Blog
The power of music – me, my Mum, music and dementia
This is a very personal post and I hope you don’t mind me sharing it amongst my usual blogs about communications. I want to help raise awareness of the importance of music in the lives of people with dementia, and share some helpful links. My Mum passed away eight months ago, in a wonderful care…
Read MoreQuick guide to listening to a podcast – for charity, non-profit, music and arts professionals – plus recommended podcasts
I love radio, but it took me a while to get used to podcasts. Now I’m a regular listener and have even started my own. Podcasts are great way of keeping up with sector insights or professional learning. Here’s a quick guide to the different ways you can listen to podcasts. I’ve also included a…
Read MorePODCAST [7] How can parents/ carers involve children in pre-school music? – with Liv McClennan, community musician
In this episode, I’m talking with Liv McLennan, who is a community musician and a specialist in early years / pre-school music. We discuss what parents and carers can do to introduce music to their pre-school child, and share some starting points and ideas for making music with babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers. You can listen…
Read MoreSix ways to raise your profile through BBC Music Day (26/9/19) and annual celebration days
BBC Music Day is a UK-wide, annual celebration of the power of music to change lives, with activities going on across the UK and across TV, radio and social media.
Read More[PODCAST] [6] Getting media coverage for your music education and community music work – with Penny James, Cardiff-based media publicist
In this episode, I’m talking with Penny James, a freelance media publicist, about how get media coverage in newspapers and magazines, radio and TV. Penny has held press manager roles with organisations such as Welsh National Opera and St David’s Hall, and she’s created national, and in some cases international coverage for people like Wales…
Read More[PODCAST] [5] Making music education a core subject in the poorest schools in New York – Education Through Music
In this episode, I’m talking with Penny Swift, Executive Director and Katherine Damkohler, Director of National Activities of Education Through Music (ETM). ETM is a New York-based organisation working with under-resourced schools to provide music education as a core subject for all students. It has experienced significant growth over the last few years, and has…
Read More[PODCAST] [4] Young people, music mentoring and digital stories – with Simon Glenister of Noise Solution
In this episode, I’m talking with Simon Glenister, Director of Noise Solution, a social enterprise based in Bury St Edmunds which provides 1-1 music mentoring programmes using music technology for young people in challenging circumstances. Noise Solution is interesting for a number of reasons. Firstly, the business model is unusual for this sector – Noise…
Read MoreAttracting young people – the importance of feeling welcome
If you find it a challenge to attract young people to your activities, Making Music has advice to help, based on their research with young people and music groups*. These tips and insights were shared by Making Music at a seminar hosted by Tŷ Cerdd last weekend at their base in Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.…
Read MoreA step-by-step guide to writing a case study that wins hearts and minds [1]
If you work in a small charity, music or arts organisation you probably need to write advocacy case studies about the impact of your work. But how often do you find yourself staring at a blank page, feeling under pressure, and not sure where to begin? Having a set of questions to follow makes the…
Read More[PODCAST] [3] Breaking the mould: Wiltshire Music Connect’s community development model for a music education hub
In this episode, I’m talking with Nick Howdle and Sophie Amstell of Wiltshire Music Connect, which is a music education hub. Hubs are partnerships of organisations in England, such as local authorities, schools, voluntary and other organisations who receive government funding to create joined-up music education provision in their local area. They’re required to fulfil…
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