CONNECTING MUSIC INDUSTRY + MUSIC EDUCATION
Educator Pathways: Pilot Event
In April 2024, the Pathways Into Music Foundation delivered a professional development programme for music educators, education hubs, and talent development, community music and youth organisations, putting the focus on music careers.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Over 50 participants took part in three webinars and an in-person weekend at the Derby Conference Centre. Together we mapped music education, music industry and music careers.
The aim was to help participants better understand the different career pathways for music-makers and in the music industry, identifying what key knowledge, information and support young people need in order to embark on a career in music.
We also put the spotlight on music rights, and the five key things everyone involved in music needs to know about copyright, and we looked at the tools and tactics early-career music-makers need to employ to grow a fanbase.
The programme was led by Pathways Into Music directors Phil Nelson and Chris Cooke, who developed the content alongside Dr Sini Timonen, who also coordinated the gathering of extensive feedback from participants to inform the future work of the Foundation.
On the webinars, participants also gained insight from music-makers and music industry experts including Eckoes, Eve Horne, Fiona McAuley and Jessie Scoullar.
WHO TOOK PART?
Participants included school teachers, college and university lecturers, and people working for music education hubs, music talent development programmes, and community music and youth organisations.
The organisations and institutions that the participants work for and with include: ArtForms (Leeds Music Service), Bee Musical, BIMM University, Blackpool Music School, Candy Arts CIC, Chetham’s School Of Music, Dorset Music Service, Edsential, Encore Enterprises, Ferndown Middle School (Castleman Academy Trust), Finham Park School, Future Talent, Future Yard CIC, Grazity, Hertfordshire Music Service, Holly Lodge School Sandwell, ICMP, In Music In Media, Leeds Junior Conservatoire, Leicestershire Music, MAC Makes Music (Midlands Arts Centre), Media Mania, Merton Music Foundation, Music Local, Music Mark, New College Swindon, Newcastle And Stafford Colleges Group, Norfolk Music Hub, Nottingham CYF, Positive Youth Foundation, The Stables, University Of Leeds, University Of Southampton, University Of York, We Make Culture CIC, West Sussex Music Trust, Wigan Music Service (Greater Manchester Music Hub), Young Sounds UK and Youth Music.
WHAT WERE THE OUTCOMES?
• The programme demonstrated that music educators are very keen to access practical information about music careers and the music industry, so that they can better sign-post the different pathways into music to both young people and their parents and carers. Those participants who also work within the industry themselves, and who therefore already have more industry knowledge, are still looking for tools, tips and tactics that they can share with young people who are embarking on a music career.
• Regional networks are required to better connect everyone involved in supporting those interested in pursuing a music career. That includes people in schools, hubs, colleges, universities, talent development, community music and youth organisations, and within the local music industry. These networks enable knowledge exchange and allow educators to sign-post other support, including potential mentors, in their local area.
• While there are lots of great resources online about the music industry and music careers, there is a need to better sign-post and verify those resources, so that educators can confidently direct young people to the best information. We also discussed how key information could be shared in the classroom, and identified a need to collate and create teaching materials that would be appropriate and engaging for different age groups.
• It is no secret that most people working in music education have incredibly tight budgets often making it difficult to deliver additional careers-based teaching and support. While the sector lobbies for more funding, the music industry should consider how it can help fill the gaps in provision. There is also a discussion to be had about how talent development organisations can raise money beyond government and grant funding.
WHAT NEXT?
• Building on the success of the pilot project, the Foundation is looking to repeat this programme on a regular and regional basis, with in-person events targeted at music educators in one region. The plan is to work with different partners in each region, including education hubs, colleges and universities.
• We are also looking into how the Foundation can curate and verify online resources about the music industry and music careers. This would enable music educators to sign-post good, accurate and relevant resources to young people who need knowledge, information and support to pursue a music career. We also plan to work with regional partners on careers events that can directly provide, showcase and sign-post this support in person for young people and parents and carers.
• We are also looking into how the Foundation can bring together industry and educators to develop teaching methods and materials focused on different music industry topics which are appropriate and engaging for different age groups. The aim would be to utilise the respective expertise of industry and education practitioners to create practical and compelling materials and resources.
• We intend to use the participants in the pilot programme as the basis for building a network of music educators and those in the industry with a focus on supporting education and young talent – the MIME (Music Industry + Music Education) Network. The aim will be to support, engage and consult with this network on an ongoing basis, through online communications and regular events.
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like to discuss getting involved in supporting this work, please get in touch at info@pathwaysintomusic.com
You can also sign up to become part of the MIME Network on the Foundation’s website at pathwaysintomusic.com/mimenetwork