About MusicNet East A project run by Funded by Monday 5th September 2016 9.30am – 3pm

What is MusicNet East? MusicNet East is a project funded by Youth Music and operated by three music education hubs: Essex Music Education Hub, Cambridgeshire Music and Hertfordshire Music Services. The aim of MusicNet East is To carry out a dual role of delivery and strategic work; developing, promoting and supporting musically inclusive practice. (YM Website)

What is musical inclusion? Musical inclusion is using music for social inclusion, especially of vulnerable young people. It’s usually happened in out of school hours, in youth clubs and community centres, especially targeted at risk of exclusion young people. It often uses community musicians, from informal music backgrounds. Community music is a lot about bringing a improvisatory and collaborative approach to group work, as a way of making sure everyone is included in the learning. A significant funder of this work is Youth Music, which offers lottery funding to support work with children in challenging circumstances.

How are we using musical inclusion? Three hubs investigating how this approach might fit within their service. Hubs are interested in broadening their demographic, challenging the idea that music is elitist and ensuring that barriers to access are mitigated They now have a role challenging and supporting schools to provide good music education-schools also focus on inclusion It is accepted that young people’s interest in music making can be harnessed to support musical, person and social development. There is a need to be able to support vulnerable children and young people in mainstream school and in alternative provision

MusicNet East & Youth Music We are a strategic partner for Youth Music-one of only 13 around the country. The work we do aims to embed inclusion work in our own services and in doing so, to help Youth Music to achieve its strategic aims. Youth Music wants to create a musically inclusive England-it is particularly keen to work with Music Education Hubs to look at the way in which inclusion work might fit within their services. Many of the other strategic partners are independent music orgs working with a hub, relationships with hubs can vary widely-some embrace inclusion others see it as something that can be subcontracted to an external provider. We are also keen to demonstrate the value of inclusive music making, not just to hubs but also to schools, to services for children and young people. In an ideal world every young person who wants to should be able to access music making activity in their locality that is suitable to their needs and interests and supports their wellbeing.

What does MusicNet East do? Delivery Training Policy development Research Deliver music activity within mainstream schools, in Educational Support Units or PRUs, in community settings or venues Train music leaders, tutors – we invite critical reflection from all participants including young people, school staff and hub staff Policy development-we are looking at ways to embed inclusion within the provision of hubs and schools in a sustainable way Research around the models of engagement, pedagogy and practice

MusicNet East’s work We run Family Music, Music-based Mentoring and Songwriting workshops with vulnerable young people in Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. We usually work in partnership with a school, PRU or other host organisation that is already working with young people. Number of workshops/sessions last year: 999 Number of young people last year: 661

Songwriter Songwriter is a away of offering a progression pathway to young people who are coming through mentoring or family music

Music education for all children Children from all backgrounds and every part of England should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument; to make music with others; to learn to sing; and to have the opportunity to progress to the next level of excellence if they wish to. (from NPfME)

Impact We are committed to researching the impact of our work-not just on young people but also on the workforce and the organisations which take part. You and your work are part of the research-we invite you to share your learning with us. We work to 10 outcomes (in your pack) Our work is not finished…it is experiential. Experimental and imperfect and responsive In our docs the key principles we set out what we think are the central tenents of the approach to mentoring and family music but the work is about the relationship that you the music leader of tutor have with the young person or group. Critical reflection is central to understanding what has happened and why. We ask you to reflect on your own, we ask you to reflect in a group with other and we ask you to reflect in case studies and through interviews with our research team.

About MusicNet East A project run by Funded by Monday 5th September 2016 9.30am – 3pm

Arts Award is... ...a range of unique qualifications that supports anyone aged up to 25 to grow as artists and arts leaders, inspiring them to connect with and take part in the wider arts world through taking challenges in any artform.