In this episode, I talk with Graeme Smith, a research consultant and former head of music and arts at Croydon Council, former chair of Music Mark, and member of Arts Council England's hubs advisory group. We discuss his research to test what works to improve pupils’ emotional wellbeing through the arts in primary schools; the impact and progression framework that he’s developed; and it’s other application, in work to address serious youth violence.

In this podcast I’m talking with Kate McBain and Dan Tsu, researchers and authors of Industry Connect, a report commissioned by Youth Music. It explores the realities of moving from education into careers in music, particularly for young people from underrepresented backgrounds. We unpack the barriers mapped in the report and the solutions emerging from the work, including reframing how we talk about ‘the music industry’ ‘pathways’ and ‘pipelines’.   

In this episode I’m talking with the authors of a new book called Resonant Minds – the transformative power of music, which explores how we can use the powerful response that our brain has to music, with intention – to feel more, focus better, connect deeper and lead more resonant lives.  Sara Leila Sherman is a classical musician, educator and co-founder of Mozart for Munchkins, and her co author and father Mort Sherman has held senior positions in education in the States, and is a founding member of Public Schools for Tomorrow. He also serves on the Goldie Hawn Foundation board, a charity set up to equip children with social and emotional skills through education programmes. 

My first ever guest, and music education advocacy superstar, Dr Anita Collins, returns in the 50th episode of my podcast. Anita describes herself as an educator, researcher and writer in the field of brain development and music learning - but she is so much more than that. We discuss her work in advocating for music education, and focus in on practical ways to win hearts and minds for music. 

 In this episode I’m joined by some of the team at CUMIN – the contemporary urban music for inclusion network: Dr Pete Dale, Professor Pam Burnard, and Dr Raphael Travis from the universities of York, Cambridge and Texas State University. The network is for anyone working through music with young people in genres like hip-hop, grime, EDM, house and more. We discuss the challenges of measuring impact, the need for multiple and participant-led methods in evaluation. We also discuss the book 'Music for Inclusion and Healing in Schools and Beyond'. 

In this episode I talk with Jenny Young, Director and founder of Blue Cabin, a charity based in the north East of England that strengthen relationships between care-experienced individuals and the people in their lives through creative activities. We talk about how Blue Cabin has grown, touching on developing practitioners, growing income streams, working with local authorities and adoption/fostering agencies, and evaluation.

 In this second mini podcast, I want to quickly touch on framing again, but this time, thinking about long-term, systemic solutions. But perhaps not in the way you might imagine. 

Because at a time when support for the arts from politicians in the UK doesn’t seem to be improving, I think we have a massive opportunity. 

It’s an opportunity to make a systemic shift our arts CPD and support system, a shift in focus that will enable us to 

·       Change perceptions about the work we do, and why it matters. 

·       To make sure the arts, music and culture are properly valued and embedded in public policy as a means to improve our society and our lives. 

EDIT: With apologies for the error: audience development in the arts is 35 years old, not 25 years. It still seems like yesterday to me!

 In this short episode, I’m talking with … myself! In a change to the usual format, I’m sharing some thoughts on how we talk about why arts, culture and music matter. I touch on framing, messaging and decision science, and I mention organisations and individuals that can help, and are worth following. 

 How did a youth music charity go from moments of almost giving up, to being core funded by Arts Council England, and respected by commissioners/funders in public health and youth justice? Listen in on my chat about resilience with Adam Joolia, CEO of AudioActive, the brilliant Sussex charity that uses music as a tool for social change, education, and personal development with young people. 

In this episode, I talk with Dr Ally Daubney, educator, researcher, evaluator and author and John Bergin, CEO of Newham Music, one of the partners in the East London Music Alliance music education hub. Following 5 years of research into participation, professional development, progression and sustainability in music education, they’ve developed a model for what they term a ‘rich music education ecology’.