@musicmarkuk.bsky.social
Advocating for high-quality music education for all children and young people.
How can we creatively engage children with sustainability through music? 🌱🎶
This recent blog explores inspiring ideas and practical approaches to help young people connect with environmental themes in meaningful, creative ways. 🌍
🔗 Read the blog: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/creativ...
Higher Education Conference. Past, Current and Future Progression Routes to HE. Discuss the role of HE within the wider music education ecology. Explore potential fixes to the leaks in the pipeline. Subsidised for Music Mark Members. 6th May 2026: 9am - 5pm. School of Music, Cardiff University. The Music Mark logo is in the centre.
Join our first in-person Higher Education Conference to discuss Progression Routes to Higher Education for young people 🎓️
It's a space to share best practice and openly discuss challenges whilst offering proactive & actionable solutions 📣
🔗Book now: www.musicmark.org.uk/events/layin...
"I really enjoyed how aspects of everyday life were broken down by their climate shadow so that we understood where and how to make change." -Previous Carbon Literacy Training attendee.
Carbon Literacy Training: 2-part course. 23rd & 25th March 2026. 9.30am - 12.30pm. Online (Zoom). Tailored to music education. Available at a heavily subsidised rate for Music Mark Members. Book now!
Join our Carbon Literacy training to develop clear & personalised next steps for your organisation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ♻️
Our Carbon Literacy trainers work in music education and understand the nuances and challenges of the sector 📣
🔗Book now: www.musicmark.org.uk/events/carbo...
It's nearly time for Season Two of our #MusicMarkPodcast! ⏰
Tune in at the end of Feb to hear our first-ever live episode, delving into educational excellence at primary school. Here's a sneak peek from Bridget at @mahoganyopera.bsky.social 👀
🔗Listen to Season One: www.musicmark.org.uk/podcast/
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT. Make Your Mark: Notes on Music Education. A Music Mark Podcast showcasing diverse experiences & perspectives from across the music education sector, exploring challenges, inspiring projects, and more! Browse our 'Podcasts' category on our resources page for more! The Make Your Mark logo is top right.
Catch up on our #MusicMarkPodcast before Season Two goes live later this month! 🎧️
We have 11 episodes out already, exploring tools for teachers, neurodiversity, disability, mental health, music in higher education, and so much more! 📣
🔗Listen now: www.musicmark.org.uk/podcast/
Missing our #MusicMarkPodcast? Season Two is coming at the end of February! 🥳
Kicking off the new season is our first-ever live episode, recorded at our #MMConference25, where we discussed progression at primary level & more. Here's a sneak peek 👀
🔗Listen to Season 1: www.musicmark.org.uk/podcast/
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT. Instrumental Music Education: Developing Pedagogies as Instrumental Teachers. This book is open access and available to read free of charge. It explores insights from instrumental and vocal teaching, with learners of varied ages & across cultures and genres. Browse our 'Instrumental & Vocal Teaching' category on our resources page to learn more! A photo of the book cover is top right.
This book from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social explores diverse approaches, resources & teaching philosophies 📖
It draws on a wealth of experience and original research, discussing challenges that arise for the authors in instrumental/vocal teaching 💡
🔗See more: www.musicmark.org.uk/resources/in...
Music Mark is saddened to read of the passing of one of our Champions, Nathaniel Dye, last Thursday.
We will pay further tribute to Nat in the coming weeks, but for now, we have today published his speech given at our 2025 Annual Conference, which ends with these inspiring words:
THE FIRST IN-PERSON HIGHER EDUCATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE WITH MUSIC MARK WILL BE IN MAY 2026! Final call for submissions to include in the Higher Education Conference. Themes may include but are not limited to: outreach and engagement, student recruitment (home and international), graduate outcomes, the skills agenda, employability, devolved curricula and entry requirements. Deadline: 30th January 2026. An illustration of a speakerphone is bottom left.
⏰ Final call for submissions to include in our Higher Education Conference in May! ⏰
We invite abstract proposals of no more than 250 words for workshops, papers, and themed sessions - you have until midnight this Friday 30th January! 📣
🔗Find out more & submit: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/call-fo...
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT. The Lost Music of Auschwitz. This project focuses on restoring and performing long-forgotten music written by prisoners in Auschwitz. Constella Music has put together an education pack for KS3 students to explore the Holocaust, including lesson plans. Browse our 'Curricula & Lesson Plans' category on our resources page for more lesson planning support! The Constella Music logo is centre-right.
This #HolocaustMemorialDay we are spotlighting @constellamusic.bsky.social's project, initiated to engage the public in commemorating 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz 📣
Check out their free lesson plans, worksheets, recordings & more 📝
🔗See more: www.musicmark.org.uk/resources/th...
