The Big Trip

and ?120million of investment. And it has a secret weapon... Music.

Almost every child in this community has learned to play an instrument. I

think it's probably changed a lot of people's opinions about the area,

cos they think it's this big, rough place to stay and it's not really.

It's a really close community. Five and a half years ago Raploch set out

to launch its own orchestra, made up of children from the neighbourhood.

It was called Big Noise and it was a big undertaking. The first time

anything like this had been tried in the UK. No-one knew if it would

work! When we started with about 35 children were involved with Big

Noise, now we've got 450 children involved every week and Raploch's a

small community, so that means that in some ways everybody in the

community is almost connected. They've got grandchildren in the

orchestra or they've got a neighbour in the orchestra, so it's a very

musical community. Raploch's musical transformation

owes much to Venezuela, home to El Sistema, a network of more than 150

youth orchestras. Big Noise was based upon this system. Two years

ago El Sistema's flagship, the Simon Bolivar Orchestra performed in

Stirling. And they invited the local children to come to Caracas. This

afternoon we had a board meeting with the great maestro Abreu himself

and... He started this whole business. ..who started this whole

business in Venezuela 37 years ago. And we wondered about bringing our

children to Venezuela, he said, "Get the diaries out!"

CHEERING A generous invitation but who would imagine that a community

like Raploch could afford to send its orchestra halfway around the

world? The Venezuelans have absorbed a lot of the cost for us, so it was

a wonderful partnership gesture and offer. They're covering all of the

costs for the hotels when we're there, all of the transport, all of

our food when we're there. So, they asked to get the us to get the

children to Caracas. In terms of the planning round about it, I think,

for me, one of the things about Big Noise that we always tell the

children is that, you know, really anything is possible! So, if you set

your mind to it and you work really hard, you know, the world is open to

you. So, I think the Big Trip really sums it up for us. Five and half

years ago, maybe we would never have thought we'd be doing this and look

what's possible now! Soon, these children will travel

5,000 miles to Venezuela. We've been given the chance to follow them on

this trip of a lifetime. Once there, they'll have just four days to

prepare for a concert, where they'll perform with El Sistema. That's not

long! Guys, I really do need you to listen, we've got half an hour to

rehearse three pieces. Lewis has only been playing the oboe for three

years. Trumpets, ba-ba-ba. But already he's good enough to win a

place in the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, as well as on

the Big Trip. When I heard they were thinking about it, I was like,

"It'll be quite good." And then I found out that it was happening and

I was invited and I was like, "Yes!" Only 52 members of the Big Noise

Orchestra can go. Percussionist Charlie had an anxious wait. We

found out in August, I would say, that we going to definitely go but

we didn't know who was going, that was the thing. So, we were all being

behaving and stuff like that... So we are to this day...yeah. Samira

plays the flute. Like many of the children, this is her first foreign

trip. Where's the furthest you've been before now? Erm...probably

Blackpool. Blackpool? And she's not alone. She's one of four children

from this family, as well as cousin Amy-Lee who are off to Caracas.

That goes here and that goes there. Well done! At 11, Alexandra is one

of the youngest musicians going on the Big Trip. But she has a big

issue to overcome! I've never been on a plane before. And it's just the

flying part that's creeping me out. And her dad has come up with the

novel solution for her fear of flying. She says at first that the

plane was going to frighten her because it leaned, it banked. So, we

says, "Right, well Daddy does more banking "on the motorbike on the

than what you do on the aeroplane. For a couple of weeks, Ivan's been

taking Alex around Stirling on his motorbike. It's helped with the

banking part, the going over to the side, so I'm really not going to be

nervous. It's going to be a huge challenge for Big Noise. As a

journalist, I've been following them right from the start and watching

them grow as musicians. They've improved dramatically! But the

children they've been matched with in Venezuela are used to a much

tougher music regime. They rehearse 20 hours a week, Big Noise less than

half that. They're going to have to work really hard to reach that level

in a matter of days. Well done, everybody. The next time they play

together will be in Venezuela! The capital of Venezuela is home to

around three million people. It's also the birthplace of Simon

Bolivar, revered as the man who helped much of South America gain

its independence from Spain. But it's been a troubled

independence for Venezuela, whilst oil has made the country rich, it's

still a place of enormous inequalities.

