News & Stories for Musicians

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Music For Youth to Hold Mentoring Workshops for MU Members

Music For Youth will be holding three mentoring workshops for MU members based in London, the North of England, and East & South East England who are interested in finding out more about mentoring roles.

Published: 12 May 2021

Photograph of a persons hands working at a keyboard, on a heavy wooden desk.

Social Media Blackout in Response to Sustained Racist Abuse Online

The MU will be standing in solidarity with this weekend’s social media boycott, to highlight social media company inaction on eradicating online hate and racism.

Published: 29 April 2021

Photograph of a young persons hands on an electric piano keyboard, the background is busy and lit in purple lights - there is a blurred band playing.

Call-Out for Experienced Mentors in the Music Industry

Following the success of their 2020 mentoring program, we.grow, shesaid.so and keychange have launched a call-out for senior music industry professionals and artists to volunteer as mentors for the Keychange participants.

Published: 27 April 2021

Kuljit Bhamra: Bhangra Pioneer with a Mission to Introduce Tabla to the Next Generation of Musicians

How instrumentalist, composer and educator Kuljit Bhamra overcame disability to create a rich and diverse music career.

Published: 24 December 2020

Photograph of a piano keyboard with warm fairy lights spread out across the keys.

Welcoming RSL's New and Inclusive Classical Piano Syllabus

Contemporary art exam board RSL have announced a new classical piano syllabus – the first of their new series of classical syllabi – and it is inclusive of the rich diversity of music teachers and students.

Published: 30 November 2020

Photograph of a number of music stands set up with scores on them, although the background is blurred out and we can't see specific notes on the scores.

Diversity and Inclusion Work at RSL

Norton York – RSL Awards Founder and Chairman – talks about how working with the MU helped focus RSL’s efforts on diversity and inclusion.

Published: 30 November 2020

Photograph of CN Lester, they are sat at a piano singing and playing.

Dos and Don’ts of Working with Trans Colleagues

“You don’t need any special skills to support trans colleagues – we’re looking for the same basic level of respect, empathy, and tact that you would (hopefully) show to any fellow musician.”

Published: 11 November 2020

Photograph of a group of children playing music in a classroom, they're playing percussive instruments and looking at their teacher attentively.

Black History Month: The Playlist (Part Four)

In the fourth 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: 29 October 2020

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UK Music Unveils “Game-Changing” Plan to Boost Diversity

Campaigning and lobbying group UK Music – of which the MU is a part – has released the results of its 2020 Workforce Diversity Survey, alongside a clear road map for change.

Published: 29 October 2020

Photograph of a flute resting on a score, yellow lighting is shining down on everything.

ABRSM Takes Action to Diversify their Syllabi

ABRSM have updated their Diversity and Inclusion programme to commit to a number of actions, including transforming their syllabus and commissioning new composers – following an open letter from the MU calling for action.

Published: 28 October 2020

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

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 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

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

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

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

16 Days of Activism with UN Women: Protected Characteristics

Over 48% of Musicians’ Union members surveyed have experienced sexual harassment at work. Shockingly, a third of those people say their harassment was related to a protected characteristic, and another 21% said they were not sure.

Published: 03 December 2019

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

Teacher and student with a saxophone in a school hall setting

Music Education Hubs to Receive Another Year’s Funding

The MU welcomes the government’s announcement of another year’s funding for music education hubs.

Published: 06 November 2019

Photograph of little girls with earphones and sunglasses on sunshine yellow background

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

Blurred photograph of sheet music on music stands.

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

Empty stage in the dark with the microphone in the spotlight

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

Lineup of percussive instruments for classroom use

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

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

Music Students Experience Bullying and Discrimination in Higher Education Finds the Musicians’ Union, Equity and the ISM

Joint research by the Musicians’ Union (MU), Equity and the ISM reveal one in two music, dance and drama students are at risk from bullying and discrimination, including sexual harassment.

Published: 19 July 2018

Drake Music Releases Guide to Support Diversification of Music Industry

The ‘We All Make Music’ guide aims support the diversification of the music education workforce. After Drake Music's research revealed that disabled people are very under-represented in music

Published: 07 June 2018

The MU is Here to Support You If You Face Inappropriate Behaviour at Work

We are here to offer support and guidance if you face sexual harassment, exploitation or abuse at work. If you are an employed or self-employed musician, regardless of which part of the industry you work in, you can talk to us. We will listen.

Published: 19 October 2017

MU included in The Short Guide to Accessible Music Education

The Musicians’ Union (MU) is now included in the latest edition of The Short Guide to Accessible Music Education.

Published: 02 June 2017

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