In our latest #MusicMarkPodcast episode, we heard about the Music Mark team's highlights of 2025! 🎧
Our Schools Manager, Abi, shared The Music Mark of Recognition launch as her top highlight, and explained the positive changes that have resulted from it 📣
🔗Listen now: www.musicmark.org.uk/podcast/
We have written to Minister Gould alongside the Music Industries Association to request an extension to the deadline for spending the Music Hub Capital Grant awarded in 2023. Our letter sets out why an extension is both feasible and beneficial, and also asks for consideration of adding further suppliers to the existing framework. Read the letter to learn more. An illustration of a speakerphone is bottom left.
With the Music Industries Association we're calling for an extension to the Music Hub Capital Grant Deadline.
Initial delays to the spending timetable & wider changes have made it challenging for hubs to manage the fund alongside other developments 📣
🔗See more: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/calling...
MEET THE SPEAKER. Pegram Harrison is Senior Fellow in Entrepreneurship at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Pegram's research and teaching concern entrepreneurship and leadership particularly in cultural contexts. Pegram also coordinates a joint research programme with the University of Bologna on management and the humanities. These initiatives link researchers with cultural institutions, policy leaders, development agencies, digital technology providers and civic officials. Speaker for 'Beyond Enrichment'. 18 March. Dr Pegram Harrison, Senior Fellow. A black and white photo of Dr Pegram Harrison is centre-right.
Dr Pegram Harrison is a panellist for 'Beyond Enrichment: Rethinking Music and Employability' 📣
Join to explore the role of music in a world where AI is becoming more dominant and uniquely human characteristics are increasing in perceived value 🌐
🔗Learn more: www.musicmark.org.uk/events/beyon...
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT. Composition Starting Points Poster. A classroom visual aid to spark creativity – 6 starting points for students beginning to write their own music. Browse our 'infographics' category on our resources page for posters, assets, and more! The I Can Compose logo is centre right.
This week, we're spotlighting this composition poster from I Can Compose! 🌟
The poster includes a QR code that students can scan to access further explanatory information about each starting point, along with audio examples & accompanying videos 🎧
🔗Take a look: www.musicmark.org.uk/resources/co...
THE FIRST IN-PERSON HIGHER EDUCATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE WITH MUSIC MARK WILL BE IN MAY 2026! We are looking for submissions to include in the Higher Education Conference. Themes may include but are not limited to: outreach and engagement, student recruitment (home and international), graduate outcomes, the skills agenda, employability, devolved curricula and entry requirements. Deadline: 30th January 2026. An illustration of a speakerphone is at the bottom of the image.
Two weeks to go until we close submissions for our Higher Education Conference! ⏰
The conference will offer a space to champion outreach and engagement across the sector, explore potential fixes to the leaks in the pipeline, and more! 📣
🔗Find out more: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/call-fo...
Continuing our celebration of Bridget's work, this is your reminder to listen to the latest episode of our #MusicMarkPodcast! 👀
You'll hear about Bridget and the rest of the team's career journeys before they all joined Music Mark 🎧
🔗Listen now: www.musicmark.org.uk/podcast/
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT. ABRSM Exam Discount Scheme for UK Music Services. This scheme will enable music services to set a discount of up to 95% that enables them to help families facing financial barriers to access exams and receive a recognised qualification. Browse our 'Exams' category on our resources page for more information and support! The ABRSM logo is top right.
📣 Calling UK Music Services! 📣
If students have reached the standard required to take ABRSM exams but have been put off by the cost of exam fees, you can help ease some of the financial barriers for them with the ABRSM Discount Scheme 💼
🔗Find out more: www.musicmark.org.uk/resources/ab...
Bridget Whyte has today announced that she will be stepping down from her role as Chief Executive Officer following nearly nine years of service to Music Mark.
Read more: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/bridget...
In our latest #MusicMarkPodcast episode, we discussed what the Music Mark team are looking forward to working on this year! 🤩
Whilst we can't reveal the details of our next campaign just yet, keep your eyes peeled for exciting things to come in 2026 👀
🔗Listen now: www.musicmark.org.uk/podcast/
Happy New Year from the Music Mark team, we look forward to supporting you and the music education sector in 2026! The Music Mark logo is top right. An image of fireworks is in the background, and star illustrations line the bottom of the image.
The Music Mark team wish you a Happy New Year! 🥳
Our team will be returning to the Music Mark Office from tomorrow, Friday 2nd January, when we will start responding to any enquiries 📧
Here's to another year of supporting, connecting, and influencing on behalf of the music education sector! 🥂
Merry Christmas from the Music Mark team, we hope you have a restful break! The Music Mark logo is top right. A photo of wrapped gifts under a Christmas tree is in the background. A row of illustrated Christmas trees line the bottom of the image.
The Music Mark team wish you all a merry Christmas! 🎄
The Music Mark Office will be closed from Wednesday 24th December and we will be back from Friday 2nd January 2026 ❄️
We hope you all have a lovely break, and we look forward to supporting the sector in the new year! 🎉
The final #MusicMarkPodcast episode of season one is now live, and it's our Christmas special! 🎄
Learn more about the Music Mark team as we share our highlights from 2025, what's coming up next year, and our all-important fave biscuits! 👀
🔗Listen now: www.musicmark.org.uk/podcast/
MAKE YOUR MARK. GUEST SPEAKER. KATIE WALKER. Episode 10: Access to Instrumental Music Making. SPEAKER PROFILE. Katie is the Programme Producer North for the Connect programme at Young Sounds UK. She has been with Young Sounds for two years. Before that, Katie was Head of Music at a West Yorkshire school for 17 years. She also currently works as a vocal teacher and choral leader. @YoungSoundsUK. A photo of Katie (white woman, blonde shoulder length hair) is top left.
