Policy paper

The power of music to change lives: resources

Updated 15 May 2024

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Applies to England

This list of resources is a starting point for those looking for further information or support around music education, including careers advice. It is not a definitive or exhaustive list.

All resources and websites listed here are free to access, but where access to more information or support might be available, for example upon paid membership to subject associations, this has been stated.

Government resources

These resources are all referenced directly in the national plan for music education. They include resources provided by the Department for Education, Ofsted and Arts Council England.

Music curriculum

There is statutory guidance for the national curriculum music programmes of study for key stages 1, 2 and 3.

The model music curriculum helps schools to teach music at key stages 1, 2 and 3 and progress pupils through the national curriculum.

GCSE music provides the required GCSE subject content for music for teaching in schools.

GCE AS and A level music provides the required GCE AS and A level subject content for music for teaching in schools and colleges.

Creative support

Developing your creative practice is a programme run by the Arts Council England. It supports individuals who are cultural and creative practitioners and want to take time to focus on their creative development.

Local Cultural Education Partnerships support children and young people to fulfil their creative potential and access high-quality cultural experiences where they live, where they go to school, and where they spend their free time.

The National Youth Music Organisations, co-funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education, develop talented young musicians across a range of musical genres.

The Music and Dance Scheme provides grants and help with fees at 8 independent schools and 21 centres for advanced training for young musicians and dancers. The scheme also provides financial help to go to an independent cathedral or collegiate choir school.

Background

A review of music education in England was published in 2011 and sets out recommendations for minimum expectations of what any child going through the system should receive in terms of an education in music. It informed the original national plan for music education published at the same time.

In 2020, the Department for Education undertook a call for evidence on music education to inform the refreshed national plan for music education. The report published in 2021 sets out the findings of this consultation.

Ofsted’s research review on music published in 2021, looks into factors that influence the quality of music education in schools in England.

Other guidance

Development Matters offers a top-level view of how children develop and learn, including with music.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to 5, including the areas of learning and development relevant to music.

The teacher recruitment and retention strategy is the strategy for recruiting and retaining school teachers in state-funded schools in England, including in music education.

The education inspection framework sets out how Ofsted will inspect state schools, further education and skills providers, non-association independent schools and registered early years settings in England.

The joint understanding between the Department for Education (DfE) and the Independent Schools Council (ISC) sets out how the independent sector will work in partnership with state schools to help raise attainment and, in particular, help pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The strategy for sustainability and climate change for the education and children’s services systems sets out what actions education providers in England can take to reduce their environmental footprint. This includes providers supporting music education.

Arts Council England’s environmental programme which provides support for cultural organisations and individuals to lead the way in their approaches to environmental responsibility.

Professional and amateur musicians

The following organisations are subject associations and membership organisations that advocate for and support musicians in their journey to provide high-quality music education. All of the organisations listed have free-to-access websites with high-quality advice and information. However, paid membership options for a greater range of resources are also available.

The Incorporated Society of Musicians is the UK’s professional body for musicians representing over 11,000 members. They are dedicated to promoting the importance of music and protecting the rights of those working in the music profession. Memberships need to be paid for, but the website also signposts to a number of resources that are free, including for professional development.

Making Music is the UK membership organisation for leisure-time music, with over 3,600 groups representing around 200,000 music makers across the UK. You can join Making Music as a paid member or use the free find a music group tool.

The Music Education Council acts as a medium for bringing together organisations and institutions in the UK involved in music education and music education training. You can join the MEC as a paid member.

Music Mark is a membership organisation which advocates for and supports high-quality music education for all children and young people. Memberships need to be paid for, but there are many free resources available to all. This includes an interactive find my local music service tool to help connect young people, schools and others with Music Hubs in England and music services across the UK.

The Musicians’ Union is the UK trade union representing over 30,000 members working to protect members’ rights and campaign for a fairer music industry. Memberships need to be paid for however, the website has a number of benefits open to those who are not signed up.

