providers to re-engage young people in education. In this project, Dr Beate Peter and Dr Joh Bellamy worked with young people that have been involved in the Youth Criminal Justice System (Positive Steps Oldham, Manchester Centre for Youth Studies). In workshops, young people were given the opportunity to produce a track with the focus on the rapping element. The investigators analysed the use of music and voice as markers for in-group and out-group identities. In addition, they analysed the lyrics as forms of self-confession and identity negotiation.

Funders: Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Centre for Youth Studies

Amount: £7.000

Lapsed Clubber Audio Map (2016-2019, Principal Investigator)

In partnership with Manchester Digital Music Archive, this project focussed on the representation of cultural heritage through the creation of the Lapsed Clubber Audio Map, a co-produced archive of audio memories of Manchester's rave scene between 1985 and 1995. The project is listed in the National Archives for best practice in digital access and engagement.

Funder: Heritage Lottery Fund

Amount: £38.300