Making More of Music Making was the theme of this year’s FMS conference held on 1-2 June.  Over two hundred delegates basked in sunshine following the half term break and enjoyed the ambience of Beaumont House, Windsor.

 At the centre of the conference was a keynote by Paul Robertson, founder leader of the Medici String Quartet and Chief Executive of the Music Mind Spirit Trust. His compelling speech about the power of music in the lives of everyone - from pre-birth to old age - was deepened by his own near death experience this year when he was in a coma for six months. Why is music important to every single person? It is because music is part of our human spirit and a means of communication, even when everything else appears to fail around us.

 Keith Swanwick, Emeritus Professor of Music Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, is perhaps the guru of music education in this country. At the conference he demonstrated how good teaching and learning is dependent on knowing how learners develop their musical understanding. In music education today we are grappling with many different initiatives that are all aimed at strengthening the opportunities for young people. Professor Swanwick reminded us about some deep values and principles of learning that are common to all approaches to music-making.

 Anne Bamford, Director of the Engine Room and author of ‘The Wow Factor’ is currently undertaking the first national research on the Wider Opportunities on behalf of the FMS, the DCSF and Awards for Young Musicians.  Anne has an enormous wealth of experience of arts education across Europe and has worked extensively for the EU and UNESCO.  She spoke about the value and impact of arts in Europe and helped us to place the Wider Opportunities programme into a truly international context.

The FMS conference provides an opportunity for those working in and with music services to come together, support each other, improve the musical offer and strengthen the resolve to make music education better. The recent Ofsted report ‘Making More of Music’, whilst acknowledging the many good aspects of music education, was also clear in identifying issues that must be improved. This conference was part of the improvement process. We have many things to be proud of, including a Wider Opportunities programme that is leading the world, and a national singing campaign, Sing Up, that is addressing the needs of all children in all schools with the simple belief that singing enhances everyone’s lives. 

If you attended the conference I very much hope you felt it was worthwhile.  An evaluation form has been sent to all delegates so please make sure you complete it and provide your feedback.  The conference is a key event in the FMS year, so it is important that it meets everyone’s needs as much as possible.  The range of speakers, break-out sessions, exhibition, venue, cost and date are all aspects that have to be evaluated  So let us know what you think worked well and what didn’t: that will help us to inform next year’s conference.  Details of presentations will appear on the website shortly.

Happy music making during the last half term of this academic year.

 John Witchell