Young people and music: research brief
Job description
Youth Music was founded in 1999. Since then, we’ve been at the forefront of young people’s music-making in England.
Every Youth Music project measures its impact, helping us build a unique national overview.
Our projects help young people to develop musically, of course, but they have personal and social outcomes too. We support young people to build their confidence, resilience, and self-esteem. To meet different kinds of people, learn to trust each other, and make friends. To develop vital skills they need, get support to be able to face the world, and take control of their own lives.
We know the difference making music has had for the young people we’ve supported. Now we want to understand the big picture of the role music plays in young people’s lives – including those we’re not yet reaching. This research will be vital in informing our work with young people, helping to shape our future investment and strategy. It will also present us with PR opportunities, helping to raise awareness of the findings.
We previously carried out an omnibus musical engagement survey in 2006. We don’t want to replicate this report exactly, but we do want to understand how the country’s musical landscape has changed since then.
What the research project will need to do- Build a picture of young people’s engagement with music, including the opportunities they have to make music in and out of school, any instruments they play, the types of music they like to listen to (and how they choose to do so), and their live music preferences.
- Develop understanding of young people’s feelings about music, including how it affects their wellbeing, the part it plays in constructing their identities, and their musical ambitions.
- Engage a representative sample of young people and use a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Analyse the data to identify trends, and report on how this differs due to demographic factors, including age, gender, ethnicity, and where young people live.
- Compare and contrast the information from young people who have taken part in Youth Music projects, and those who have not.
- Produce a final report, sharing the findings in a clear, accurate and engaging way.
Download the brief here
Budget and timeline
- Budget: in the region of £20,000 (excluding VAT)
- Proposal deadline: Friday 17 November 2017.
- If your proposal sounds suitable for us, we’ll follow up by inviting you to an informal interview by the end of November.
- Presentation of interim findings: February 2018
- Final report deadline: March 2018
Please email your proposal to nick.wilsdon@youthmusic.org.uk. If you have any questions beforehand, give him a call on 020 7902 1069.
Photo from the Gem Arts East by North East project, supported by Youth Music.