The survey results will improve our knowledge of the contracts being used for this work, and will support our negotiations with ABO around what members should be paid. Image credit: Shutterstock.
The MU has launched a survey for Orchestral members delivering education, learning and participation work for orchestras under the Association of British Orchestras (ABO)/MU agreement.
The survey results will improve our knowledge of the contracts being used for this work, and will support our negotiations with ABO around what members should be paid.
Once the survey has closed, we will also convene a focus group to explore the results further.
Help shape the future of orchestral education, learning and participant work
Orchestras Support Official Sam Dunkley said: “We know how much work musicians do for our orchestras in education, learning and participation contexts. There are countless projects with musicians delivering important, highly skilled work.
“We want to better understand the terms under which freelance musicians are engaged for this work so that we can negotiate with ABO some best practice guidelines and minimum standards that will protect musicians and give orchestras a clear sense of what is expected by professional musicians working in varied settings.
“By taking the time to complete this survey you are giving us the best chance of going into discussions with a good picture of how you are engaged, and how your individual circumstance fits into the broader picture across the UK.”
Take part in the survey by Friday 27 June
By education, learning and participation work, we mean activities such as:
- Leading workshops
- Individual or small group teaching
- Performances in education settings
- Music for dementia projects
- Assisting with workshop delivery
- Playing as part of a workshop led by somebody else
- Performing to people in hospitals, prisons or other off-platform settings
- Any other work that you might be asked to do by an orchestra which sees you engage with people in a musical way away from the stage
We welcome multiple submissions if you undertake education, learning or participation work across multiple orchestras. If you only have time to complete the form once please complete it for the orchestra you work with most regularly and in the role you most regularly undertake for them.
The survey takes six minutes to complete, and closes on Friday 27 June.