Music Teaching & Education News & Stories

Photograph of a young girl, singing into a microphone. The background of the picture is a yellow block of colour, with graphics of different musical notes flying out and away from the girl.

Black History Month: The Playlist (Part Three)

In the third part of this blog, Saxophonist, Author and Music Education Consultant Nathan Holder highlights tracks by Black British musicians and how they can be incorporated into comprehensive lesson plans.

Published: 26 October 2020

Photograph of pink stage lights beaming down into the darkness. The picture focuses upwards, so we can just see the lights and rigging and not the stage.

Welsh Government Announces Two-Week Firebreak Lockdown

On Monday 19 October, the Welsh Government announced that it will be introducing a two-week firebreak lockdown to try and bring Coronavirus under control in Wales.

Published: 20 October 2020

A pair of headphones resting on a keyboard with a blue background.

Black History Month: The Playlist (Part Two)

In the second part of this blog, Saxophonist, Author and Music Education Consultant Nathan Holder highlights tracks by Black British musicians and how they can be incorporated into comprehensive lesson plans.

Published: 13 October 2020

Photograph of the back of a guitar neck, with a hand in a playing position. In the background there appears to be a teacher on an i-pad giving an online music lesson.

Free Webinars on Online Music Teaching Open for Registration

The Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG) have launched a series of free webinars for teachers and practitioners in Scotland.

Published: 07 October 2020

Photograph of a young boy in a yellow t-shirt, playing on an electric piano with earphones in that we assume are helping him learn from a distance.

UCan Play Announce Opening of INTERFACE:RESPONSE

UCan Play’s free training and mentoring programme for musicians impacted by Covid-19, INTERFACE:RESPONSE, has now opened.

Published: 07 October 2020

Photograph of a Black man conducting - holding a raised conductors batton, with the photograph focusing on his hands.

Black History Month: The Playlist (Part One)

Saxophonist, Author and Music Education Consultant Nathan Holder highlights tracks by Black British musicians and how they can be incorporated into comprehensive lesson plans.

Published: 01 October 2020

A white man in a wheelchair is indoors, performing in what appears to be his home on a keyboard, while leaning over to type something into his laptop.

Top Tips for Keeping Your Music Career Ticking Over During Covid-19

Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl spoke to BBC Music Introducing on Saturday night about the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, and ways that musicians can keep creating and working.

Published: 29 September 2020

A Guide to Applying for an ACE Project Grant

Jess Partridge, founder and editor of new music group In Stereo, provides invaluable advice for musicians applying for Arts Council England (ACE) Project Grant.

Published: 14 September 2020

Making Online Music Education Accessible and Inclusive

Joy Stacey of Drake Music summarises the key findings from Drake Music’s research in to how we can make online music education accessible and inclusive.

Published: 02 September 2020

Government Allows Full Resumption of School Music Provision in England

Visiting music teachers may return to schools, and ensemble rehearsals and performances can resume as long as health and safety measures are in place.

Published: 02 September 2020

Teenage Pupil Playing Drums In Music Lesson

A-Level Results to be Based on Teacher Assessed Grades

We are pleased that the governments across all four nations of the UK will now be basing their A-level grades on teacher assessed grades.

Published: 18 August 2020

A woman in a sunny field full of flowers raises her clarinet above her head, arm outstretched in a celebratory posture. She's wearing a red dress and has long curly hair.

Restrictions Around Singing, Wind and Brass Instruments Relaxed in England

We welcome the news that restrictions around Singing, Wind and Brass Instruments in England will be relaxed.

Published: 14 August 2020

Close up of a spotlight on the empty stage with copy space

Calling the Government Out on Its Failure to Help Musicians

Our Head of Communications & Government Relations, Isabelle Gutierrez describes the “woefully inadequate,” response from the Government to protect musicians – and how we are lobbying against it.

Published: 06 August 2020

A Reflection on Make Music Day 2020

Looking back on this year's Make Music Day – a global celebration of music which took place last month – we examine how it still succeeded during a global pandemic, and where you can go to catch the highlights you may have missed.

Published: 04 August 2020

Photograph of a young child standing in front of a chalk board, learning the violin.

We’re Calling on the ABRSM to Diversify Their Syllabi

We've sent a letter on behalf of over 70 organisations, musicians, music teachers and academics to ABRSM, demanding they take meaningful and measurable action to diversify their syllabi.

