Research Short: Music in Citizenship

This week, I have spoken to Dr Tenley Martin (Leeds Beckett University) and Pili Lopez (Dorset Music Service) about their collaborative project, ‘Music in Citizenship’ (MiC). ‘Music in Citizenship’ (MiC) researches how music-based activities can be used by non-specialist primary educators to support emotional wellbeing, engagement, and the development of non-musical competencies, such as confidence, self-regulation, and social connection in schools.

MiC grew from collaboration with Dorset Music Service and educational psychologists to develop a training model that enables Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) to use music to support pupil wellbeing. MiC’s research reveals that simple music activities can powerfully support pupils’ emotional regulation, confidence, and engagement in schools, and found that non-specialist educators and support staff can deliver these benefits, opening new possibilities for embedding music across school wellbeing support.

Using the MATES Regulation Programme, developed by Dr Roby Abeles and Salene Souza, emotional regulation can be visualised as a house, with the extremes of the basement or attic representing heightened emotions, such as fear, anger, depression or hopelessness, and the living spaces in between being places of safety and stability. Five ‘keys’ can offer ways of unlocking these middle spaces, using movement, creativity and grounding techniques to regulate your emotions.

The research used a practice-based approach, developing and delivering MiC training for ELSAs across Dorset schools. Through multiple training cycles, surveys, interviews, and feedback were used to iteratively refine the programme and examine how music-based approaches can support wellbeing in everyday school settings.

This research can benefit schools, pupils, and education support staff, particularly those involved in pastoral care and emotional support. It suggests schools can integrate simple, music-based approaches into wellbeing provision, extending music beyond the curriculum. It also creates opportunities for partnerships between music services, educators, and educational psychologists to embed creative wellbeing strategies across school settings.

Dr Tenley Martin is a community music researcher exploring how participatory music-making supports wellbeing, social cohesion, and active citizenship through partnerships with education, health, and community organisations.

• Explore the Hub Wellbeing Resource Pack with music and wellbeing activities for ELSAs, TAs and classroom teachers here.
• For more information about the project see Music in Citizenship.
• See Tenley’s research biography here.

Written by Kerry Bunkhall – Research Manager for Music Mark

See the full list of Music Mark’s research