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.

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

Posts tagged “YOUNG MUSICIANS”

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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)

NYJO Under 18s Living Values

Posted on 28th December 2023 at 15:22

Also known as the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, NYJO has grown over the years from a single jazz orchestra to an organisation with a range of activities focused on supporting and developing musicians. From programmes that focus on professional development for emerging artists, to its Learning programme for under 18s, NYJO works to make jazz and creative music-making accessible to everyone.

In this month’s guest blog, Beth Ismay, NYJO’s Learning Programmes Manager and Kenyah Johnson, NYJO Assistant, lift the lid on their work developing a set of ‘Living Values’ to underpin their under 18s programme – co-created with the young people themselves.

What teachers should know about young people’s vocal health

Posted on 30th June 2023 at 16:03

This month, singing specialist Olivia Sparkhall shares her top tips for helping young singers look after their voices. It’s a topic that Olivia has developed a wealth of expertise in as a choir trainer, an award-winning choral conductor and as a secondary school music teacher for over 20 years.

With her new book, A Young Person’s Guide To Vocal Health, available now, Olivia reveals some key advice – and dispels some myths – to help teachers support their students to stay healthy and get the best from their voices.

The London Music Fund: working to make music a right, not just a privilege

Posted on 31st May 2023 at 14:14

Back in 2016, the London Music Fund blogged for us about some of the opportunities the charity provides for young people in the capital to fulfil their musical potential. This month, we caught up with Georgina Skinner, the charity’s Programmes Manager, about their inspiring work helping young people access high quality music education, and the impact this work has had.

The Brass Academy: fun and learning for students and tutors alike

Posted on 30th November 2022 at 14:51

This month, Tom Rainer, Musical Director of The Brass Academy, tells us about their five-day music courses for young people. Tom, who is also Deputy Head (Pastoral) at the Pilgrims School in Hampshire and principal trumpet of the London Concert Orchestra, explains how the courses work for young musicians of all abilities - and why the best teachers are those who learn from their students.

#everychildamusician

Posted on 1st June 2018 at 14:00

This month, the Music Workshop Company wants to highlight the campaign started by Nicholas Daniel and his fellow winners of the BBC Young Musician of Year.

On 13th May, 20 winners of the competition wrote an open letter to the Guardian stating,

"We are all deeply concerned that instrumental music learning is being left to decay in many British schools to the point that it could seriously damage the future of music here and jeopardise British music’s hard won worldwide reputation."