Vision and Values

Music Masters’ vision is to create a world where every child has access to the transformative power of music. A world where all young people are empowered through music to realise their personal and creative potential, supported by pro-active teachers, diverse role models and a truly inclusive music sector.

Our aim

Our aim is to widen access to high-quality music education from early years to young adulthood, focussing on UK communities facing systemic inequality or disadvantage.
Our reputation for inclusive excellence positions us as a force for change across the music and music education sectors. We are the only organisation in England focussed on long-term, outstanding instrumental learning for all children and a commitment to building a truly diverse music industry.

Read on to find out how we will achieve this.

1. To grow our work with state schools on a national scale to reach more children and model high-quality, inclusive, inspiring and sustainable music education

We will develop more state school partnerships through which to disseminate and apply our successful approaches to school-based music education, and champion inclusive group teaching that widens pathways and possibility for young people. We will establish leading practice for transition from primary to secondary school – a known drop-off point for young musicians. We are committed to more effectively measuring and sharing the impact of high-quality music education. In all of this, we will build on our long-term experience of working in communities facing disadvantage.

‘Your commitment to inclusion (was clear)…Teaching was grounded in expert musical modelling.’ Mark Philips, Senior HMI for Ofsted, 2021

2. To champion, develop and connect music educators, activating their potential to make positive change in society.

Outstanding education needs outstanding educators. Our highly practical Musicians of Change (PGCEi) programme with Birmingham City University develops and empowers gold-standard music educators to improve sub-standard group instrumental teaching in UK state schools. Alongside expanding this programme, we will make available more paid teaching opportunities in our Flagship Schools, grow the impact of teachers working in underserved areas, enhance support for our ever-growing graduate network, and increase opportunities for performing musicians to develop artistry in working with children and communities.

‘I feel much more confident in my own teaching ability and feel able to continue building on my connections and bringing my skills into new venues, contexts and communities.’ Musicians of Change (PGCEi) Graduate

3. To support and advocate for increased diversity, inclusion and equitable access across the music industry.

We will continue to drive systemic change to diversify the music sector on-stage and beyond, including audiences, production, backstage, and community support. We will evolve our Inclusive Music Index (I’M IN) tool to amplify the organisational change it drives. We will improve pathways into music for children from backgrounds underrepresented in classical music, and partner with more world-class artists as active student mentors. We will increase diversity in nationally available learner repertoire, help diversify the music education workforce, and bring music into the lives of new audiences in communities across the UK.

‘I’M IN was a wonderful opportunity to get together for a very frank and detailed conversation about diversity and inclusion…we can really make a positive difference to the company and the industry as a whole.’ HarrisonParrott, International Classical Music Agency Mark Philips, Senior HMI for Ofsted, 2021

1. To grow our work with state schools on a national scale to reach more children and model high-quality, inclusive, inspiring and sustainable music education

We will develop more state school partnerships through which to disseminate and apply our successful approaches to school-based music education, and champion inclusive group teaching that widens pathways and possibility for young people. We will establish leading practice for transition from primary to secondary school – a known drop-off point for young musicians. We are committed to more effectively measuring and sharing the impact of high-quality music education. In all of this, we will build on our long-term experience of working in communities facing disadvantage.

‘Your commitment to inclusion (was clear)…Teaching was grounded in expert musical modelling.’ Mark Philips, Senior HMI for Ofsted, 2021

4. To become known as a greater voice of influence and a solution provider driving change within music, music education and social change sectors.

Our beneficiaries are our most influential voices for change, and we will empower them as role models and advocates. We are developing our evidence base and smarter approaches to assessing the impact of music education in our schools, enabling us to campaign for a stronger focus on music and the arts in the curriculum. We are committed to better showcasing our work both in person and online, and are adopting a new “external” focus to widen our impact, including building more strategic partnerships and creating resources and training for music organisations and practitioners UK-wide.

‘I absolutely loved being surrounded by children who are beginning the same musical journey I began almost fourteen and a half years ago. I am thrilled to be able to contribute to the Music Masters Team as a Graduate Ambassador ¬’ Emily Harrison, Graduate Ambassador Musicians of Change (PGCEi) Graduate

3. To support and advocate for increased diversity, inclusion and equitable access across the music industry.

We will continue to drive systemic change to diversify the music sector on-stage and beyond, including audiences, production, backstage, and community support. We will evolve our Inclusive Music Index (I’M IN) tool to amplify the organisational change it drives. We will improve pathways into music for children from backgrounds underrepresented in classical music, and partner with more world-class artists as active student mentors. We will increase diversity in nationally available learner repertoire, help diversify the music education workforce, and bring music into the lives of new audiences in communities across the UK.

“To see more young students from my demographic appreciating music and culture is a pathway itself, of inclusion and breaking barriers. They are a living reminder that Pathways isn’t just a small avenue in their musical education, but a crucial aspect of their lives as human beings and within their communities.” Randall Goosby, Music Masters Ambassador, speaking about the Music Masters Pathways programme