A full day of talks, discussions, case studies and insights on music and education on Wednesday 10 May 2023.
The basics…
CMU and The Great Escape once again bring together music educators and the music industry to put the spotlight on the best ways to support future music talent, both on-stage and behind the scenes.
We will ask how the music industry can help deliver the new National Plan For Music Education in England, how online content and digital education platforms are changing how people learn, and how traditional educators can work alongside digital educators to deliver maximum value.
Plus, what skills are needed in the music business today, what skills will be in demand in the future, and how can education and industry ensure that young people develop the skills they need to succeed?
The schedule…
10.00-10.30 THE NEW NATIONAL PLAN FOR MUSIC EDUCATION
In June 2022, the UK government published its new National Plan For Music Education in England. What even is a National Plan? And why does it matter?
CMU tells the story so far and brings in expert insight to help educators and industry understand how they can work together to deliver world class music education.
While the National Plan focuses on formal education – and in particular schools and hubs – learning is not just about what happens in the classroom. We look at how the National Plan lays the foundations for the wider evolution of music education in England and across the UK.
Panelists:
Chris Cooke – CMU
Phil Nelson – Pathways Into Music
10.30-11.00 WHAT DOES THE NATIONAL PLAN ACTUALLY SAY?
What does the National Plan actually say about supporting young people who want to pursue a career in music or the wider creative industries? A range of experts from education and industry contribute their insight and interpretation of what the National Plan really means.
Using this as a conversation starter, we will examine how schools, education hubs, talent development programmes and other organisations can collaboratively deliver the objectives of the National Plan, and how practitioners from the wider music industry can add value.
Panelists:
Bridget Whyte – Music Mark
Chris Walters – Musicians’ Union
Oliver Morris – UK Music
Phil Nelson – Pathways Into Music
Wizdom Layne – We Are Impact + MOBO UnSung
11.00-11.30 BUILDING LOCAL MUSIC ECOSYSTEMS
The National Plan says that music education hubs should work with local music employers and organisations to create “stronger connections between music education and progression into musical careers”. What does this really mean? And how can hubs effectively execute this vision?
We know that a vital part of achieving that objective is mapping music education and the music industry at a local and regional level.
Doing this gives hubs, educators, industry and other stakeholders a clear view of their local music ecosystem allowing them to identify what makes their area unique, and to draw everyone together to nurture and support creative talent locally and regionally, and across the country.
We will look at best practices for this and discuss how great mapping can drive educational excellence and help develop the next generation of music talent.
Panelists:
Beverley Whitrick – Music Venue Trust
Corey Johnson – Defenders Entertainment
Georgina Akers – BLENDID Artists
Pamela McCormick – UD
Vanessa Wilson-Best – Willingdon Community School
11.45-12.00 ALGORITHMS, AI & EDUCATORS
Are teachers going to be replaced by ChatGPT and other AI tools? Are algorithms influencing the evolution of music education? And are educators able to match the high octane experience of TikTok, YouTube and other digital content?
Online tools and resources now play a key part in music education – both for educators and learners. We look at what education online looks like, what content aspiring music-makers or industry professionals might encounter, and how they might find it. And at the role the search box plays and what educators need to understand about online content and trends.
CMU presents original research giving an overview of the content, communities and platforms early-career music-makers are now utilising online.
12.00-12.30 MEET THE ONLINE EDUCATORS
How do the people making and delivering educational content online go about developing their materials and finding an audience – and what does the business of online education look like?
We get the inside view on how online education really works from the creators making the content that the next generation of music-makers and industry leaders are consuming – and ask how what they do fits into the bigger picture.
Panelists:
Amber Horsburgh – Deep Cuts
Atlanta Cobb – Music Industry Mentor // & Landed Management
Eric Hunter – MMF
Rosanna Connolly – Morena
12.30-12.45 BEATING THE SEARCH BOX
More than 86% of Gen Z say that they have engaged in online learning – which has big implications for the future of education.
