MC² - Mini Conference: Exploring Inclusive Approaches to Music Technology with Children & Young People
Sage Gateshead is delighted to present the seventh MC² half-day conference for music leaders, teachers, and educators working with children and young people experiencing challenging circumstances.
MC² will include presentations, workshops, and discussions exploring different approaches music educators can use to embed music technology within their practice.
The National Plan for Music Education writes that ‘music technology is now an integral part of the landscape for those teaching, learning, composing and performing music’ and finding ways to embed technology in the classroom can result in a more engaging, accessible, and inclusive learning environment. However, recent studies highlight that music technology can be one area that music leaders can often feel less confident using when working with children and young people. Recognising technology’s prominent role within the National Plan, this event will aim to support music leaders to begin exploring how they can use music technology within their own practices through various discussions and practical workshops.
This event will begin with a keynote by Dr Pete Dale, ‘Lecturer at York University and Principal Investigator for the AHRC-funded CUMIN network (Contemporary Urban Music for Inclusion Network)’, who will set the scene for the event discussing the important role that music technology can have within young people’s music education. Later in the event, delegates will have the opportunity to explore practical approaches to using music technology with children and young people through ‘two illustrations of practice’ sessions led by the Making Tracks programme at Sage Gateshead and DJ Schools UK based in Leeds.
For this event tickets are free of charge. Places are limited so advanced booking is essential.
ℹ️ Useful Information
Timings:
1:15 – 1:30pm Tea and Coffee on arrival for in person delegates
1:30 – 1:35pm Welcome for all delegates
1:35 – 2:20pm Keynote: Dr Pete Dale
2:20 – 3:15pm Illustration of Practice One: Making Tracks
3:15 – 3:30 Break
3:30 – 4:25 Illustration of Practice Two: DJ School UK
4:25 – 4:30 Closing Remarks
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Dr Pete Dale
Pete Dale is a Lecturer in Music Education at the University of York. He has been researching the use of DJ decks to boost engagement and attainment in school and extra-curricular settings for many years and was formerly a Head of Music in an inner-city secondary school himself (2003-12). He is the author of Engaging Students with Music Education: DJ Decks, Urban Music and Child-Centred Learning (Routledge 2017) and has written several journal articles and book chapters on similar themes. Previous to his tenure at York, Pete was Senior Lecturer in Music at Manchester Metropolitan University (2013-2021) and an Early Career Fellow at Oxford Brookes (2012-13). He is currently the Principal Investigator for the AHRC-funded network CUMIN (Contemporary Urban Music for Inclusion Network) and co-editor with Pamela Burnard and Raphael Travis of the forthcoming collection Music for Inclusion and Healing in Schools and Beyond: Hip Hop, Techno, Grime, and More (Oxford University Press, 2023).
Making Tracks
Making Tracks is a programme for young people between the ages of 16-25 to develop their songwriting and music production. The programme, run in partnership with Access Music Production, supports young people with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the recording studio environment and work with producers to create, write, record and produce their own music. Speakers from the Making Tracks programme include:
- Lisa Murphy- manager at Blanks Studios and created Access Music Production, a community interest company which aims to improve the opportunities for people to work with music technology in their music making. Lisa has 20 years of experience as a producer and educator in the music industry.
- Holly Rees- is a musician, songwriter and music producer. Holly is passionate about breaking down barriers to songwriting and music production, working on several songwriting projects across the region.
DJ School UK
DJ School UK is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to support young people to develop their skills in DJing across various contexts, alongside supporting training music leaders to develop their knowledge and skills in DJing. Jim Reiss, the Founder and Managing Director, will explore DJ School UK’s approach to working with children and young people to develop their DJ skills. Jim is an advocate for the use of DJing to engage children and young people facing challenging circumstances. He is also pushing for the recognition of DJ equipment as the equivalent to traditional instruments at all levels, especially in mainstream education. He is a consultant to the AQA exam boards preparation for the use of DJ equipment at GCSE level, Industry consultant to the Leeds Conservatoire Foundation Degree in DJ Skills, has developed other AQA Unit Award Scheme accreditations in DJ skills and is on the Contemporary Urban Music for Inclusion panel (CUMIN).