Changing Tracks (previously MusicNet East) - led by Hertfordshire Music Service)

Changing Tracks is a programme of support and learning for and with music services wanting to improve equality, diversity and inclusion. It is run by Hertfordshire Music Service and funded by Youth Music. It was previously called MusicNet East.

We help music services to be more inclusive by providing a peer network facilitated by Music Mark, funding for action research, support and challenge, advice and resources.

We use research as a catalyst for development – meaning we fund music services to test approaches to inclusion, to learn from their successes and their challenges, and to share their learning with other music services.

Action research

Each year since 2018, we have been providing a fund for music services to deliver action research on the enablers and barriers of inclusion.  The following services have been, or still are, partners in the programme of research: Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Essex, Hertfordshire, Hull, Liverpool Resonate, Norfolk, Southampton, Waltham Forest. The services then share their emerging findings as part of a National Music Services Working Group for Inclusion.

National  Music Services Working Group for Inclusion

We run the National Music Services Working Group for Inclusion in partnership with Music Mark, the UK association for music education and Youth Music.

The purpose is for music services to share their learning around inclusion and to provide support and challenge to each other. The action research partners (see below) also share their emerging findings on the drivers and barriers for inclusion.

The group consists of the current action research partners, plus, currently, six others: Calderdale, Ealing, Luton, Northamptonshire, Thurrock, Milton Keynes.

We also present insights and share learning through:

• conference presentations
• blogs, videos and other resources 
• own communication channels
• Music Mark the UK association for music education website, enews, social media and events
• Youth Music Network website, enews, social media and events
• meetings and networking with other professionals