Last but not least, Katie was the third guest speaker on episode 10 of our #MusicMarkPodcast 🎧
It was brilliant to hear her passion for increasing access to instrumental music making, and about how Young Sounds UK create opportunities for young people 📣
🔗Listen now: www.musicmark.org.uk/podcast/
Looking for ways to diversify your curriculum? Check out A Common Approach! Including: Latin American Percussion, Djembe, Tabla, Digital Audio Workstations. MUSIC MARK A COMMON APPROACH. An illustration of maracas, a Djembe drum, and a pair of headphones feature on the right.
Need some lesson plan inspiration? Check out A Common Approach! 👀
It's a free online resource supporting music educators in their teaching practice & in developing a holistic approach to music education (with 15 different curricula to draw from) 🎶
🔗Take a look: www.musicmark.org.uk/a-common-app...
2026 UPCOMING HIGHER EDUCATION EVENTS. 15 Jan - Higher & Further Education Peer Group. Meet with colleagues working across Further and Higher Education to share best practice, discuss challenges, and support departmental excellence through collaboration and peer support. 18 March - Beyond Enrichment: Rethinking Music and Employability. A virtual session exploring how to strike a balance between championing music’s transferable skills and simultaneously advocating for music as a discipline in its own right. 6 May - Laying the Pipeline: Past, Current and Future Progression Routes to Higher Education. Our first Higher Education Annual Conference will provide an opportunity for colleagues to discuss the role of higher education as a vital part of the wider music education ecology. Check out our 'Supporting Music at Higher Education' blog to learn more about our current Higher Education projects, our advocacy work, and upcoming opportunities! The Music Mark logo is top right.
It has been a year since Music Mark welcomed MusicHE into our membership and it has been a busy one! 🎓
Learn more about our current projects, advocacy work, and how to get involved with our new HE Conference and Research Shorts series 👀
🔗Read more: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/support...
Hear how 3 organisations are breaking down barriers & creating more opportunities for young people to access music education 📣
Chris from Future Talent spoke about the power of collaboration & partnership work in widening access for more young people 🤝
🔗Listen now: www.musicmark.org.uk/podcast/
MAKE YOUR MARK. GUEST SPEAKER. DR JO YEE CHEUNG. Episode 10: Access to Instrumental Music Making. SPEAKER PROFILE. Jo is a British pianist, music educator, and Chief Executive of Olympias Music Foundation – an award-winning charity which empowers young people and communities in Manchester through music. In 2023, Jo was made an Associate Member of the RNCM (ARNCM) and named one of the ‘RNCM50 Faces’. @OlympiasMusic. A photo of Jo is top left.
We were lucky enough to hear from Dr Jo Yee Cheung on the latest episode of our #MusicMarkPodcast 🎧
Jo is the first musician in her family, and talks passionately about supporting young people who may not encounter musical opportunities otherwise 📣
🔗Listen now: www.musicmark.org.uk/podcast/
How are Music Education Hubs exploring music as an intervention for children's mental health? Our Joint Head Baz Chapman shares insights from this year's Music Mark conference, plus a sneak peek at our State of Play report. @musicmarkuk.bsky.social https://f.mtr.cool/rbmsbxarvk (link in thread 👇)
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"There’s something deeply fulfilling about seeing the bond between parent and child strengthen through learning an instrument. Every week, I’m reminded of how music has the power to break down barriers, whether they are linguistic, cultural, or generational. The smiles on their faces when they play their first song or when they work together to figure out a tricky chord are moments I’ll treasure." Jack Mylchreest. Music Tutor from Newcastle Music Service.
We are celebrating the pupil and parent music clubs at Westgate Hill Primary (delivered by Newcastle Music Service!) 👏
The clubs invite pupils & parents to learn side by side, fostering strong family connections while celebrating cultural diversity 🪘
🔗See more: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/celebra...
“I have found that while teachers perceive musical development and social inclusion as distinct, they strive to integrate both in their teaching, with the argument that they can be mutually beneficial. The potential risks and benefits of the suggested strategies for differentiation must be considered, and each teacher’s didactic choices are key for creating an optimal learning environment for all pupils.” Ida Knutsson, PhD researcher & violinist. A photo of Ida (white woman, blonde hair, blue eyes) is centre right.
In our #ResearchShorts, we caught up with Dr Ida Knutsson about her research exploring musical development and social inclusion in small-group instrumental teaching 🎷
Ida examines balancing social and musical aims, peer learning, and motivation ⚖️
🔗Read more: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/researc...
