As Christmas approaches I’m pleased to look back over some of the successes of Think22 in this calendar year and to share some updates on changes to the team.
Thanks to our Music Hub Partners
Despite another year of Covid uncertainty we have seen some really impactful work taking place between us and our Hub Partners, Essex, Newham, Coventry and THAMES, in 2021. We began the year with another well-received series of webinars on topics that we see as central to making music education fully inclusive. This included a joint webinar with the Hub Partners on our respective inclusion journeys, having kicked-off with a music-focused session of performances from talented Disabled artists. It was such a huge pleasure to be able to zoom in (pun intended) on the music, as that is really why we all do what we do.
We worked closely across the year with our Hub Partners, holding regular online meet-ups to dig into discussions, share practice and learn from each other. A key shared priority of has been workforce diversification, and underrepresentation of Disabled people, as well as focusing on our work around Core Competencies for inclusive practice and Training the Trainer to leave a legacy within each Partner Hub from the Think22 programme.
In December we were proud to be part of the annual Music Mark Conference , along with our four Hub Partners, as our final live event of the year. We brought together a live jam, using new tech, hearing from Disabled music leaders and sharing our practice. I could not have been more proud of the whole team that worked so hard to bring this together. This was a wonderful way to round off the year with a bang.
Changes to the Think22 team
Now we are preparing for changes to the Think22 team in 2022.
Our fantastic Musical Inclusion Practitioner and Manager Bea Hubble is taking up a new role at Sound and Music as Head of Education. This is a fantastic opportunity for Bea who is a hugely talented rising star, as well as a wonderful colleague that we will all miss. I will also be stepping back from the frontline delivery of Think22 work to create some space to focus on my own musical practice, radio and other new opportunities. In the short term, I’m pleased to say that I will continue to be involved in Think22 in a consultant role as a critical friend. I am pleased to be able to continue my commitment to inclusion in Music Ed and to support the team through the transition.
I would like to add that this has been an amazing team and it was a true delight and privilege to work with everyone at Drake Music and all of our partners over the past 8 years. Thank you. I’m both humbled by, and proud of, the work we have done together and I look forward to carrying that torch with me in my future work.
As things change and the team take up their new roles, Joy Stacey will continue to be your main point of contact for Think22 questions or enquiries on JoyStacey@drakemusic.org.
Thank you for coming with me (and the Think22 team) on our journey of exploration and learning about inclusion. I’m pleased to be able to continue on the path in my new capacity over the coming months and look forward to seeing what direction it takes from here.
Thanks
Douglas
