Inwards, Upwards, and Forwards: An introduction to Sound Connections’ new phase of working

As one of the new Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisations (NPO), with three-year investment from the National Foundation for Youth Music, and with the appointment of our new Deputy Director Wizdom Layne, Sound Connections finds itself in a period of transition, change, and great potential. As such, it now feels like a good time to outline how we intend to work with and support the music education sector in this new and exciting phase of development.

Over the coming months we will be publishing a series of articles, in-house interviews, reflections, and insights, which will showcase the transformative impact we are striving to make across music and music education, by shining a light on our three main strands of work:

Youth Voice and Participation

Wired4Music Artist Residency 2022

Sound Connections recognises the immense power and potential of young voices in shaping the future of music, and we lead the way in youth voice and participation, both regionally and nationally. This strand of our work focuses on empowering young people, fostering their creativity, and giving them a platform to express themselves through music, most notably through ‘Wired4Music’ – our London-based community of young musicians and creatives.

If you are looking to develop your Youth Voice work, make sure you check out our resources:

• The Youth Voice & Participation Handbook
• Youth Voice & Participation in Music Hubs Toolkit
• The Music Lab Toolkit – A Toolkit for Exploring Youth Voice within Music-Making Practices in Classical Music
• Youth Voice On Demand channel on YouTube

Training and Professional Development

IPIA 2023

At the heart of Sound Connections lies our commitment to nurturing a robust and diverse workforce. We are passionate about equipping creative practitioners, educators, and leaders with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to become more inclusive in their practice and to inspire the next generation. We deliver professional development programmes for young people, early career professionals and the wider music education workforce, providing a mix of practical training; mentoring and support; sharing and networking opportunities; and safe and inclusive spaces to reflect, discuss and be challenged.

• Check out our Training and Professional Development resources here >
• Discover our annual Inclusive Practice In Action (IPIA) event here >
  

Sector Support and Consultancy

The Music Lab 2022

We are experts at helping people and organisations to reflect, learn, and grow. Through our sector support initiatives, Sound Connections works hand-in-hand with individuals, Music Hubs, and dozens of arts, culture and heritage organisations, supporting them to develop and improve how they work with young people. With over ten years of consultancy experience, supporting organisations such as Arts Council England, BBC Children in Need, Girls Rock London and Wigmore Hall to name just a few, we are well equipped to provide guidance, expertise and support to those in the music and wider arts and culture sector, looking to capture, communicate, and deepen their impact.

Some of our recent sector support and consultancy work includes:

• The National Open Youth Orchestra’s (NOYO)
• British Council World Voice Legacy
• Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Change Makers programme
• The Music Lab Toolkit – A Toolkit for Exploring Youth Voice within Music-Making Practices in Classical Music

Through this upcoming series of articles, we invite you to join us as we look inwards, upwards and forwards. Glean insights into the upcoming year for Sound Connections, our ambitions, and where we are heading next on our mission to ensure that all children and young people can experience music and creative opportunities that are relevant to them and responsive to their needs in a changing world.