What is Our Future Music? And why does it matter?

Our Future Music was a 5-year, strategic programme designed to increase musical inclusion and embed effective, inclusive approaches to music-making across the south east. By working together, the 4 Music Hubs in the region (Create Music, Kent Music, Surrey Music Hub and West Sussex Music).

Collectively we had identified musical inclusion, including inclusive ensembles for young people with SEND and more inclusive, youth-led music opportunities in a diverse range of genres as areas that we wanted to develop. We wanted to create activities for, by and with young people who were not already accessing the Music Hub offer in their area and to do this, we needed to also co-design and co-deliver a workforce development programme, to ensure that more music leaders working within Music Hubs had the skills, knowledge and experience to facilitate music in a more inclusive way.

Participating in this programme significantly impacted the way we operate as Music Hubs, and on this website we have tried to share as much of our collective learning as we can. More detail can be found among the testimonials, case studies and resources; with our key learning summarised below: 

• Good inclusive music practice benefits everyone (and not only those with additional learning needs).
• Meaningful partnership working takes time to develop but creating the time to talk, listen, plan, learn and reflect together (at all levels within an organisation) was hugely impactful.
• it is critical to give (and pay) music leaders for time to regularly debrief and reflect together in order to develop and embed new approaches and ways of working, particularly in inclusive settings.
• Working with a local university and researcher (PhD candidate) was equally beneficial for both Music Hubs and the University. Learning from this research has developed a life beyond the programme and continues to influence and shape ongoing practice in the Music Hubs involved.
• Inclusion is everyone’s responsibility!