Most of those who live in Caracas, live in the barrios, the shanty

towns which cover the mountain sides. These are notorious for crime

and no-go area for visitors. It's from here that most of Venezuela's

orchestras are drawn. El Sistema, The System, was created in 1975.

Driven by a belief in the transformational power of music. An

estimated two million children have come through the system, most

famously the conductor, Gustavo Dudamel.

Key to the programme is its intensity, children start young and

practise often. Big Noise will be working with Montalban Children's

Orchestra. They rehearse after school for four hours every day. I

know you're exhausted, we don't have a lot of time. The Scottish

children, by contrast, rehearse for just two hours, three times a week.

If you need help with tuning, put your hand up. Right, guys, Alex...it

just gets quite wearing if I have to shout and then it sounds unpleasant,

which is not great...OK? There's a noticeable difference between them.

If they're going to succeed in staging a concert together in just

three days' time, they're going to have to raise their game. Violas and

seconds, from the beginning. Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam,

bam-bam-bam-bam-bam, Really at the heel, OK? Big Trip it may be,

holiday it's not. Day after day they make the trip

from the hotel to the community centre, where they'll rehearse.

Passing along the way the cities sprawling barrios. This is Petare,

which is not only the largest barrio in Caracas, it's the largest in

Latin America. It's home to almost a million people and many of them are

children, who are in El Sistema, which is why all the events this

week have been deliberately designed to end early, to allow them to get

back to their homes before it gets dark. In fact, very few people

anywhere in Caracas venture out after dark. Venezuela boasts a

dubious title of murder capital of South America. And just days before

Big Noise visit, a reminder hits headlines across the globe. Monica

Spear had been on vacation with her five-year-old daughter and British

ex-husband. Police say they were attacked by armed men after their

car broke down on Monday night near the country's main port. The actress

and her ex-husband, Thomas Berry, were shot and killed and their

daughter survived but had also been shot.

It's hard to see how music can change a culture where violence and

fear are so much part of everyday life. But those who run El Sistema

believe it does make a difference. Because sometimes you go to a poor

neighbourhood, not only Venezuela, in many countries and they don't

have opportunities to anything. The only thing they see in the streets

is the problems, they don't see good things because they don't have the

possibilities to go and to be included in that but here they have,

they see a family, they see a real strong possibility to be a different

person and in that moment the change is happening and this kid or this

young, youth guy is going into a different way to see the life. So,

that's why the programme is a social development programme.

Excellent, well done! It sounds so much better.

I'm going to meet a musician who was there at the beginning

Rosana was one of a handful of teenagers who just wanted to

So, I never thought it was going to be as big as it is now.

Rosana went on to become a professional musician

but she says that's not the point of El Sistema.

Although probably most of them won't be

musicians in the future, they'll be better people in whatever they do in

the future because music makes you sensible, makes you a perfectionist.

that Rosana has a religious like belief in the transformational

power of El Sistema and for many Venezuelans the proof

is that these orchestras have made this country famous for music.

Big Noise are getting a well earned break from rehearsing today.

The Big Trip heads off on a slightly smaller trip.

The Caracas aerial tramway was built in the 1950s to take visiting heads

of state to Hotel Humboldt, at one time the swankiest venue in town.

7,000 feet up, it's a big draw for tourists and locals alike.

But no-one comes here for the hotel anymore, nor the views today.

For the children, it's a chance to take a breath after almost

Intense, I would say, it's hard to do six hours of rehearsals,

And Big Noise have been creating a big stir!

There was a guy in reception and he said, "Where are you from?"

And I said, "Scotland". He was like, "What group are you?"

