Think2020 was a 3 Year Youth Music funded project. We were one of 13 organisations awarded funding for organisational strategy development and partnership working.
We campaigned for increased opportunities & visibility for Disabled musicians in the music education workforce and hosted a new type of music education conference – We All Make Music – on 9th March 2018.
The Aim
Think2020 aimed to increase musical opportunities for Disabled children and young people, through strategic and sustainable partnership work in the music education sector.
Music-making, creative expression and musical progression for Disabled children and young people are achievable and are also important and beneficial in numerous ways.
Drake Music worked with music service providers to open up access to music for young Disabled musicians.
Why ‘Think2020’?
The thinking behind the name is that we were working to develop clear, strategic and focused ways of working to remove disabling barriers in the music education sector, not only over those 3 years, but well into the future.
Our new programme is Think22, focusing on achieving real impactful change over the next 4 years.
What we did
We worked to model, champion and share fully accessible and inclusive musical approaches:
- Working with partners to ensure that Disabled children and young people have the opportunity to access and progress in music-making.
- Influencing national policy and practice.
- Working to ensure that inclusive music becomes an integral part of music hubs’ offer.
- Establishing and supporting a Community of Learning.
Useful Blog Posts
As part of our work we post resources and reflections on our blog to support the music education sector by sharing our learning.
Here are a few quick highlights from the blog:
- Customising ThumbJam on the iPad for accessibility
- Developing practice using the Youth Music Quality Framework
- Reflections on Kris Halpin’s experience of music education as a young Disabled musician
- Finding new ways to compose with iPads
- Top 10 needs of Music Education Hubs
- Understanding Disability – a blog series
Contact
If you would like to know more about Think2020 please contact Douglas Noble on douglasnoble@drakemusic.org.
About Think2020
The team:
Joint Strategic Leads
Carien Meijer, Drake Music Chief Executive – carienmeijer@drakemusic.org
Douglas Noble, Drake Music Associate National Manager Training and Consultancy douglasnoble@drakemusic.org
Think2020 National SEN/D Education Manager
Jonathan Westrup –jonathanwestrup@drakemusic.org
Think 2020 Project Manager
Ruth Currie – ruthcurrie@drakemusic.org
Partners:
We worked with the following partners:
Treolar School
THAMES – Tower Hamlets Arts & Music Education Service
Hertfordshire Music Service
Soundhub – Music education in Kent
Norwich and Norfolk Festival Bridge
Funder:
Think2020 was one of 13 projects funded by Youth Music Fund C.
Fund C awards larger grants for projects with a dual role of delivery and strategic work; developing, promoting and supporting musically inclusive practice