Make Your Mark: Notes on Music Education
A Music Mark Podcast
‘Make Your Mark: Notes on Music Education’ is a podcast showcasing diverse experiences and perspectives from across the music education sector.
We’ll explore the major challenges faced by those working with young people in music, the challenges young people face themselves, and celebrate inspiring projects and stories from across the nation and beyond. Tune in to hear from expert guests as we tackle music education’s biggest questions, highlight its most exciting initiatives, and discuss the musical journeys of those involved.
Listen here:
Episodes & Show Notes
6. Youth Voice & Leadership
1st July 2025
In this episode, we’re joined by Yasmine Dankwah, a creative freelancer and previous Wired4Music Associate with Sound Connections, Nick Thorne, Executive Director of Orchestras for All, and their Youth Leadership Coordinator, Laura Fullwood, to explore all things youth voice and youth leadership. We hear how organisations can empower young people and embed youth voice into their structures, and discover the benefits of involving young people in decision-making processes.
Yasmine Dankwah
Yasmine Dankwah is a creative freelancer, specialising in spoken word poet, writing and sound design for theatre. Yasmine was part of the first iteration of the Wired4Music Associates programme at the charity, Sound Connections, it was here she developed a deeper understanding of co-production and youth voice.
Follow Yasmine:
@yasminedankwah on Instagram
Yasmine Dankwah on LinkedIn
Nick Thorne
I’m currently Executive Director of Orchestras for All and my career has been rooted in increasing access to the arts by bringing music to young people who face the greatest barriers to participation. Previous roles have included setting up NYO Inspire at National Youth Orchestra and being part of the education team at Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
“Shout out to all teams, CEOs, Boards opening a space for young people. You may not realise the power you have, opening that out will open a whole world of opportunity.”
Follow Nick:
@thenickthorne on X
Nick Thorne on LinkedIn
Laura Fullwood
Hi, my name is Laura, and I am the current Youth Leadership Coordinator at Orchestras For All. In my role I get to work all of the amazing young people who take part in our programmes and get them involved in different areas of the charity so their young voices are heard!
Follow Orchestras For All:
@orchestrasforall
Download the episode transcript
Links and Resources:
- Sound Connections
- Orchestras for All
- The Youth Voice & Participation Handbook
- Guided by Young Voices – How to include young people on your board and in your decision making processes
- Young Trustees Movement
- Music Education Hubs East Midlands
- National Youth Folk Ensemble
- Open Up Music
- Contact Theatre
- Music for Youth
- A New Direction
- Neurodiversity in Music: Improving Access
- Pathways: An audio quest in search of industry progression for young people
5. Disability
29th May 2025
Join us as we explore disability in music education. Alongside our expert guests Ben Sellers, leader of MEHEM UpRising, Kris and Nicci Halpin, the co-leaders of inclusive music project Dyskinetic, and Jess Fisher, a musician, educator and member of the Able Orchestra, we dive into the barriers facing disabled people in accessing a high-quality music education, and in becoming music educators themselves. Find out about the fantastic work happening to make music education more accessible, and explore resources to support your work.
Ben Sellers
Ben leads the MEHEM UpRising project, supporting classroom teachers and instrumental tutors to improve the quality and consistency of classroom curriculum and instrumental tuition. Since 2020, the project has trained over 900 teachers, created the award-winning UpRising Balloon online teaching resource, and fundamentally changed inclusive provision across the East Midlands.
Follow Ben and MEHEM on social media:
@MEHEMuk and @BenSellerzzz on X
Kris Halpin
Kris Halpin is a singer/songwriter/composer and one half of Dyskinetic, the inclusive music partnership with his wife Nicci. Kris is mostly known for performing with the MiMu Gloves, a gestural technology used to overcome Disabling barriers to music. Kris is also a Music Mark Champion.
Follow Kris on social media:
@dyskinetic
Nicci Halpin
Nicci is one half of Dyskinetic, the inclusive music project she co-leads with husband Kris Halpin. Nicci has most recently worked with the AO Pioneers, the latest incarnation of the long standing Able Orchestra project. Nicci performs using the Ableton Push, and is also a visual artist.
Follow Nicci on social media:
@dyskinetic
Jess Fisher
Jess Fisher is a dynamic and innovative musician with a passion for creating digital music. Their journey began with the Able Orchestra, run by Inspire Youth Arts, where they first explored their musical talents. From there, Jess embarked on a solo career, crafting unique sounds using Cmpsr, an instrument developed by Digit Music.
Jess has performed on some of the UK’s most renowned stages, including the Royal Albert Hall (2016), BBC Introducing, Notts Day at Sherwood Forest, and The Metronome at Confetti College in Nottingham. Through her music, she aims to inspire other disabled artists and women, proving that creativity knows no boundaries. Jess also works as an inclusion champion for Inspire Music involved in the MEHEM Uprising project and is doing her first ever digital music delivery work in a SEND school with Inspire Music and is loving every single second of it.
