British composer, DJ and university lecturer, Jack McNeill, invites music leaders to free webinar

The virtual event aims to empower music leaders across the UK and break down common barriers to using music technology in the classroom.

Orchestras for All is delighted to announce that internationally-recognised composer, DJ and Associate Lecturer in Music and Sound Recording at the University of York, Jack McNeill, will be hosting the second webinar in the charity’s Music Leadership Training series.

Titled Achieving Equity and Empowerment Through Music Technology, the live session will take place via Zoom on Tuesday 24 May 2022 and aims to boost the skills and confidence of music teachers and hub leaders across the UK.

Jack said: “I’m really excited to be working with Orchestras for All to bring you a workshop on demystifying music technology in the classroom, offering some ideas on the potential it has for equitable music-making.

“The session is about empowering teachers and students to use music technology. Hopefully, by the end we’ll be able to remove some of the barriers that people face when using the DAW (or digital audio workstation) and perhaps, to understand how technology might help students and teachers to achieve their creative or professional goals.”

Read more: Tear-jerking performances and togetherness wrap up National Orchestra for All’s memorable spring season >

Pictured: Composer, DJ and university lecturer, Jack McNeill, with National Orchestra for All guitarist, Kit

He continued: “There will be room in the session for an open discussion, so please come with ideas, thoughts and concerns that you might have come across while using music technology in your classroom. I look forward to sharing some of my own experiences and perspectives as well as hearing yours.”

It will surely be a memorable evening for both attendees and the keen composer, who is also a guitar tutor for National Orchestra for All (NOFA) and recently penned the score for the ensemble’s captivating audiovisual track, ‘The Great Interstellar Orchestra’ (watch below) – created and performed by NOFA’s inspiring young members during the COVID-19 lockdown.

While Jack’s forthcoming webinar is free to attend, participants are invited to donate what they can to help the charity continue its life-changing work.

The event comes after leading saxophonist, author and music education consultant, Professor Nate Holder, launched OFA’s virtual series last November with a session exploring whiteness in music education, diversity versus decolonisation and how relationships form an integral part of a music educator’s practise.

Orchestras for All wins award for Outstanding Musical Initiative at the Music and Drama Education Awards 2022 >

With thousands of music educators across the UK still facing significant challenges as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, the need to provide support and improve access to music-making is growing.

That’s why to complement the webinars, 10 online modules have become available as part of the charity’s Music Leadership Training course – providing flexible, hands-on guidance through short videos filmed in real life contexts and in partnership with leading practitioners.

As well as covering traditional conducting techniques, the course invites music leaders to reflect on approaches to group composing, learning music by ear, teaching music without notation and arranging music for inclusive ensembles. 

Thank you to each of our loyal funders, individual donors and supporters as well as The Rachel Baker Memorial Charity – without you, our Music Leadership Training programme and webinar series would not be possible.

Achieving Equity and Empowerment Through Music Technology will be available to livestream via Zoom on Tuesday, 24 May 2022 at 19:00 GMT.

Sign up for Jack’s free webinar >

Esteemed music educator Professor Nate Holder announced as first host in free webinar series for music leaders

“I think it’s important for us to understand why we do the things that we do, in order to make it better for the young people around us.”

Orchestras for All (OFA) is delighted to announce that leading saxophonist, author, speaker and music education consultant, Professor Nate Holder, will be hosting the launch of its live webinar series for 2021-2022.

The series, which commences on 7 December, forms part of Music Leadership Training (MLT) – the charity’s continuing professional development (CPD) programme, specially designed to equip music teachers and leaders with the tools and skills they need to set up and run inclusive ensembles in under-resourced schools and community groups.

With thousands of music educators across the UK still facing significant challenges as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, the need to provide support and improve access to music-making is growing.

Nate, who is currently serving as International Chair of Music Education at the Royal Northern College of Music, is perhaps best known for penning several children’s books – including I Wish I Didn’t Quit: Music Lessons (2018) and Where Are All The Black Female Composers (2020).

Ahead of the event, Nate said: “I’m really happy to be doing a session in association with Orchestras for All, called ‘Music educators: why do we do what we do?’. That’s a question I ask myself often. 

“Why do I do what I do? Why do I do it in the way that I do it? I think it’s important for us as we’re learning and growing in 2021 to understand why we do the things that we do, in order to make it better for the young people around us.”

Read more: ‘National Orchestra for All is so diverse – but we’re united by a note,’ says 19-year-old trumpeter >

Pictured: Professor Nate Holder

To address this topic, Nate’s live Zoom session will be exploring key topics such as whiteness in music education, diversity versus decolonisation and how relationships form an integral part of a music educator’s practise.

He said: “The focus of this session is really going to look at our practises and try to attempt to break down certain misconceptions and broaden our horizons, so that the young people that we work with can feel the benefit of a more inclusive and diverse education.

“Of course, this is just one session and one session won’t fix everything, but I think it’s important to start somewhere.”

Alongside his expert insights, attendees will be encouraged to interact during the event and share their personal experiences in music education, with the key aim of making the industry a better and safer place for all.

Learn more about Music Leadership Training >

To complement OFA’s webinar series, 10 online modules are also available as part of MLT – providing flexible, hands-on training through short videos filmed in real life contexts and in partnership with leading practitioners.

As well as covering traditional conducting techniques, the course invites users to reflect on approaches to group composing, learning music by ear, teaching music without notation and arranging music for inclusive ensembles. 

Conductor Sian Edwards shares her expertise with participants during a Music Leadership Training session

In 2020-2021, a total of 190 participants enjoyed virtual and face-to-face sessions. Tor, a music teacher and recent MLT participant, said: “It was all so, so useful! I came away with new techniques for conducting in 2/4, which will be invaluable. The bit where Sian [Edwards] focused on my piece was also immensely helpful – very personalised and inspiring.

