Welcome to our February 2021 update (well done, we made it through the longest January on record!) 🎉
From opportunities and events to good reads and inspiration, there is a lot happening this month. Here is a round up of some of the things we are looking forward to and have had our eyes on recently…
Opportunities + Events
Everyone welcome? : access and inclusion solutions for groups and events
Join Making Music for their upcoming free event where they’ll be looking at barriers which many people experience – both virtually and in the real world – and the impact this has on who can be part of music-making groups, who can come to concerts/events and what you can do about it!
Did someone say “FREE pianos”?!
Online music education platform, HDpiano, is giving away a brand-new full-size digital piano every week this year! You got to be in it to win it – good luck!!
Saffron Springboard
Saffron is a music tech initiative taking an intersectional approach to redressing the gender imbalance in the industry. The new Springboard initiative is providing 7 people with a 10-month program of mentoring, professional coaching and grants of £1,000-£3,000.
Attitude is Everything Webinars
Want to ensure your event is as accessible as possible? Our friends at @attitudetweets are offering fantastic webinar sessions to provide quality training in improving accessibility and disability awareness.
Family Workshop at Home: Endangered Animals
This half term, join Wigmore Hall for an online challenge to create music together inspired by some of the world’s most endangered animals, from rhinos to turtles! You will learn about these incredible creatures, write lyrics, and compose melodies to form a new piece of music – all in one hour!
They will also release free pre-workshop activities at the beginning of half term, so if you would like to you can start getting creative together ahead of the workshop.
Virtual work experience with the Royal Marines Band Service
This 2-day Virtual Look at Life Course is open to young musicians and vocalists age 14+ and encompasses Q&A sessions, career presentations and tours of some of the Royal Marines’ Bandrooms. Young musicians who attend will be given a behind the scenes tour of The Royal Marines School of Music and the opportunity to pose live questions to musicians currently in training.
Music Technology Connectivity Series
‘Connectivity ‘ is a collaborative and innovative series of three online events delivered in partnership with Technology in Music Education UK (TiME), UK Music, Leicester-Shire Music Education Hub (LMEH) and the ISM, the MIA, JAMES, Creative United, Music Mark and the Musicians Union.
Our CEO, Mary-Alice Stack, will be speaking in the ‘Accessible Music Technology – Panel Discussion’ during Event 3 on the 10th March, so see you there!
NCEM Young Composers Award
National Centre for Early Music and BBC Radio 3 are calling for aspiring young composers to create a new work for the vibrant young recorder quartet Palisander.
The winning pieces will be premiered by Palisander in a performance at St John’s Smith Square, London on Thursday 20 May 2021 as part of the London Festival of Baroque Music and recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show.
Online Networking 101 | YPIA
Young People in the Arts are hosting a free online event with Isabel Sachs, founder of I LIKE NETWORKING. The session aims to develop networking skills and provide tips on how to draft a personal elevator pitch and make the most of an online networking event. There will also be advice on how to find the best online networking platforms.
Big 10 Minute Sign & Sing
Southampton Music Hub would love to see as many people as possible join in with Big 10 Minute Sign & Sing! Whether you’re in a school bubble or an individual learning at home or a whole school participating you can choose any song from the Song Bank to participate in this project. All ages and abilities are welcome to participate from pre-school right up to secondary school.
Introduction to Music Therapy
Join the ISM and Simon Procter from Nordoff Robbins on 24th February (2-3pm), for a free introduction to music therapy, which utilises and shares the positive benefits of music to help people living with significant challenges.
Good reads + news
Podcast 🎧
How did the piano come to be? 🎹
Have you ever wondered how the piano was invented? Or what the differences between a clavichord, harpsichord and a piano are? Us too! Take it away retailer Markson Pianos has put together a very interesting article on the origins of this majestic instrument.
🔗 Read on…
How Covid is ‘creating a new genre’ for live music
“As an international touring DJ with an album to release, Hot Since 82’s hectic schedule for 2020 didn’t originally include playing from a hot air balloon.” Interesting article on the BBC covering how music and performing is adapting to the times – from Billie Eilish to the Barbican!
🔗 Read on…
#CanDoMusic
This UK-wide campaign was created to support school music teachers and signpost them to practical resources so that children and teachers #CanDoMusic in school.
It offers practical teaching resources, guidance on how to adapt to the ‘new normal’, advice on online teaching, and information to help individuals and organisations advocate for music in schools. Its mission is to celebrate and unlock the innovation of music teachers and senior leaders, ensuring that music plays a central role in rebuilding their school communities.
Created by the ISM, Music Mark and the Music Teachers’ Association. 🔗 Learn more…
National Open Youth Orchestra member Oscar, talks over coming barriers to music education
The recent Reshape Music report found that more than half of Disabled musicians who responded to our survey could not find a music teacher who met their learning style, suggesting a desperate need for training in inclusive practices for music teachers.
Oscar is a 17-year-old pianist and percussionist. He spoke to recently about the hurdles he has faced from a young age accessing music, and how he overcame them to become a member of the highly regarded National Open Youth Orchestra – the world’s first Disabled-led national youth orchestra for 11-25 year old Disabled and non-Disabled musicians.
🔗 Read on…
Spotify wants to suggest songs based on your emotions
‘Spotify has patented technology that will allow it to analyse your voice and suggest songs based on your “emotional state, gender, age, or accent”.’ A natural next step, or a step too far…?
🔗 Read on…
Interview with Charles Hazlewood
“A multi-talented musician who was once the drummer in a band, Charles Hazlewood has conducted orchestras around the world, taken opera to the townships and villages of South Africa, and founded Paraorchestra, who performed alongside Coldplay at the 2012 Paralympics and have played at Glastonbury. In a new TV documentary, Beethoven and Me (Sky Arts), Hazlewood explores his own obsession with Beethoven, the composer’s mental health and his most famous work, the Fifth Symphony.”