Awards for Young Musicians launch their Practical Progression film series
As Programme Manager at Awards for Young Musicians (AYM) I am extremely proud to tell you about the launch of our new series of CPD film resources called Practical Progression. The films have been produced by AYM in partnership with 5 of the Music Education Hubs who are delivering our Furthering Talent programme: Brighton & Hove, Greater Manchester, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and North West Midlands. Each one picks out a key theme from the Furthering Talent programme, looking at a different ways to help young people overcome barriers to music making. AYM recruited instrumental teachers from our Furthering Talent programme in each Hub to help produce the films, therefore they were made for music leaders, by music leaders. We’re aiming to build on professionals' existing tool kit, whatever setting they are working in. The teachers involved in the project have been on a real journey during the film making process and the feedback they have given us has been fantastic. This is Kathy Croft on her experience of Practical Progression:
“Working on the Practical Progression project was a huge learning experience. I enjoyed the teamwork (which can be limited as a peripatetic music teacher), the opportunity to discuss and evaluate, and the satisfaction of knowing that my small contribution fed into such a fantastic end product. I am proud that I put myself out of my comfort zone (regarding narrating the film at quite short notice!!) but the positivity of AYM makes me want to say yes instead of no! Although I feel I already have AYM principles embedded in my own teaching (and have for many years), I am thrilled to have been part of a conscious effort to try to share these with others.”
The films are part of a peer-led professional development programme, also called Practical Progression which will be launched in 2019. We’ll be sharing details soon but for now we’re looking to disseminate the films as far and wide as possible. They're free to use and we’re hoping that you might like to incorporate them into your CPD offer for music leaders, host them on websites and post about them on social media. And if you’re not doing so already you might want to adopt some of the films’ principles into your everyday music delivery.
So do take a look - you’ll find the films on the Youth Music network here. We’re keen to hear what you think about them and how you might be able to use them so any feedback would be great. Additionally, if you have any questions about the films, the training or the Furthering Talent programme itself you can contact me at neil.phillips@a-y-m.org.uk.