“This was exactly what I needed to keep my spark about ensembles during a tough time for music at schools. It has given me renewed energy for getting our groups back again as soon as possible. I am inspired to do more conducting training because of this, so thank you to Sian and Orchestras for All for arranging the training.”

While OFA’s forthcoming webinar series is free to attend, participants are invited to donate what they can to help the charity continue its life-changing work.

Music educators: why do we do what we do? will be available to livestream via Zoom on Tuesday, 7 December 2021 at 17:30 GMT.

Sign up for Professor Nate Holder’s webinar >

‘Learning by ear can develop an ensemble’s creative side’, says folk musician Emily Askew

Emily Askew joins Orchestras for All for a virtual tea break to discuss lockdown, nyckelharpas and why aural leadership is the way forward…

From fiddles and recorders to pianos and bagpipes, esteemed folk musician and music educator Emily Askew certainly knows a thing or two when it comes to playing musical instruments.

Specialising in folk and early music, Emily is best known for performing in The Emily Askew Band and as part of acclaimed English folk duo, The Askew Sisters, while also leading the London Youth Folk Ensemble, arranged by The English Folk Dance and Song Society.

A champion of aural learning, Emily will be hosting a free live webinar in collaboration with Orchestras for All, Learning by Ear Ensemble Leadership, via Zoom on Thursday 25 March at 5:00pm.

Ahead of the event, Emily told Orchestras for All: “Aural leadership is teaching without any written notation in front of you. Participants use their ears to take direction rather than reading, which can develop an ensemble’s awareness of the musicians playing around them – especially if their heads aren’t buried in written music!”

Read more: 17 things you’ll only understand if you’ve played in a youth orchestra >

Emily Askew, music leader at The English Folk Dance and Song Society

She continued: “It’s a very practical approach to teaching chords, harmony and music theory, and I find it really helps develop an ensemble’s creative side and being more open to improvisation and creating their own arrangements.

“Any instruments can be used! You can take in so much more detail about the music style of the person teaching you, which is too detailed to be written down in notation.”

Boost your aural leadership skills >

The live webinar comes as Orchestras for All launches its new Music Leadership Training Programme – specially designed to provide music leaders and teachers working in state secondary schools, music hubs and community music services with new skills.

The online session also follows two fully booked webinars led by Sian Edwards, OFA’s Artistic Patron and Head of Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Sian Edwards, Orchestras for All’s Artistic Patron

Sharing her three top tips for aspiring musicians, Emily said: “Listen to as many different styles of music as you can, even genres you think you won’t like – you can learn so much and take influence from other musicians even if they don’t play your instrument.

“It’s easier said than done during a pandemic, but also try and perform with as many other musicians as you can – you can take so much from practically playing with others. And most importantly, enjoy yourself!”

Meanwhile, her advice to teachers is: ”Keep challenging yourself. There have been times where I’ve felt stuck in a rut but then I’ve observed other music leaders or musicians and it’s given me new ideas and increased my enthusiasm and enjoyment in my work. Learning something new also keeps me in touch with what it’s like to be a student.”

Since graduating at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Emily has released three studio albums and toured extensively with Askew Sisters. She has also performed as principal recorder at prestigious English opera house, Glyndebourne, and as a multi-instrumentalist in productions at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End and Shakespeare’s Globe.

Sign up for Emily Askew’s live webinar >

Orchestras for All’s Artistic Patron, Sian Edwards, shares her expert advice on how to lead an ensemble

Royal Academy of Music conductor, Sian Edwards, took to Zoom earlier this week to impart her ensemble leadership wisdom...

Whether you’ve never conducted before or are a little rusty after spending a year in lockdown, there’s plenty to be learned from Sian Edwards.

Born in West Sussex, the English musician is known for her inspiring work as Head of Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she currently directs the Masters course and Sorrell Women’s Conducting Programme.

To celebrate the recent launch of Orchestras for All’s exciting new Music Leadership Training programme – specially designed to boost the skills of music teachers and community leaders – Sian joined online audiences for a webinar yesterday (23 February) to share her conducting experience.

Before the event, we caught up with the musical maestro (see video above) to find out more about how to work with an inclusive ensemble, handy techniques for teachers and why young people should join an orchestra.

Read more: Music Leadership Training programme launches with exclusive series of webinars >

“Just remember that music is all about breath,” says music educator Sian Edwards

When asked what piece of advice she would give to a new music leader, Sian said: “Just remember that music is all about breath. Your first in-breath and how you start the music is going to have so much influence on how the music sounds – even if your musicians aren’t really watching you at first!

“I think that’s a great basis for both the players and the conductors to start off from, and it makes us realise we’re all coming from a fundamentally very human place and unifies everybody straight away.”

Browse Orchestras for All’s upcoming webinars >

Speaking to young people about why they should join an orchestra, she added: “If you’re playing an instrument, it’s great to be playing with other people!

“Sometimes orchestras can seem very noisy and the sound isn’t in tune, so it can be quite a hard thing to get started with but as soon as you get used to the fact that you’re part of a group all working together, you’re going to get something at the end that makes you really quite proud.”

Sian Edwards, Head of Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music

Since graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music, Sian’s achievements have included conducting Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny for Scottish Opera (1986),  Verdi’s La traviata at Glyndebourne (1987) and the world premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s operatic masterpiece, Greek, at the Munich Festival in 1988.

In the same year, she made her debut at the Royal Opera House to lead musical performances of Tippett’s The Knot Garden and has also worked as Music Director at English National Opera, where she conducted Prokofiev’s The Gambler.

Find out more about Music Leadership Training >