The Music Teachers Association is the largest and longest established network of music teachers in the UK, supporting all who are connected with a school music department. Memberships need to be paid for, but PGCE, NQT and graduate music assistants can join for free.

Schools, teachers and music hubs

The following resources are intended to support school leaders, classroom teachers and wider music educators, such as those in music hubs, to deliver high-quality music education.

Resources for teaching

ABRSM is the UK’s largest music education body, one of the largest music publishers and the world’s leading provider of music exams. They support teachers and learners with a range of award-winning digital resources and publications. This includes Classroom 200 which is a free online resource for music teachers working with learners up to the age of 14, including free access to recordings and downloadable lesson plans.

The BBC provides resources to help classroom learning and support the study of music across all stages. These include:

• Bring the Noise which helps you to find a range of free online music resources and includes guides for teachers and educational games targeted at early years and key stage one children
• Bitesize which provides resources designed to support the study of music across all stages and exam boards
• 10 Pieces opens up the world of classical music to children and young people through films, lesson plans, instrumental arrangements and live events

The subject association, Music Mark, provides a comprehensive range of resources to celebrate and encourage music-making, particularly amongst parents and teachers. These include:

• Get Playing which signposts to music hubs and services across the UK to help kickstart musical learning
• 10 things every school should know about music
• research on the power of music which looks at the impact of making music on the intellectual, social and personal development of children and young people
• a common approach which is an online resource to support instrumental and vocal educators in their teaching practice and includes mapping instrumental and vocal learning to the curriculum and qualifications

Sing Up is a music education organisation that provides resources for singing activities for primary schools in England in line with the national curriculum. The website includes a free blog with advice and resources, although more information can be accessed with a subscription.

Guidance for music educators

Arts Council England provides downloadable posters designed to encourage children and young people to become more involved in music and summarise the refreshed national plan for music education.

Arts Council England, Music Mark and the National Governors Association have created a music guide for governing boards about providing high-quality music education in schools.

The Gatsby Benchmarks is a framework for good career guidance developed to support secondary schools and colleges in providing students with the best possible career information, advice, and guidance.

The Royal Opera House Learning Platform provides free creative content written for, and by teachers, bringing the world of opera, ballet and theatre craft into the classroom.

Speakers for Schools is an example of targeted schemes that offer career talks in schools to help to inspire young learners, open their eyes to opportunities working in music, raise their aspirations and widen participation.

The Tri-Borough Music Hub has created a practical guide to developing early years provision across music education hubs.

Organisations that support music education

The Awards for Young Musicians offers programmes that sustain young people’s musical progress and help teachers identify and nurture talent wherever they find it. They also produced a skeleton strategy to support all children and young people’s musical progression.

#CanDoMusic is a campaign created to support school and instrumental music teachers, and signpost them to practical resources to support children and teachers to learn and make music in schools.

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement, by supporting schools to improve teaching and learning through better use of evidence.

The Sound of the Next Generation offers insights into the diverse ways young people engage with and value music and music-making, bringing to light the positive and meaningful impact music has on them.

The Voices Foundation is a national music charity that believes singing is a powerful way for children to become proficient musicians, excel across the curriculum and develop self-esteem. The website hosts free advice and resources including virtual singing assemblies, but further resources and their full programme can be paid for.

Bringing technology into the classroom

The following resources are intended to help teachers increase their use of technology in the classroom. This software is free and readily available to use online without requiring downloads unless specified.

Software and applications

Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder. It is free, and available to download on Windows, Mac and other operating systems.

Bandlab is a cloud platform where musicians and fans create music, collaborate, and engage with each other across the globe.

Chrome Music Lab is a suite of free online applications that are designed to make learning music more accessible through fun, hands-on experiments. It is suitable for early years, key stage 1 and key stage 2.

Dreampipe is a virtual synthesiser that can be played on a QWERTY keyboard. The website also includes pre-set drum loops and a 4-track recording and looping function, and is suitable for key stage 2 and key stage 3.

