Pride Month: The First Pride was a Riot Our Education and Equalities Officer, Rose Delcour‑Min, discusses how supporting the present and future of LGBTQ rights must involve recognising the ways that sexuality, gender and race intersect. Published: 23 June 2020 Read more about Pride Month: The First Pride was a Riot
Feldenkrais and Practice Emma Alter, tutor for our regular (now Zoom based) Feldenkrais classes, discusses, “How do we as musicians incorporate or involve Feldenkrais in our instrumental (or singing) practice?” and how we can practice embodiment in our everyday movement too. Published: 29 May 2020 Read more about Feldenkrais and Practice
A Return to Work: Pop up Gigs, Car Parks and Afternoon Tea As we lobby for pop up gigs and other ways for musicians to return to work safely, MU Executive Committee and the North of England Regional Committee member Vernon Fuller talks about his first pop up gig in a care home car park and the difference it made to staff and residents. Published: 28 May 2020 Read more about A Return to Work: Pop up Gigs, Car Parks and Afternoon Tea
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 Read more about Leading Live Music Workshops Online: From Hysterical Disasters to Lifting Spirits
Recording from Home: Working as a Session Musician Remotely Trumpet player, contractor, and executive director of Music Creation Paul Spong talks about remote sessions in the time of Covid-19, what you need for your home setup, and lessons he’s learned along the way. Published: 20 April 2020 Read more about Recording from Home: Working as a Session Musician Remotely
12 Social Media Tips For Musicians and Bands During Lockdown Sean Adams, founder of Drowned in Sound and Social Media Producer for BBC Radio 6 Music, talks us through how to use lockdown to work on your social media. Published: 17 April 2020 Read more about 12 Social Media Tips For Musicians and Bands During Lockdown
8 Tips on Using Radio to Boost Your Music Career from Isolation Shell Zenner, a radio presenter, producer, and new-music obsessive talks us through how you can best use radio to your advantage during the coronavirus outbreak, generating income, reaching new audiences and building your presence. Published: 17 April 2020 Read more about 8 Tips on Using Radio to Boost Your Music Career from Isolation
10 Tips on Recording and Streaming Your Live Show From Home Bass player Steve Lawson is no stranger to streaming shows from his home. Here is his advice from setting up your equipment, to choosing the right streaming platform. Published: 17 April 2020 Member only Read more about 10 Tips on Recording and Streaming Your Live Show From Home
Planning for Recovery: How We Will Get Music Up, Running and Excelling Again MU General Secretary Horace Trubridge address how, “Whilst the immediate concern has to be doing everything we can to stay safe and well and cope with the seismic financial loss, it’s also important to plan for a recovery.” Published: 16 April 2020 Read more about Planning for Recovery: How We Will Get Music Up, Running and Excelling Again
Music as a Way of Getting Through Singer-songwriter Anna Neale tells us how, "Music is one the greatest expressions of human identity. It's what's getting a lot of people through this crisis. Hold on to that, reach out, and ask." Published: 14 April 2020 Read more about Music as a Way of Getting Through
Setting Up to Perform Online Facing the cancellation of shows and other Covid-19 disruptions, artist and composer Robin Rimbaud tells us how he, “felt it was important to immediately embrace the tools at hand, and like many creatives use the power of technology to respond positively.” Published: 08 April 2020 Read more about Setting Up to Perform Online
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 Read more about Working in Isolation: “If Anyone Can Get Through This, Musicians Can.”
Jumping into online teaching In this first-hand account, Rick Finlay - professional drummer, teacher, and vice-chair of our Executive Committee - charts the ups and downs of moving his teaching practice into the online world. Published: 01 April 2020 Read more about Jumping into online teaching
LGBT History Month: My Experiences Making a Career as a Professional Musician MU member and session pianist and vocalist Henry Newbury (winner of Pride’s Got Talent) talks about his personal experience in establishing a career as a professional musician. Published: 20 February 2020 Read more about LGBT History Month: My Experiences Making a Career as a Professional Musician
Why the Musicians' Union is Supporting #16Days and UN Women's Stand Against Rape Culture Musicians’ Union Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl looks at how the MU is tackling sexual harassment in musicians’ workplaces, creating Safe Space for musicians to be heard and campaigning to ensure that everyone has an equal level of protection from sexual harassment. Published: 25 November 2019 Read more about Why the Musicians' Union is Supporting #16Days and UN Women's Stand Against Rape Culture
10 Tracks to Listen to This Black History Month This guest post from musician, author and international speaker Nate Holder sets out ten tracks that show the diversity of black British music – an essential playlist for this year’s Black History month and beyond. Published: 18 October 2019 Read more about 10 Tracks to Listen to This Black History Month
Decolonising the Music Curriculum David Duncan, Publications Officer at London College of Music Examinations (LCM), explores how exam boards can play a role in shaping a more positive future by ensuring greater diversity in their syllabuses. Published: 01 October 2019 Read more about Decolonising the Music Curriculum
Standing Up for Diversity in Music Industry MU members have raised concerns regarding a promoter's view that bands should not highlight their diverse make up, and that doing so is a form of tokenism that will prevent them from being booked. Published: 30 July 2019 Read more about Standing Up for Diversity in Music Industry
LGBTQ+ in Music: Where is the Representation? This blog is created from the speech that MU member Olive gave at the TUC LGBT+ conference last week – moving a motion on the need for a broad and balanced LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum to ensure LGBTQ+ representation in music. Published: 11 July 2019 Read more about LGBTQ+ in Music: Where is the Representation?
