Make Your Mark: Notes on Music Education
'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.
This podcast is produced by Aimee Christodoulou, Emma Cragg and Yusef Sacoor for Music Mark, a membership organisation, Subject Association, and an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation advocating for excellent musical learning in and out of school. Music Mark support their members and the wider sector through training, resources, networking and advocacy work at a national level and across the UK. This is done with a vision for accessible and excellent musical learning and engagement, inspiring and enriching the lives of all children and young people.
Episodes
14 episodes
3. Music in Early Childhood: Why it Matters
Following the launch of Music Mark’s ‘A Common Approach: Early Years’ programme, we discuss why early years music education is crucial for child development. Nicola Burke, Polly Ives, and Amy Campbell share their experiences and beliefs about t...
2. Creative Curriculum Approaches
This episode discusses the significance of a creative curriculum in music education, exploring student engagement, innovative teaching strategies, the impact of Artsmark, and the need to build confidence in both teachers and students. The conve...
1. Make Your Mark Live: Educational Excellence at Primary School
To launch Series Two, join us on stage at the Music Mark Conference (recorded live in November 2025). In this live recording, the Music Mark podcast team are joined by Rachel Hawker, Director of Education at Rocksteady Music School,...
11. A Music Mark Christmas
To round off series one, join the Music Mark team as they review 2025 with their personal and professional highlights from the last 12 months.
10. Access to Instrumental Music Making
In this month’s episode, we explore how low-income backgrounds might create or perpetuate barriers for young people to get involved with and pursue music, with a particular focus on instrumental tuition. We’re joined by Jo Yee Cheung from Olymp...
9. Mental Health and Music Education
Recorded on World Mental Health Day, Rachael Perrin and Alex Theophilus discuss the challenges faced by young people today and how music can serve as an effective tool to support mental health. Together, we explore how educators can ensure they...
8. Music in Higher Education
What skills can you gain from a Music degree? How can young people best prepare themselves for the application process? And what challenges are higher education institutions facing in the UK music education sector? Join us as we explore all thi...
7. Environmental Sustainability
Join us as we explore why the music education sector has in important part to play in tackling the climate crisis. Our guests, Ruth Roberts, a Senior Leader at Kent Music, Dr Ross Purves, Associate Professor of Music Education at ...
6. Youth Voice & Leadership
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 Laura Fullwood, their Youth Leadership Coordinator, to...
5. Disability
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 musicia...
4. Neurodiversity
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 t...
3. Tools for Teachers
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,...
2. Pathways Into Industry
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 prof...
1. Gender Inclusivity in Music Tech
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...