Incredibox is a free online music making resource that allows students to create simple mixes by managing a group of seven animated beatboxers. Children can compose and then record their own arrangements, helping them identify the difference between melodic and percussive sounds. It is suitable for early years, key stage 1 and key stage 2.

SoundTrapis an online cross-platform digital audio workstation for browsers that allows users to create music or podcasts. This is a paid resource if it is to be used as a school in the classroom however, it could be shared with students as it is free if you sign up as an individual user.

Using digital technologies as part of music education

These additional resources listed showcase how digital technologies can be used as part of musical learning, and are intended to further inspire the use of technology in music provision.

Conductive Music is an interactive programme, which includes workshops, online learning, teacher training and more, which blends music, technology and sound.

Connect Resound is an action research project led by youth music charity NYMAZ, exploring how digital technologies can be used to deliver music education for children in rurally isolated areas.

The Incorporated Society of Musicians has brought together an overview of the types of technologies, and signposts ways, resources and ideas for using these as part of an inspiring music education.

JAMES is an organisation comprised of music and media industry professionals who bring specialist knowledge and experience that contributes towards The JAMES Course Accreditation Scheme, careers advice and specialist support for universities, students and parents.

Technology in Music Education is a community interest company established to increase knowledge and confidence in the use of technology in a wide range of music education settings.

Digital Innovation in Music Education is an alliance of organisations and individual practitioners committed to raising awareness of, and the adoption of, innovative digital technologies for the benefit of children and young people’s music education and learning. Hosted by Music Mark, the alliance will share case studies and resources through the website and events and training.

Improving access, diversity and inclusion

The following resources are intended to make music education more accessible and inclusive to all young people, regardless of their circumstances or background. It includes some examples of organisations that are doing work in this space, as well as more practical toolkits and frameworks for music educators to follow.

Support for young people

The Amber Trust provides musical opportunities for blind and partially sighted children, and children with more complex needs via its music awards and music services. It has also created Little Amber to give practical help to parents of blind babies.

Attitude is Everything improves Deaf and disabled people’s access to live music by working in partnership with venues, audiences, artists and the music industry through various initiatives and programmes. These include the:

• Beyond the Music programme for those who want to follow a career in live events
• Next Stage programme which focuses on the talent development of disabled musicians, championed by a selection of ambassadors who are excellent role models for young people

Music and the Deaf is a set of music clubs in Yorkshire, Manchester and London where children can learn a musical instrument with highly trained tutors and sign language interpreters.

The Music Man Project is an international music education service for children and adults with learning disabilities, providing accessible music tuition and a number of online resources including live lesson resources, podcasts, and blogs.

Sounds of Intent is a free assessment tool which aims to investigate and promote the musical development of children and young people with learning difficulties.

The National Open Youth Orchestra is the world’s first disabled-led orchestra to give some of the UK’s most talented young disabled musicians a progression route.

The National Youth Orchestra has an NYO Inspire programme, for musicians playing at grade 6 standard or above on orchestral instruments. NYO Inspire is specifically for musicians underrepresented in the sector such as young people who are state-educated, home-schooled, or Black, Asian or ethnically diverse.

Open Up Music is a charity which works alongside young disabled musicians to challenge preconceptions and bring about greater diversity in music. They have also created Clarion – an accessible musical instrument that can be played with any part of the body, including the eyes.

Small Green Shoots is a youth-led charity that helps young people facing difficult life circumstances gain access to the entertainment and creative industries through paid classroom learning, vocational training, internships and access to creative grants.

The Young Urban Art Foundation aims to empower the lives of young people by strengthening well-being and building opportunities. They deliver programmes in hard-to-reach areas where young people are at high risk of being a victim of crime or child exploitation. Their programmes are centred around prevention and built to drive creativity, such as their multimedia bus workshops, which they take into communities to inspire and build their confidence.

Girls Rock London is a charity based in Hackney, London dedicated to providing high-quality music programming for young and adult women, trans, and non-binary people, with a specific focus on increasing access for people who face barriers to participation. Their programmes are aimed at complete beginners as well as experienced musicians.