Children of The Windrush Generation Make Music Millicent Stephenson explores the impact of the Windrush Generation on both her personal musical development, and on the development of music in the UK as a whole. Published: 18 June 2019 Read more about Children of The Windrush Generation Make Music
MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl talks to BBC Woman’s Hour about sexual harassment in music MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl spoke to BBC Woman’s Hour about sexism, sexual harassment and abuse in the music industry following a Newsbeat investigation into the harassment experienced by fans. Published: 11 June 2019 Read more about MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl talks to BBC Woman’s Hour about sexual harassment in music
Breaking the Class Ceiling in Music Education MPs and Peers looked at access to music and the challenges emerging artists face in the second session of the ‘Breaking the Class Ceiling’ inquiry. Published: 23 April 2019 Read more about Breaking the Class Ceiling in Music Education
Breaking the Class Ceiling: Social Mobility The Performers’ Alliance All Party Parliamentary Group is looking into social mobility in the creative sector, including music. Published: 19 March 2019 Read more about Breaking the Class Ceiling: Social Mobility
LGBT+ History Month: Composer Hillman Mondegreen LGBT+ History Month explores the history, celebrates the present, and looks to the future of LGBT+ people in the UK. Hillman Mondegreen, composer for Ephemerals, explores. Published: 31 January 2019 Read more about LGBT+ History Month: Composer Hillman Mondegreen
5 Tips for Booking Disabled Music Artists Attitude Is Everything, the disability-led charity improving deaf and disabled people’s access to live music, shares its five tips for booking disabled artists. Published: 19 November 2018 Read more about 5 Tips for Booking Disabled Music Artists
Safe Space Update from Musicians’ Union Assistant General Secretary Naomi Pohl Musicians’ Union (MU) Assistant General Secretary Naomi Pohl looks at what the MU is doing to tackle sexual harassment and abuse of power in the music industry. Published: 10 August 2018 Read more about Safe Space Update from Musicians’ Union Assistant General Secretary Naomi Pohl
The Facts About LGBT+ Musician Rights and Brexit The UK’s membership of the EU has strengthened protections for LGBT+ people in this country. Now Brexit is putting those hard-won rights at risk. Published: 17 May 2018 Read more about The Facts About LGBT+ Musician Rights and Brexit
LGBT History Month: "It’s a Shame That None of the Glorious Romantic Scores We Play are About a Gay Couple" Glen Sheldon reflects on his life as an orchestral player #LGBTHM2018, as this LGBT History Month, we asked MU members to tell us about their experiences working in the music industry. Published: 20 February 2018 Read more about LGBT History Month: "It’s a Shame That None of the Glorious Romantic Scores We Play are About a Gay Couple"
LGBT History Month: "The West End is a Great Place to Work... All Kinds of Musicians Should Get the Chance to Experience It" This LGBT History Month, we asked MU members to tell us about their experiences working in the music industry. Here, one musician shares their thoughts on life in London’s West End. #LGBTHM2018 Published: 12 February 2018 Read more about LGBT History Month: "The West End is a Great Place to Work... All Kinds of Musicians Should Get the Chance to Experience It"
What To Do When Asked to Work For Free Surprise, surprise – a trade union talking about fair pay for Young Workers’ Month. But it is a truth (probably) universally acknowledged that musicians will be asked to work for nothing. So what should you do when asked to work for free? Published: 23 November 2017 Read more about What To Do When Asked to Work For Free
Sexism and Sexual Harassment in the Music Industry The MU's Assistant General Secretary Naomi Pohl reports from a meeting with the Nordic Musicians’ Unions, discussing sexism, sexual harassment, abuse and exploitation in the music industry. Published: 16 November 2017 Read more about Sexism and Sexual Harassment in the Music Industry
Black History Month #BHM2017 Nadine Wild-Palmer shares her thoughts on Black History Month (#BHM2017) and celebrating the richly diverse culture we live in. Published: 17 October 2017 Read more about Black History Month #BHM2017
Disability History Month: Lizzie Emeh & Heart n Soul Lizzie Emeh shares her experience working with Heart n Soul, a creative arts charity in South London that believes in the talents and power of people with learning disabilities. Published: 15 December 2016 Read more about Disability History Month: Lizzie Emeh & Heart n Soul
“It’s Your Chance to be Directly Part of a Governing Body and Help Create Change for the Better” Natalie Witts-Kilshaw on why she joined the MU as a member. Published: 16 November 2016 Read more about “It’s Your Chance to be Directly Part of a Governing Body and Help Create Change for the Better”
Let’s Talk About Co-Operatives! Across the country, co-operatives are saving jobs, providing work and furthering careers. We asked a panel of experts how a co-op could help you. Published: 02 March 2016 Read more about Let’s Talk About Co-Operatives!