Samantha Lubin: Why I Became an MU Education Rep

I have always had a passion for teaching and helping others. I taught private drum lessons from my family home from the age of 14 and then went on to teach in various schools, institutes and privately delivering one-on-one drum lessons and group workshops.

I get so much of a reward from teaching and have always found it a great way to subsidise the performing side of things.

I feel very lucky to work in a school with a thriving music department

In 2023 I started teaching at a school in Barnet, post pandemic, as I lost quite a few of my private students due to the cost-of living crisis. During Covid, I was lucky enough to receive an emergency response grant from the Arts Council which helped me to get set up in my own studio, so I could continue to teach remotely from there during lockdown.

As things opened up, I could carry on my lessons face to face which was great, however, as the cost-of-living crisis hit the UK, I had some students stop their lessons or cut down to bi-weekly lessons, which is why I needed to go and take on some extra teaching work.

At my current school there are two percussion teachers; myself and another, who I actually already knew of through the drumming community. Together we are working hard to really help develop the drummers we teach, as many of them want to go on to work within the industry.

In total the school has 13 peripatetic music teachers (peris). I feel very lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful colleagues and work in a school with a thriving music department.

I was already the liaison between the peris and the MU

I became the MU rep here as we were offered a pay-rise in 2024 to try and stay in line with the cost-of-living crisis. Some of our peri’s, 10 being MU members, had some queries with regards to our contract and pay rate.

We contacted the MU for some advice and David Barnard from the Union's Education Team was absolutely amazing and very thorough.

We had a series of emails go back and forth between us, and a Zoom call with David where myself and two other colleagues got to speak to him, ask all the questions we had and gain a lot of insight from him.

He suggested that I become the rep for our school as I was already the liaison between the peris and the MU.

Since becoming the MU rep, I feel there have been some very positive changes which have benefited everyone

The peris have a WhatsApp group so that we can air our concerns and suggestions, and where we can offer general support to each other. We also use this to arrange socials between us, which is really important for team bonding and keeping communication strong.

A handbook has now been put in place at our school which clearly details what is expected from the peris, and highlights how much we can claim for our admin time and school concerts, as well as our teaching rate.

I feel since becoming an MU rep our team has become stronger, things have become much clearer and there is a space for each of us to talk through anything we might be concerned about work wise.

I have also learnt so much about the endless amazing services the MU has to offer, and have been successful so far with recruiting new members so they too can benefit from everything the Union can provide.

I’m looking forward to continuing my work as a rep and also branching into new areas within the MU.

There is so much to learn and being a rep really lines up with all the aspects I am passionate about. I am proud to help others, make a difference in a small way and work within the Musicians’ Union.