MusicLeader

MusicLeader is a Youth Music initiative providing access to professional development for music leaders at every stage of their career.

MusicLeader launched in May 2005, it operates through regional networks supported by an online resource: www.musicleader.net

MusicLeader regional networks are currently operating in London, the West Midlands, the North East, the North West and Yorkshire. Work is underway to create regional networks in the East Midlands and the South West.

View MusicLeader promotional video (PC users)
View MusicLeader promotional video (Mac users)

Who MusicLeader is aimed at

MusicLeader is aimed at music practitioners and project managers at every stage of their career, from experienced professionals to complete beginners.

Practitioners are those who are already delivering music-making activity. This may include; music teachers, music service employees, music advanced skills teachers, community musicians, and musicians who also work in education.

Project Managers are those who are supporting the practitioners and managing the activity being delivered (in some cases this is one and the same person). This includes those project managers who specialise in working in the arts and music (e.g. music service managers, orchestral or venue education officers), but may also be other public sector employees who are increasingly employing musicians to deliver activity, which meets social and educational as well as musical aims, such as Early Years workers, Youth Workers, Youth Offending Team Managers.

MusicLeader Services

The regional networks provide:

- Information, advice and guidance
- Networking, including skills development opportunities
- Support for practitioners to access professional development

MusicLeader.net provides information, advice and guidance through:

- A detailed search facility covering training and events
- Editorial content including examples of best practice,   guidelines and news
- An online community including message boards, online polls
- A members database
- Regional and national updates via email

What we hope to achieve

MusicLeader aims to support practitioners to develop their skills and knowledge in order to deliver better music-making opportunities for children and young people.

By 2010 MusicLeader aims to have:

- 11,000 music leaders networked
- 1,100 new leaders to have entered the sector
- 2,500 music leaders provided with skills development opportunities

How and why did MusicLeader come about?

MusicLeader has been developed in response to a number of research reports commissioned by Youth Music. Their findings identified that music leaders needed greater access to relevant information as well as network and development opportunities.

Click on the links below for further information on the research reports

• Towards a Youth Music Makers’ Network
  This report was carried out during 2003 by Sound Sense, the UK development agency for community music. It was commissioned and funded by national charity Youth Music, which funds and facilitates music-making for young people who might otherwise lack opportunity.
  
  
• Opportunities in Youth Music Making
  A practitioner guide to project and funding opportunities within youth, cultural, educational and social regeneration agencies.
• Creating a Land with Music - the work, education, and training of professional musicians in the 21st Century
  This report looks at the relationship between the changing needs of the music industry and the various training routes for composers, performers, leaders and teachers.