Musician in Residence Programme

The Musicians-in-Residence programme builds on our commitment to create warm, welcoming and relevant experiences of live music, particularly for children, young people and families who experience systemic disadvantage, and enables us to respond to the challenges schools are currently facing. Working with 7 schools across the UK the programme explores how live music can be embedded throughout the school day, supporting curriculum delivery, wellbeing initiatives, engagement and enrichment, and staff development.

In each of the schools the musicians work collaboratively with school staff to devise creative ways to enhance curriculum teaching while also looking for other opportunities to engage children with music throughout the day.

For example, this includes:

  • Providing stimuli for writing activities, ranging from mark-making in EYFS to written reviews and critiques in KS2, designed to improve written literacy skills and oracy.

  • Demonstrating key principles in science lessons.

  • Developing songs to aide memory for rote learning.

  • Modelling the idea of dialogue through ‘conversations’ between instruments.

  • An ‘adjective off’ using sounds, motifs and musical moods to challenge a broadening of vocabulary.

  • Complementing storytelling and descriptive teaching in subjects like history and geography

  • Creating an environment of musical aspiration through concerts, jam sessions and group composition.

  • Delivering mindfulness and meditation

The project continues to exceed school expectations and has support strategic objectives including:

  • Improving concentration and creativity

  • Breaking down barriers to aspiration

  • Improving engagement in and excitement for learning

  • Increasing confidence and self-esteem

  • Supporting wellbeing and social, emotional health.

‘This feels like a dream project, allowing me to play music in the way that I see fit, as well as giving something back to the community and hopefully bringing some joy and inspiration to younger generations.  As far as education projects go, this model (having musicians as residents over lengthy periods of time) feels genuinely meaningful, as we are able to dismantle certain perceived barriers to music and music0making behind which many of these children may well feel caught’ Project Musician

A big thank you to the John Thaw Foundation for their ongoing support with the programme.

Feedback

Teachers identified a significant impact of the programme on some key behaviours:

Children involved in the programme also fed back how the music helped them and how the experience made them feel:

To find out more about the Musician in Residence Programme, please contact info@mishmashproductions.co.uk