The hotel's been very nice and the rooms are really good.

Big Noise are really starting to get a flavour of Venezuelan culture.

A new country brings a chance to try new food.

And there's a chance to assess the Big Trip so far.

When we got here it was quite an eye-opener,

it was quite scary but at the same time it was really exciting,

cos you were really mixed with emotion.

But then when we got to the point when you got to the hotel,

you were like, "Actually, I'm actually here! I totally made it.

And getting to know the Venezuelan musicians has also been fun,

They can understand a wee bit of English

and we can only understand the key words in Spanish.

So, you can make out what they were saying.

and all the people are really welcoming.

I've never had such a welcome in my life.

it was like cramped in to what we usually are,

cos we're normally spaced out but we were all cramped in, so...

she kept hitting me in the face with her bow.

and everything rests on their performance.

Back on the bus to the practice room.

Musical Director Francis Cummings is still not convinced they're ready.

After five days together, many friendships have been formed.

Everyone's excited but with only hours to go, the pressure's on.

I'm feeling quite nervous but thankful that I'm here,

cos this wouldn't be happening if it wasn't for Big Noise.

Rehearsals over, friendships are cemented and souvenirs swapped.

The next time they meet will be for the big concert.

A rare moment of relaxation, before it's time to get ready.

Finally, it's show time and one of Caracas' best venues,

This is where all the top orchestras play,

including El Sistema's flagship, the Bolivars.

and an audience that's used to hearing the very best!

are on stage, the moment of truth has arrived.

but the Scots are determined to steal show!

the concert ends on a Latin high note.

As the two orchestras sway and then dance their way to the finale.

I was so excited when I saw them all together

and I felt such an emotion, I couldn't hold my tears back.

And when I heard the bagpipes, Oh, my God, it was amazing!

and I hope it grows and grows and grows!

For the founder of Sistema Scotland, it's an emotional moment. And proof

Each rehearsal was a high point for me

and in many ways no matter what happened tonight, it would

have been an outstandingly successful visit

but something happened in that concert tonight.

I mean, it just all came together, especially the Scottish piece

and when Jakub marched on with his pipes, the whole hall,

their hearts just opened! I mean, it was absolutely wonderful!

Those children will be changed by that event,

So...no, I didn't expect anything quite as wonderful as that.

The British Ambassador in Caracas throws

Pieces were a bit hard but, you know, that comes with the job.

Being a musician, eh, you need to take the challenges,

you take them and you just get them...

I was quite nervous at the start but when I got in there I was fine.

Four days we spent on training and then we pull an amazing

concert off, just the feeling inside is absolutely great!

For some this experience has given them a whole new perspective.

I think I want to take this seriously,

maybe progress onto making this my job,

I think it's what I enjoy, it's what I do...I won't get bored with it!

Oh, yeah, I'd love to be a musician.

Erm, one of the woodwind teachers, Mr Allen, he told us, basically,

keep it up, it's one of the best jobs you could possibly do.

Keep doing it for the music and everything.

countries to find out what they're like.

OK, so we're going to go to the top half of the bow...

Back in Scotland, I wondered what message the Big Trip sent to

other communities, every bit as passionate about music.

Here in Cumnock, almost every child in this primary school

and for local composer James MacMillan, it's further proof

that music can make a difference, whatever the scheme.

There's only so often you can bring this evidence to those in power,

If music is funded well, supported well,

it will have a direct impact on so many other things that

government and politicians and the public services see as so important.

The evidence is right in front of their nose, they need to act on it!

There have been piecemeal attempts from year to year, sometimes one

government can be better than others but there always seems to be cuts.

music will not come to the fruition that it can.

The Big Trip may be over but the musical journey has just begun.

These musicians will inspire not just the next generation

in Raploch but new Sistema Scotland orchestras in Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Was it amazing? Was it amazing, though? Yeah. Did you enjoy it?

Have fun? Sure? What's the tears for then? Cos I missed you.

Was the aeroplane better than the motorbike?