How Music Makes Us: RCM Sparks and its Partners

On a sleepy Sunday morning in May, the Royal College of Music’s performance spaces were buzzing with activity. 160 local young musicians aged 8 to 18 were singing and playing together, rehearsing for the grand finale of a two-year performance project, Music Makes Me.

RCM Sparks, the RCM’s learning and participation programme, was a partner on this project in collaboration with the Royal Albert Hall and the Tri-Borough Music Hub (TBMH) – the organisation that provides music education services to the West London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, and the City of Westminster.

Music Makes Me, which involved 950 pupils coming together from 40 local schools, culminated in a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in June. The vibrant production told the story of a 16-year-old neurodivergent girl and the importance of music in her life – representing an estimated 15–20% of children in the UK who think, feel or behave differently to their peers, with neurodiverse traits including dyslexia, ADHD and autism.

It’s a moving message of accessibility and collaboration – and a principle that defines the many projects offered through RCM Sparks.

REACHING NEW AUDIENCES

RCM Sparks provides opportunities to engage with music education where it is needed most, running hundreds of workshops and live music experiences each year. The focus is on children, young people and families from low income-households, groups underrepresented in higher education and children and young people with disabilities.

RCM Sparks’ outreach work takes places in three main areas: in local schools, supporting music delivery and teacher training; in the community, which includes regular activities offered through community centres; and through partnerships, working with other arts organisations who have different but complementary expertise to create unique projects.

‘The work of RCM Sparks is built on a strong foundation of partnership working,’ says Hayley Clements, Head of Learning and Participation. ‘It’s about sharing knowledge, good practice and, importantly, the work is informed by a dialogue between all stakeholders.’

The Tri-Borough Music Hub is one of RCM Sparks’ strategic partners, and the College works closely with the Hub in its delivery of music education services to over 56,500 pupils. It serves an area of stark inequality: Kensington is home to some of the wealthiest residents in the country, yet 29% of pupils in the Tri-Borough area access Free School Meals.

A previous event staged with the Tri-Borough Music Hub at the Royal Albert Hall

Photo: Sheila Burnett

WORKING TOGETHER

In this context, projects like Music Makes Me, which champion those who may struggle to have their voice heard within society, are even more significant. And with 17 original songs, live animations, and

seven professional actors – in addition to almost a thousand schoolchildren – it was a memorable and unique experience for its performers.

To deliver such projects, RCM Sparks and the TBMH provide each other with mutual support. ‘RCM Sparks helps support the delivery of the music curriculum in local schools, and offers venues for performances, training and workshops – such as for the Music Makes Me rehearsals in May,’ says Stuart Whatmore, Head of the Tri-Borough Music Hub. ‘Without the support of the RCM, the event would not be what it was!’

In return, the TBMH provides experiences for current RCM students and recent alumni. The Hub organises teaching and observation placements and access to training and development. Music Makes Me was one such opportunity, with 15 RCM student mentors supporting young musicians as they worked towards the main performance.

‘Working on Music Makes Me as a regular RCM mentor was such a fulfilling experience,’ says third-year undergraduate Rubie Besin. ‘From weekly mentoring sessions to group rehearsals, I had the chance to observe first-hand the excitement that the children built towards the performance in such a big venue as the Royal Albert Hall. As a mentor, I could really feel the team of RCM students getting stronger together, allowing the children to have greater confidence in us and reach their full potential.’

This is a crucial part of RCM Sparks’ work, with 145 RCM students receiving practical training experience in the 2022/23 academic year.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

Following Music Makes Me, new partnership projects are on the horizon. Musical Senses, a project for young people who have visual, hearing or multi-sensory impairments, has been developed in partnership with TBMH, ABRSM and the Tri-Borough Music Trust.

The scheme aims to provide training for teachers, show positive role models, and address the physical barriers that pupils with sensory needs face when engaging with music. A pilot interactive workshop will be held on 12 July where all the musicians –young people and professionals – are either vision impaired or hearing impaired.

‘We hope to learn first-hand how best to offer a truly accessible musical experience at the Royal College of Music campus by bringing together the partners’ knowledge and the knowledge of those with lived experience,’ Hayley says.

PATHWAYS INTO MUSIC

The project is adding to the roster of existing RCM Sparks initiatives delivered with its partners, reaching all ages and abilities. The London Early Years Foundation/RCM Musical Futures programme provides musical training for Early Years practitioners in nurseries; Get, Set, Play!, founded in 2017, offers free family activities in community settings in lower socio-economic areas of the Tri-Borough; while IntoUniversity provides music-making experiences for young people in five London boroughs who would not normally engage with higher education.

These projects all support the goal of creating learning pathways – clear routes for children in music education from the youngest ages through to postgraduate level. ‘One of the primary goals is to strengthen the pipeline of creative young musicians of the future engaging with the RCM,’ explains Hayley.

And RCM Sparks’ partnerships with other organisations are a key part of broadening this reach – ultimately ensuring music remains important in young peoples’ lives. ‘Through working together, we’re creating something greater than the sum of its parts.’

An RCM student mentor working with an RCM Sparks participant

RCM SPARKS IN NUMBERS: 2022/23

83% of participants from underrepresented groups

2,700+ children and young people have accessed a live music experience

100+ practical workshops for children, young people and families

145 RCM students taking part as mentors