Published: 03 August 2020

Photograph of three different musicians, with the text

Join for £1 Scheme Extended to Former MU Members

Former members who left the MU five or more years ago can now join again and pay just £1 for their first six months of MU membership.

Published: 22 July 2020

Two adults having a discussion in sign-language

Drake Music Hosts Conversation on Making Online Music Education Accessible

Drake Music is a national arts charity working in music, disability and technology – they’ve publishing findings from their most recent working group meeting on online accessibility.

Published: 16 July 2020

Photograph of a musician in a facemask, holding a guitar and looking fed up.

Music Students Needed for Research Into Covid-19 and Practice Motivation

Music students are invited to take part in Trinity Laban's cross-arts research, which is investigating the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on virtual learning and teaching experiences.

Published: 16 July 2020

a female student and teacher playing piano

New Advice for Teachers Returning to Workplaces

In light of the new Government guidance meaning teachers can begin face to face lessons again in England, we’ve published new advice on returning to work as a teacher.

Published: 14 July 2020

Photograph of a young percussion student sat behind a drum kit.

Members’ PLI Valid from 4 July for Face to Face Teaching

We’ve had confirmation that the Public Liability Insurance which our members are covered by will be valid for face to face teaching in England from 4 July.

Published: 01 July 2020

Photograph of person sat at a computer with their guitar set up to play.

Music Making Online in Real-Time

Musician and educator Alastair Penman discusses web platforms that can make playing together over the internet a possibility, and how to optimise your own system to get the best results.

Published: 25 June 2020

Photo of a young student wearing a mask while playing piano.

Teaching Health & Safety Advice Released

We’ve released new health & safety advice for teachers working during the Covid-19 pandemic, to help members who are considering a return to work prepare.

Published: 15 June 2020

a mother holding her daughter on her shoulders

Legal Action Against the Chancellor for Indirect Sex Discrimination Supported by MU

Pregnancy rights charity, Pregnant then Screwed, with support from Doughty Street Chambers and law firm Leigh Day, is threatening legal proceedings against the Chancellor for discriminating against women in the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

Published: 12 June 2020

Adaptive Musical Instruments Guide Launched by Creative United

Creative United has today launched the first edition of its Guide to Buying Adaptive Musical Instruments, distributed in partnership with the MU and Normans Musical Instruments.

Published: 10 June 2020

We Will be Participating in #TheShowMustBePaused in Solidarity With our Black Members

The MU stands with our Black members and all Black communities against all forms of racism, violence and discrimination. When we say “behind every musician”, we mean it.

Published: 01 June 2020

Photo of a conductors baton resting across a set of scores

New Ways of Working: Teaching Choirs Online

Kerry Boyle, an experienced singing teacher and choral director, talks us through her personal experience of moving to online teaching with the choirs she works with, and the lessons she’s learnt along the way.

Published: 29 May 2020

Photo of a woman playing drums in isolation

Self Employed Income Support Scheme Extended

We welcome the Government’s announcement that the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will now open for a second round of applications in August.

Published: 29 May 2020

Inspire Works Uses ACE Funding to Launch New Series of Drumming Workshops

You may remember Inspire Works from our blog, Leading Live Music Workshops Online, in which their co-founder Mike Simpson talked about his own personal experience of moving his teaching to a virtual space.

Published: 20 May 2020

Photograph of a person playing tambourine in a group setting.

New Advice on Online Group Teaching

We’ve published a new advice page with guidance on moving to group teaching online. You can read it now in the teaching online section of our Covid-19 advice pages.

Published: 20 May 2020

Photograph of an empty classroom, desks arranged in groups.

We Support the NEU’s Five Tests for Government Before Schools Can Re-Open

We are supporting the NEU’s five tests for Government before schools can re-open.

Published: 18 May 2020

New Online Teaching Contract for Adult Students

We’ve added to the contracts we have on offer for online teaching, reflecting the change in teaching conditions that many of our members are currently undertaking.

Published: 15 May 2020

New Online Resources for Music Teachers

Three new online resources for music teachers that have been made free for lock down – sheet music downloads, classical music streaming and inspiration from ROSL young musicians.

Published: 07 May 2020

Leading Live Music Workshops Online: From Hysterical Disasters to Lifting Spirits

Mike Simpson, co-founder of Inspire-works, talks us through his own personal trial and error learning experience of setting up group lessons online, and the surprise benefits that he’s discovered.