World Heart Beat Music Academy aims to nurture young talent by providing a diverse, unique and inclusive teaching environment, offering a broad programme of music lessons, workshops and events. They provide music education for all young people, offering free music lessons and instruments for those in need.

The Alliance for a Musically Inclusive England includes 13 founder organisations that work together to promote equity in music education and support others to do the same through advocacy, CPD, resources, and strategic alliances. The resources can be found on the Inclusion Resource Hub.

Financial support for equipment

Take it Away provides interest free loans for the purchase of musical instruments available through a network of high street retailers across England.

UK Music’s Rehearsal Spaces Project supports rehearsal spaces in urban and rural areas across the UK. Each space provides instruments and equipment for free or for minimal cost.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People provides music advisory service which offers advice on music education, employment, ABRSM Braille exam pieces, buying and loaning music.

Advice and guidance for music educators

Creating a more inclusive classical music is a study of the English orchestral workforce and the current routes to joining it.

Drake Music is the leading national organisation working in music, disability and technology. The website contains resources to guide both learning and practical teaching, including:

• the short guide to accessible music education
• a guide to understanding the social model of disability

Universal Music UK has launched a handbook for embracing neurodiversity in the creative industries, highlighting the importance of having neuro-diverse-friendly policies and practices in the workplace. Universal Music UK is currently also developing a package of initiatives for schools, students and parents to support progression into the music industry. Other resources funded by the company include the Universal Music UK Sound Foundation, an independent music education charity aimed to improve access to music education in the UK and Ireland. The charity includes funding awards for individuals, teachers and schools.

Organisations focused on diversity and inclusivity in music

The National Centre for Inclusive Excellence is a national initiative, established by Bristol Music Trust, which aims to transform the music industry and education sectors by removing barriers to participation at all levels.

Changing Tracks is a programme of peer support and learning, training and consultancy for, with and by music services wanting to improve equality, diversity and inclusion. They help music services to be more inclusive by providing free peer working groups, training and consultancy, advice and resources and action research projects.

Talk into Action supports organisations in the music education sector to achieve their equity, diversity and inclusion goals.

I’M IN: The Inclusive Music Index is a self-analysis diversity and inclusion tool which enables organisations working in and with music to identify where improvement and change is needed.

Youth Music has provided resources to help music organisations audit and review their own work to make music education more inclusive. These include:

• the equality, diversity and inclusion self-assessment tool which will help you to audit your existing work to develop an equality, diversity and inclusion action plan, to refine an existing plan, or feed into business planning.
• the Reshape Music Report which highlights barriers in music education, learning and participation for disabled people, including recommendations for change

Organisations supporting disabled musicians

Creative United is a community interest company that drives economic growth and social impact in the arts and creative industries. They have a number of programmes and guides available online to support disabled musicians. These include:

• the Inclusive Access to Music Making programme which aims to create a more inclusive music industry by making adaptive instruments and equipment both accessible and affordable for disabled players of all ages
• a guide to buying adaptive musical instruments

Heart n Soul provides opportunities for people with learning disabilities to discover, develop and share their power and talent as widely as possible, including online activities to do at home.

Shape Arts is a disability-led organisation which works to improve access to culture for disabled people by providing opportunities, training cultural institutions to be more open and running participatory programmes.

Internships and apprenticeships

The following resources are intended to help young people find an internship or apprenticeship in the sector. It also includes guides and advice to music organisations who may wish to start offering more of these opportunities.

Music apprenticeship and internship schemes

The BRITs apprenticeship scheme offers exciting opportunities to young people looking to develop a career in the music industry. It gives 10 individuals a 15-month paid placement with an independent record label or music company.

Sony Music 12-month internship programme offers the chance to gain incredible experience working at the heart of one of the UK’s most successful major labels. The internships are paid 12-month roles.

Universal Music UK provides an intern scheme which offers the opportunity to see what it’s really like to work in the music industry by providing paid 6 to 12-month placements.

