Introduction
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.
You can listen now below, or on Spotify (search for Music for Education & Wellbeing Podcast) and iTunes or your favourite podcast app.
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What’s in this episode?
We talk about:
- Graeme’s light bulb moment, connecting music education, cultural identity, youth violence reduction, and emotional wellbeing
- The importance of understanding impact mechanisms – not just what works to improve emotional wellbeing, but what is it specifically about an arts practice that works, how and why
- His five-dimension impact framework used across Croydon to research the processes that contribute to welllbeing ‘protective factors’ and can help improve teaching practice
- The remarkable results – a 44% decrease in emotional difficulties and 28% decrease in behavioural problems
- How emotional wellbeing is the impact from which other benefits flow
- His three calls to action: look beyond your subject, use the new Centre for Arts and Music Education as a learning forum, and advocate for artistic processes to be seen as a way to understand the human world as much as scientific processes are seen for the natural world
Links for this episode
- Contact Graeme directly via email (available in the documents below)
- Chris Syrus creative youth services
- Cultural Learning Alliance – research and advocacy for the arts, music, culture in education
- Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire
- Education Endowment Foundation – resources and research for narrowing the attainment gap, including social and emotional learning guidance
- Youth Endowment Fund – reducing youth violence
Documents:
HANDOUT – Arts and Music Education: Proving it should be a core subject
PRESENTATION – Arts and Music Education: Proving it should be a core subject
More information, help and resources
About the music for education & wellbeing podcast
Listen in each month to get ideas, inspiration and practical advice from people involved in music education, community music, music therapy and more. Learn how you might break down barriers to music, through communications, advocacy and inclusive practice.
The music for the podcast was created by Otis Hynds, a young person working with Noise Solution.
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More information, help and resources
- Visit Music Education Works to read and search for research evidence of the impact of music education.
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