Drawing inspiration from Sabrina Carpenter and Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jess continues to push musical boundaries, sharing her artistry and message with the world.
Download the episode transcript
Links and Resources:
4. Neurodiversity
24th April 2025
In this episode, we’re joined by Catrina Lowri, founder of Neuroteachers and Diverse Educators trainer, Clair Mccoll, Music Hub Manager for Octagon Music Hub and Music Mark Trustee, and Danya Rushton, a current student at the Royal College of Music, to explore the impact of neurodiversity on learners and how music educators can do more to create an inclusive and supportive sector.
Catrina Lowri
Catrina founded Neuroteachers to help educational settings work with their autistic and neurodivergent learners to find simple solutions for neuro -inclusive practice.
Catrina is neurodivergent herself, having the dual diagnosis of dyslexia and bipolar disorder and has traits of ADHD, dyspraxia and Auditory Processing Disorder. She is a qualified special needs teacher and an experienced SENCO and advisory teacher. She uses her unique status as an expert by lived experience and a teacher with 23 years of pupil-facing experience to help schools improve behaviour, attendance, and attainment amongst pupils of all neurotypes. The Neuroteachers team do this through training, mentoring, coaching and culture change in nurseries, schools, and colleges.
Catrina is also an Associate Trainer with Diverse Educators.
Follow Catrina on social media:
@neuroteachers on TikTok; @neuroteachersuk on Threads and Instagram
Clair McColl
Clair began working in music education as an administrator with Devon Music Service in 2003, moving on to become Strategic Lead for Dorset Music Service in 2019. She is currently the Music Hub Manager for Octagon Music Hub and a Trustee of Music Mark. Clair was diagnosed with ADHD in 2020.
Danya Rushton
Danya is currently a Year 1 Royal College of Music full scholar (Viola, 2nd study Voice). She is on the ABRSM Youth Advisory Board (2023–) and Music Mark This Is Not A Rehearsal Steering Group (2024–). She is an NYO Alumni and Benedetti Foundation Ambassador (2025–). She formerly attended the Purcell School of Music & Junior Royal Academy of Music. Danya was Principal Viola for NYO 2024 and an LPO Junior Artist (2020/21). She has diagnosed ASD & ADHD.
Follow Danya on social media:
@danyaviola on Instagram
Download the episode transcript
Links and Resources:
- Neuroteachers website
- Untypical by Pete Wharmby
- Raising the SEN-Betweeners by Lisa Lloyd
- National Autistic Society
- ADHD Foundation
- British Dyslexia Association
- Aucademy
- Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things? by Pierre Novellie
- Sounds of Intent qualification framework
- Arts Award
- We’re All Neurodiverse by Sonny Jane Wise
- Unmasking Autism by Devon Price
- Girl Unmasked by Emily Katy
3. Tools for Teachers
27th March 2025
Join us as we dive into classroom music teaching and talk about tools for teachers. With Jenetta Hurst, the Creative Educator, James Manwaring from Music Teachers Association, and Abi Marrison, Music Mark’s Schools Manager, we explore the realities of teaching music, some of the changes in the profession, and provide practical advice for teachers or those considering becoming a teacher.
Jenetta Hurst
Jenetta is a flautist, consultant and school leader with 19 years’ experience leading secondary music. Jenetta graduated from UCL Institute of Education with the MA Leadership in 2019. A passion for staff development has seen Jenetta lead training for secondary music teachers on behalf of Music Mark, and Music Masters’ PGCEi.
Follow Jenetta on social media:
Jenetta Hurst on LinkedIn; @thecreative_educator on Instagram
Contact Jenetta via The Creative Educator
James Manwaring
James is Director of Music for Windsor Learning Partnership and President Elect of Music Teachers Association. He has worked in music education for over 20 years. He runs a community choir in Windsor and enjoys running, reading, opera and a nice glass of red wine. Father of two, husband and dog owner!
Abi Marrison
Abi is our Schools Manager at Music Mark and has been with us just over a year, she comes from a Primary Teaching background and most of these 10 years were specialising in Early Years.
Abi has supported many education settings to develop their arts and culture offer during her 8 years with Festival Bridge (one of 10 Arts Council funded Bridge organisations), including delivering support and training across East Anglia for the Arts Council England’s quality mark ‘Artsmark’. Abi also works part time as Digital Primaries Programme Manager, an online dance programme for Primary Schools streamed live from DanceEast in Ipswich.
