Emerging Music Leader Scheme (Early Childhood Music) Apply Now

Applications are now open for Sound Connections Emerging Music Leader Scheme (Early Childhood Music) 2025-26.

This career development opportunity is for anyone keen to develop their music leading practice with young children aged 0-5. The scheme offers; training sessions; paid shadowing placements; and group coaching sessions, and will take place over the period September 2025 – May 2026.

Deadline for applications: Monday 21 July 2025, 9am (full details on how to apply below)

What do we mean by Early Childhood Music?

Early Childhood Music covers a broad range of musical activity with children aged 0-5 in diverse contexts. It includes working with children from newborn babies to school reception age and with families; working in nursery and school settings, in children’s centres, libraries or hospitals, in museums, galleries and at concerts, and much more.

Once the playful mode is on, it becomes easier to work imaginatively. With engagement with Imaginate story, students become more confident, they would be able to gather meanings and become expressive. Being playful itself also involves a full, generous, expressive reaching out and the drawing of others into shared experiences.

2023-24 mentor

What does the programme involve?

2 x CPD sessions:

1. In person practical session
With Kate Comberti and Ellie Rashid
Thursday 18th September
1.00pm – 4.30pm
Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ

2. An Introduction to the EYFS
With Dr Sharon Colilles
Tuesday 23rd September
6.00pm – 8.00pm
Online

Group coaching sessions (online):

Monday 6th October 2025
Monday 12th January 2026
Monday 2nd March 2026
Monday 1st June 2026

All 5.00-6.30pm

Early Years Music Practitioner and Singer-Songwriter Ellie Rashid shares her insight into Early Years Music, breaking down what's involved in being an Early Years Music Practitioner, and explaining why we need more diversity in the sector.

My mentor introduced me to the concept of ‘Being’ with the children and responding to what they are already engaging in rather than setting a series of musical instructions to learn. Her approach was very inspiring and incredibly accessible and inclusive.

2023-24 emerging music leader

Who should apply?

If you want to work in the fascinating and thought-provoking world of music-making with very young children, then this opportunity is for you. Music with young children is enormously diverse and varied – we work with different musical styles and genres; different instruments, soundmakers, voices, bodies; sing, play, listen, move, improvise and compose; play with sand, play-doh, ipads, books, climbing frames and much, much more!

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to build a workforce that is representative of the children and families we work with. We actively encourage applications from people who are under-represented in the cultural sector, including those facing disabling barriers or who have experienced racism. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and protected characteristics, regardless of age, disability, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity, religious or spiritual belief.

We would suggest the scheme would suit those with:

A commitment to the Sound Connections vision of a fair and equitable world in which music and creativity support children and young people to thrive as active, happy, and fulfilled people.
A willingness to reflect on your own practice and collaborate with others.

You will need to hold a current DBS or be willing to arrange one.

I can see how the project changed the practitioners’ perceptions to music-making. Together they have discovered ways in which both practitioners, and children can create personal spaces to allow for the freedom to negotiate a relationship with culture, even leading the way to build their value of artistic citizenship.

2023-24 mentor

Timeline

Deadline for applications: Monday 21 July 2025, 9am
Interviews: August 2025
CPD course: September 2025
Shadowing placement and coaching/mentoring sessions: to be arranged individually to take place starting from September 2025 and completed by the end of May 2026.