Published: 04 May 2020

Rockschool Pledges to Donate £5 to NHS for Every Exam Entry

Rockschool, who provide graded exams for contemporary musicians of all levels, are holding their next exam period online to reduce disruption to teachers and students during the coronavirus pandemic.

Published: 29 April 2020

a child learning to play piano online from home

Jumping into Online Teaching: Points to Consider

Rick Finlay, aiming to answer a few questions, and arming us to "get stuck in and see what happens".

Published: 22 April 2020

Millicent Stephenson with a saxophone and mic

Develop Your Music Business from Home with ‘Success Beyond the Score’ Podcast

This podcast series from saxophonist, musician, teacher, songwriter and entrepreneur Millicent Stephenson looks at ways that musicians can move ahead in the music business.

Published: 16 April 2020

No Musician Should Be Left Behind, A Lobbying Update

MU Head of Communications & Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez: “Our focus at the moment is on lobbying for members who are currently ineligible for either of the Government’s assistance schemes for employed and self-employed workers.”

Published: 03 April 2020

Arts Council England Opens £20M Fund for Individuals Working in the Cultural Sector

Arts Council England (ACE) will be opening round one of applications for the fund on 9 April 2020, providing creative practitioners affected by the coronavirus outbreak with grants of up to £2,500.

Published: 03 April 2020

Older image on Andi sat in concert style seating.

Working in Isolation: “If Anyone Can Get Through This, Musicians Can.”

Andi Hopgood, musician, vocalist, tutor and Vice Chair of the MU Executive Committee, tells us about what happened when she had to "make the difficult decision to isolate early on the 16 March".

Published: 03 April 2020

kids in a band playing imaginary instruments

Life Changing Stories Shared as Part of #SupportMyMusicTeacher

Did your music teacher change your life? We asked our community of musicians on Twitter about the teachers who shaped them.

Published: 02 April 2020

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Music Teaching News

Black History Month: The Playlist (Part Three)

Welsh Government Announces Two-Week Firebreak Lockdown

Black History Month: The Playlist (Part Two)

Free Webinars on Online Music Teaching Open for Registration

UCan Play Announce Opening of INTERFACE:RESPONSE

Black History Month: The Playlist (Part One)

Top Tips for Keeping Your Music Career Ticking Over During Covid-19

A Guide to Applying for an ACE Project Grant

Making Online Music Education Accessible and Inclusive

Government Allows Full Resumption of School Music Provision in England

A-Level Results to be Based on Teacher Assessed Grades

Restrictions Around Singing, Wind and Brass Instruments Relaxed in England

Calling the Government Out on Its Failure to Help Musicians

A Reflection on Make Music Day 2020

We’re Calling on the ABRSM to Diversify Their Syllabi

Join for £1 Scheme Extended to Former MU Members

Drake Music Hosts Conversation on Making Online Music Education Accessible

Music Students Needed for Research Into Covid-19 and Practice Motivation

New Advice for Teachers Returning to Workplaces

Members’ PLI Valid from 4 July for Face to Face Teaching

Music Making Online in Real-Time

Teaching Health & Safety Advice Released

Legal Action Against the Chancellor for Indirect Sex Discrimination Supported by MU

Adaptive Musical Instruments Guide Launched by Creative United

We Will be Participating in #TheShowMustBePaused in Solidarity With our Black Members

New Ways of Working: Teaching Choirs Online

Self Employed Income Support Scheme Extended

Inspire Works Uses ACE Funding to Launch New Series of Drumming Workshops

New Advice on Online Group Teaching

We Support the NEU’s Five Tests for Government Before Schools Can Re-Open

New Online Teaching Contract for Adult Students

New Online Resources for Music Teachers

Leading Live Music Workshops Online: From Hysterical Disasters to Lifting Spirits

Rockschool Pledges to Donate £5 to NHS for Every Exam Entry

Jumping into Online Teaching: Points to Consider

Develop Your Music Business from Home with ‘Success Beyond the Score’ Podcast

No Musician Should Be Left Behind, A Lobbying Update

Arts Council England Opens £20M Fund for Individuals Working in the Cultural Sector

Working in Isolation: “If Anyone Can Get Through This, Musicians Can.”

Life Changing Stories Shared as Part of #SupportMyMusicTeacher