Warner Media provides paid internships and offers young people to share their voice and perspective to help grow the business.

Advice for young people

The AIM Group specialises in finding training and employment opportunities for those who want to reach their full potential. They work with a range of employers and training providers to help young people find apprenticeships.

UK Music is an industry-funded body representing the collective interests of the recorded, published and live arms of the British music industry. They have produced a number of resources to help with apprenticeships and internships. These include:

• an apprenticeship scheme to support music employers to hire committed and passionate apprentices and help get talented people into paid jobs in the music industry
• an internship code of practice to help their members and the wider music industry develop fair policies

Advice for employers

Creative and Cultural Skills provides information and guidance to the sector to help them better understand the value of apprenticeships and non-traditional training routes, accessible recruitment processes and opportunities for children and young people, including a best practice guide.

The National College Creative Industries works with employers in the creative industries to help them recruit and train new talent through apprenticeships. They have also developed an apprenticeships employer support pack for employers who are thinking of taking on an apprentice for the first time.

Careers advice and skill development

The following resources are intended to offer career advice and further training to those seeking to pursue a career in the music industry and wider creative sector. These websites offer information on the types of careers available, as well as application and interview support.

Arts Council England is undertaking research with others to better understand the barriers to children and young people developing their creative skills and talent post-pandemic. This will inform a methodology for tracking the progression of children and young people that is simple and communicable.

Conservatoires UK is the voice of conservatoire education in the UK. Their role is to develop best practice for training and education in the performing arts and to promote the sector’s excellence nationally and globally.

Creative Access enables people from communities under-represented in the creative industries to access careers, progress and reach leadership. They offer application and interview support, internship, job and career support as well as flagging latest opportunities.

Creative Mentor Network has a mission to ensure people from lower socio-economic backgrounds are fully represented in the creative workforce through mentoring programmes and training.

Discover! Creative Careers brings together careers information and opportunities from creative organisations and across the wider sector in one explorable directory.

Get into Theatre has been created by leading theatre companies in the UK to help individuals find all the information and opportunities required to pursue a successful career in theatre.

Help Musicians provides a useful advice section on their website, to help those researching sources of funding, or looking for help with their career, money, housing, and health and wellbeing.

Kinetika Bloco is a performance group drawing influences from the Caribbean, Brazil, Africa and New Orleans. Their mission is to get young people from south London engaged in long-term creative activity advancing their education, skills and capacity.

MAP Charity Leeds helps young people unable to access the mainstream school system, by offering education provision. They will soon offer apprenticeships for over 16s.

Part of the Music Local network, MUSIC:LEEDS supports, develops, grows and promotes music in the city across all levels, genres and cultures.

The Music Managers Forum is the world’s largest professional community of music managers. They run an accelerator programme for music managers backed by YouTube, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland and the Scottish Music Industry Association.

Route exists to support young people from marginalised backgrounds to pursue a career in the music industry through story sharing and practical advice.

Tomorrow’s Warriors is a leading talent development agency which increases opportunities, diversity and excellence in and through jazz. They support the early careers of young musicians whose financial or other circumstances might otherwise lock them out of opportunities.

UD Music is a London-based music organisation bringing communities together around Black music and Black music culture. It acts as a bridge between talent and the music industry through a number of its education and talent development programmes.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website provides information on higher education courses. It includes a variety of specialisms in music, including musical performance, composition, and production. There are many genres of music, with opportunities to gain practical experience through large networks.

Understanding that young people may either choose to enter a career straight away, or continue further study in the music field, UK Music has put together a number of resources to help young people navigate their next steps. These include:

• a careers information pack for young people who want to get into the music industry outlining various career paths, university options, apprenticeships, internships
• music academic partnerships

Wired4Music is a music council for people in London aged 16 to 25 established. It offers practical guidance, support and resources including sharing internships, events and experiences.

Youth Music has put together information on How To Build a Career In The Music Industry alongside a useful opportunities board and resources, in relation to their ‘NextGen Fund’.