PRESS RELEASE
16TH July 2013
YOUTH MUSIC TO LIVE-STREAM "FRESH THINKING" EDUCATION SEMINAR
The National Foundation for Youth Music will be live-streaming a breakfast seminar looking at new ways young people engage with music and the implications for music education. The "Fresh Thinking for Music Education" seminar will be of interest to music education professionals keen to hear about the latest developments in the music business and trends in how young people listen to, engage with and make music.
Youth Music supports hundreds of music projects providing life-changing music-making for young people with least opportunity, helping them overcome the challenges they face in their lives. The projects provide places for over 100,000 children every year.
A specially invited audience will hear three key speakers, including music journalist and radio presenter Pete Paphides, music strategist Chris Price (former Head of Music Last.fm) and Radio 1 presenter Jen Long, give their perspectives on the latest developments in the music industry and the impact on young people as music-makers, listeners and consumers.
The implications for music education will then be explored.
The seminar is part of Youth Music's agenda to provide fresh thinking on music education issues, following a rebrand this week. The charity has gained significant knowledge and expertise on such issues since its foundation in 1999.
The breakfast seminar takes place on Wednesday July 24th at the RSA in London 8.45am to 10.30am and viewers can watch the seminar live online at www.youthmusic.org.uk/network .
Drawing on these key speakers' conclusions and against the backdrop of reducing interest in music as a GCSE and A Level subject, Youth Music's Executive Director Matt Griffiths will discuss the implications for music education and how we can ensure that it meets the needs of young people to reflect and nurture the fast-evolving ways in which they create, share and consume music.
The seminar will be chaired by Andy Parfitt, Youth Music Chair of Trustees and former Controller of BBC Radio 1.
Questions for the Q & A panel can be tweeted in live using the hashtag #ymseminar .
Youth Music's Executive Director Matt Griffiths says: "Over the last decade, the ways in which young people engage with music have changed dramatically but despite their music consumption remaining high, interest in music as a curriculum subject in school is reducing. We have three great speakers to examine the changing ways young people enjoy music and we hope this may bring some fresh ideas to how music can be taught, both in and out of school, in a way that harnesses the musical passions of our younger generation."
View the seminar live online on Wednesday 24th July 8.45am at www.youthmusic.org.uk/network . Questions for the Q & A panel can be tweeted in live using the hashtag #ymseminar .
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Seminar Key Speakers and Themes
Chris Price has worked in music and the media for fifteen years including MTV, Radio1 and most recently as Head of Music for online music discovery service Last.fm. His theme Disclosure Culture: discovery, sharing and the new language of music-making in the digital age will explore the changing ways that young people discover, share and make music as a form of self-expression. He will provide an up-to-the-minute insight into the new language of music-making, sharing and discovery.
The career of Jen Long extends well beyond broadcasting. She has spent much of her time promoting new bands at live gigs and on her record label Kissability in addition to editing the quarterly music magazine 'Zero Core', DJing, blogging and playing in bands. In 2012, Q magazine named her as one of the most influential young voices in music. She is well placed to explore the theme "Music careers in the 21st Century" and examine how young people's passion for music can be harnessed in many different ways.
Pete Paphides, veteran music journalist and radio presenter's theme will be 'Nurturing young music innovation in a time of recession'. He will examine the effects of the economic downturn on music-making but provide an optimistic view of why cuts and the recession should not be a barrier to young people making music. He will draw on his experience as a longstanding observer of the music industry and his lesser known role of mentoring new bands.
2. About Youth Music
Music-making is life-changing. Every year, Youth Music provides more than 100,000 young people with the opportunity to make music, helping them to overcome the challenges they face in their lives. Our music projects support young people to develop their creative and social skills, make positive contributions to their community and life happy, successful lives.
Our on-going research allows us to identify the ways to engage young people and drive fresh-thinking in music education. We also provide a growing online community for thousands of music education professionals. We know that many young people still need our help.
Youth Music supports projects working across all music genres.
3. For further information please contact:
David O'Keeffe,
Media and PR Consultant,
Youth Music
E: david.okeeffe@youthmusic.org.uk
T: 0207 902 1096
M: 07977 067576
David O'Keeffe
Media and PR Consultant
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National Foundation for Youth Music
T 020 7902 1087
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