The Music Workshop Company Blog

Each month the Music Workshop Company publishes two blogs. One blog, written by the MWC team addresses a key issue in Music Education or gives information about a particular genre or period of music. The other blog is written by a guest writer, highlighting good practice or key events in Music Education. We hope you enjoy reading the blogs.

We embed multimedia content in many of our blog posts, if you have rejected cookies for this website, you may have white spaces where the multimedia content should be. This is due to a recent change of policy by YouTube, Spotify and other platforms. We are in the process of updating all our posts. If you come across white spaces in a blog post, you can open the link in another browser or private browser and approve cookies to access all the content. We are sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

To contribute as a guest writer please email Maria@music-workshop.co.uk

Posts tagged “MUSIC EDUCATION”

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Amplify – supporting grassroots music projects

Posted on 30th April 2025 at 17:56

Young performers from HvH Arts Camden’s project on stage

This month brings an update from our friends at the London Music Fund, who have blogged for us in the past about their work improving music education for young people in the capital. Here Kate Kelly, Senior Programmes & Operations Manager, tells us about the charity’s Amplify fund, which supports grassroots organisations to deliver a range of creative projects. Read on to learn about some of the initiatives the fund has enabled, and the latest developments with its launch in Liverpool.

(Image: Performers from HvH Arts Camden’s project, Rock-U-Mentory, funded by Amplify London)

What matters is music

Posted on 7th February 2025 at 14:00

This month we welcome back award-winning music teacher, Nat Dye MBE.

Nat's very personal exploration of what music can bring to us, especially in the face of a terminal diagnosis, is an important reminder of music's ability to be a vehicle for self-expression as well as a way of connecting with one another.

He discusses some the amazing experiences he has had since his diagnosis including running the London Marathon playing his trombone and being made an MBE in the New Years Honours List.

NYJO Learning: King's Cross Summer Project

Posted on 23rd December 2024 at 18:00

Here at the Music Workshop Company, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to make music, regardless of their age or background. But too often, for many, those opportunities can be hard to find - which is why programmes that open up music to wider audiences are so important.

NYJO (also known as the National Youth Jazz Orchestra) exists to do just this, and we were delighted to hear about their successful 2024 King's Cross Summer Project for 14-18-year-olds. This month Beth Ismay, NYJO's Learning Programmes Manager, returns to the blog to tell us about the project and the impact it made for the young people involved.

The joy of music and friendship

Posted on 16th November 2024 at 14:22

In past blogs we have explored many of the benefits of music education and participation in music: brain development, self-expression, motor skills, collaboration skills, self-discipline as well as improving wellbeing.

This month, our Artistic Director, Maria Thomas, explores an element that isn’t often highlighted as a benefit of music participation – friendships.

She argues that participation in music - whether through playing music with others, or sharing an appreciation of music - can be an important way for us to form vital connections with other people.

Image: David Amann

What's the future for university music courses?

Posted on 16th August 2024 at 12:51

A stage with empty seating for an orchestra

Picture by Rui Alves, Unsplash

The last few years have been a challenging time for arts education in the UK. As educational institutions have struggled with rising costs and funding decreases, we have seen a series of decisions to cut back university music education across the country.

And while most of these cuts have affected courses for post-18 students, junior departments have not been immune. This summer, young musicians hoping to attend weekend courses at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama were disappointed to learn of the closure of this provision.

We explore what has been happening in the sector, the reasons behind these closures, and – with a new government in place – what the future may hold for music in higher education.

Introducing Yukee

Posted on 30th March 2024 at 14:51

Our guest post this month comes from Mark Gordon, composer, founder of Score Draw Music and one of the producers behind Yukee, a new CBeebies show that puts music centre-stage. The programme, which hit TV screens in February, gives its preschool audiences a gentle introduction to musical concepts, and crucially, shows them that music is for everyone.

Here, Mark explains where the idea for the show came from, and how he and his team set about bringing it to life with the help of some talented musicians and educators. Read on to learn more and access the show’s free learning resources…