19/06/2009
Pop star Sting has been named global patron of Musical Futures as the initiative moves into its next phase, launching a new resource pack for teachers and a raft of free training and CPD opportunities.
Musical Futures is an approach to teaching music that brings informal and personalised learning into the classroom, and it has proved hugely successful in engaging young people aged 11-18 with music.
"As a former teacher myself, I'm very much aware of the pressures that come with the job and of teachers' need to be able to get hold of high-quality materials for use in the classroom," said Sting.
"The success of Musical Futures shows that music teachers are willing to try unconventional approaches and put themselves in situations where they don't always feel comfortable, if it means that their students make more music, more often. I hope more music teachers will feel sufficiently inspired by these resources to give them a try in their schools."
It's not only in the UK that Musical Futures is catching on. The US-based NAMM Foundation has made a grant to fund the launch of Musical Futures in Australia, part of a campaign to revitalise music education in Australia's public schools.
To find out more, go to: www.musicalfutures.org.uk
Download a resource pack, or order a hard copy
Find out about training opportunities
Photo © Paolo Roversi