Whether that’s formal online courses, MOOCs, or informal learning via TikTok, YouTube, podcasts and other media, it’s essential for educators to understand what is happening online, and how they can connect what they do in the classroom with the content their students are consuming elsewhere.
Through original research and expert insight we look at how teachers, tutors and other educators can keep up to date and better sign-post credible learning content and opportunities online, as well as how to build on what is available digitally to maximise the in-person educational experience.
12.45-13.15 KEYNOTE CONVERSATION: YOLANDA BROWN + MICHELLE ESCOFFERY
Musician, broadcaster, Chair of BPI and Chair of Youth Music YOLANDA BROWN will discuss her career as a music-maker, and her ground-breaking work encouraging, educating and supporting the next generation of music talent.
Plus Ivor Novello award-winning songwriter, producer and recently re-elected President of the PRS Members’ Council MICHELLE ESCOFFERY will also discuss her career in music and her creator advocacy role at PRS For Music, as well as what early-career music-makers actually need to focus on to pursue a successful career in the industry.
14.00-14.30 KEYNOTE CONVERSATION: INTRODUCING ELEVATE
Find out more about Elevate, the professional development programme for early-career music business executives and entrepreneurs, and aspiring music-makers, presented by The Great Escape and CMU, and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
14.30-15.00 PATHWAYS INTO MUSIC: JOBS & CAREERS
The new National Plan For Music Education notes that teachers, parents and carers are often “concerned that music is an uncertain industry”, going on to say that more needs to be done to show that careers in music can be “sustainable and rewarding”.
With help from a selection of industry execs and music business entrepreneurs, we look at what those careers are, how people get there, what educators can do to showcase these options, and how the industry can help make the idea of a career in music seem less risky.
Panelists:
Jamal Guthrie – Route
Jill Hollywood – Echo Beach Management
Rosanna Connolly – Morena
Sarah Henderson – MCPR
William Bowerman – WFB Live
15.00-15.30 FUTURE SKILLS, FUTURE KNOWLEDGE
What skills are in demand in today’s music business – and what skills are going to be essential in the future? Aligning with the National Plan’s vision for 2030, we look at what educators should be focusing on to equip today’s teenagers for a career in music in the 2030s and beyond.
We ask employers from across the sector what they need today and what they see on the horizon; and examine how teachers, lecturers and tutors at all levels can ensure their students are leaving education ready for the realities of tomorrow’s industry.
Panelists:
Charlene Hegarty – Oh Yeah Music Centre
Emily Akanimoh – Hospital Records Limited
Erika Thomas – WMA
Nina Radojewski – Association Of Independent Music
Sandra Bhatia – OneFest CIC
15.45-16.30 BACK TO THE BLACKBOARD: EVOLVING MUSIC BUSINESS EDUCATION
Presenting original research showing the current music business education landscape at college and university level – and beyond – we look at what we are teaching, how we are teaching it, and why.
How should music business programmes keep up with the rapid evolution of the industry, and how can industry and educators work together to create future industry leaders? Joined by educators, employers and academics, we join the dots across education and industry.
Panelists:
Jen Anderson – Point Blank Music School & Apex Music International
Lucy Squire – University of South Wales
Mathew Flynn – University of Liverpool
Nick Stillwell – SupaJam
Wizdom Layne – We Are Impact + MOBO UnSung
16.30-17.00 LIGHTBULB MOMENTS: ASK THE MUSIC-MAKERS
We sit down with a range of music-makers in an informal end-of-day conversation asking “what one thing do you wish you’d known at the start of your career?” – and “what have you learnt more recently that has really changed your game?”
These sorts of lightbulb moments can change and define careers: how can educators and industry surface and share this sort of knowledge on an ongoing basis?
Panelists:
Chris Cooke – CMU
David Ford
Eve Horne – PeakMusicUK/We Are The Unheard Academy
Jack Looker
THE LOGISTICS…
MUSIC+EDUCATION takes place on Wednesday 10 May 2023 at the Leonardo Royal Waterfront Hotel in Brighton and is open to anyone with a TGE delegate or conference pass.
Standalone tickets for the MUSIC+EDUCATION strand are also available here.