Download the episode transcript
Links and Resources:
- The Creative Educator Website
- Effective Extra-Curricular Provision in Music Ebook
- James Manwaring’s Blog
- Music Teachers Association
- Nate Holder’s Website
- Listen, Imagine, Compose
- I Can Compose
- Passing Notes Education
- MTA Podcast – Teaching Notes
- MusicFirst
- MTA Conference 2025
- Music Mark Conference
- #CanDoMusic
- Music and Drama Education Expo
- T-Time sessions for classroom teachers
- Music Mark Peer Groups; Instrumental & Vocal Teachers Peer Group
- A Common Approach
- Demos Report – Facing The Music: Meeting the ambitions of the National Plan for Music Education
2. Pathways into Industry
27th February 2025
In this episode, we explore the realities and challenges of pathways into the music industry. We’re joined by Benjamin Turner from Rap Club and The Spit Game, Tom Eagle from Musician’s Union, and Grifton Forbes-Amos, a professional trumpet player. They share their own experiences with the music industry, tell us more about what they do now, and provide advice and insights for those pursuing a career in the music industry.
Benjamin Turner
Benjamin Turner is the founder of Spit Game and Rap Club, initiatives that empower young people through creativity. His youth-led team run rap education programs in schools, developing the next generation of artists and leaders. Passionate about youth voice, he bridges music/film and industry, ensuring young talent gets real opportunities.
Follow Turner on social media:
@rapclubuk on Instagram
@thespitgameuk on Instagram and TikTok
@mrbenjiwenji on X
Tom Eagle
Tom Eagle has been the Musicians’ Union Regional Officer for the East and Southeast of England since 2019. He has worked both as an employee and a freelancer in various areas of the music industry. His experience includes countless live performances in over twenty-five countries, lecturing in Music Business and Performance at both FE and HE levels, and recording as a session musician. Tom joined the MU at the start of his career and is still a member of the East and Southeast Region.
Follow Tom on social media:
@wearethemu on Instagram
@WeAreTheMU on X
Grifton Forbes-Amos
Grifton Forbes-Amos is a London based Musician who’s been playing music from the young age of 10 working to indentify his sound and what music means to him. He strives to seek his sound from all the resources he’s come across creating something new but still paying homage to Jazz.
Follow Grifton on social media:
@Griftonnb1 and @Grif_tones on Instagram and TikTok
Download the episode transcript
Links and Resources:
1. Gender Inclusivity in Music Technology
30th January 2025
In the first episode of Make Your Mark: Notes on music education, the new Music Mark podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Eddie Dobson, Co-Director of Yorkshire Sound Women Network; Kate Rounding, Executive Director at TiME (Technology in Music Education UK); and Xanthe Sparke, Project Co-ordinator at Old Chapel Music Studios. We talked about representation in the music technology space, the challenges facing young women, transgender young people and non-binary young people and how these should be addressed. We also highlighted some fantastic resources for music education organisations to improve their practice in this area, and opportunities that young people interested in music technology can get involved with.
Dr. Eddie Dobson
Dr Eddie Dobson is a composer, sound designer and scholar with a passion for working with sound, storytelling, and connecting with others with similar interests. Since completing a PhD on the social psychology of music technology collaboration and creativity, Eddie became a National Teaching Fellow of the HEA, delivering research articles, book chapters, international keynotes, and education projects, also initiating and co-founding Yorkshire Sound Women Network C.I.C. in 2015. As an independent practitioner Eddie now enjoys a world of sound making, collaborations, project development and education with a broadening range of brilliant and fascinating people.
Follow Eddie on social media:
@lizdobsonuoh on X
@eddieatfinelineaudio on Instagram
Kate Rounding
TiME (Technology in Music Education UK) brings together music educators, practitioners, and industry organisations across the UK, with a focus on making music technology accessible and inclusive, TiME offers free membership, giving you access to resources, insights, and tools to support equitable music teaching, learning, and performance for students of all abilities. Find out more at www.timemusicuk.org or get in touch to learn more about the Table of Tech and the latest in accessible music innovation.
Follow TiME on social media:
Xanthe Sparke
Xanthe Sparke is a graduate from Leeds Beckett, currently working freelance at Old Chapel Music Studios in Leeds. Passionate about live sound and studio engineering, podcast production and making the industry accessible for all.
Follow Xanthe on social media:
@xanthesparke
Download the episode transcript
Links and Resources:
- Yorkshire Sound Women Network (YSWN), info@yorkshiresoundwomen.com
- TiME UK
- Old Chapel Leeds – @oldchapelleeds on social media
- Queer Love Stories Podcast – @queerlovestoriespodcast on social media
- Volume Up
- WIRED Toolkit for Educators
- WIRED Workshops
- YSWN Events
- YSWN Projects
- Fine Line Audio
- Music, Gender and Social Change: Contemporary Debates, Directions and Challenges – Ceclia Bjorck
- Zippia Career Expert Audio Engineer Statistics
- The USC Annenberg Report
- Youth Music Next Gen Fund
- Sound and Music Summer School
- Saffron
- Sugar Stealers
- Leicester Music Conference
- Youth Music Funding Opportunities
- Old Chapel Leeds – free recordings for new artists
