Bridget’s Blog: Curiously Great Music Education

I’m reading a really good book at the moment. Just a page a day, but I’m hooked! A Year of Living Curiously is 365 short ‘essays’ which aim to spark interest and widen horizons. Did you know that the bobble hat was likely to have been created for sailors to stop them from bumping their heads on low beams, or that there is a formula behind why ‘Blue Monday’ is the third Monday in January? I keep wanting to read the next essay, but then what would I read tomorrow?

Curiosity is a concept the Music Mark team and I focused on when we started looking at our vision, mission and values in 2021/22, and whilst it isn’t specifically one of our three value words – Bold, Open and Useful – we aim to embody curiosity throughout our strategy.

Curiosity, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, is “an eager wish to know or learn about something.” While most people understand the term, this definition reinforces the importance of continuous learning and discovery.

At Music Mark, curiosity drives our commitment to learning from our members. By actively listening and engaging, we gather insights that help us support them, connect them with each other, and advocate on their behalf. As you might expect, I’m currently spending quite a bit of time reflecting on my tenure as CEO, and while I may not have articulated my role as one of curiosity, I believe I have had that ‘eager wish’ throughout the last 8 years. At the heart of everything I have done and do is an aim to ‘know or learn’ more about the music education ecosystem in order to lead Music Mark on a path that reflects that knowledge and learning in its work.

I also hope Music Mark inspires curiosity among our members and the wider music education community, encouraging them to want to know and learn more, and to spark interest in broader horizons. Through resources like A Common Approach and the UCL report on Sustainability in Music Education, as well as our podcast episodes, training, and events, we aim to spark interest and promote lifelong learning. Are you eager to learn more about Providing Equitable, Diverse & Inclusive Music Teaching in secondary schools or to enhance your skills in PR and Communication: Helping Your Work Shine Bright through our training and events programme?

While I haven’t set any New Year’s resolutions, I’m embracing a year of curiosity through daily reading and challenging myself to think about what my ‘eager wish’ is in terms of learning or knowing more to play my part, and through the staff team for Music Mark to support a great music education for all children and young people. I encourage you to do the same: regularly explore Music Mark’s resources, training courses, and podcast episodes to support your ongoing professional development in music education. Oh, and if there’s something you want to learn or can’t find, ask us if we can perhaps grant that wish?!