Launch Of Music Education Islington

On Monday 1 April Islington Council, in partnership with Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Islington Community of Schools, officially launched the Music Education Islington (MEI) programme. MEI seeks to ensure all children develop their music skills regardless of their background or attainment and is part of Islington Council’s commitment to a fairer Islington where young people learn and thrive. MEI has two key priorities – to increase and widen access to music education for children and young people in the borough and ensure they have clear pathways to continue their musical development.

MEI will provide all children and young people (aged 5 to 18) in the London Borough of Islington with:

• The opportunity to learn a musical instrument through whole-class ensemble teaching programmes for the a minimum of a term
• Clear and affordable progression routes
• The chance to sing regularly with choirs and other vocal ensembles in the area
• An instrument loan service, with discounts or free provision for those on low incomes
• Access to large scale high-quality music experiences, through Guildhall, Barbican and other partner organisations

MEI also offers continuous professional development (CPD) to schools to help them deliver music in the curriculum.

The Brewers’ Company is pleased to support the MEI programme through the Dame Alice Owen Foundation. Foundation funding is currently supporting the delivery of Guildhall Young Artists Islington, a branch of the MEI programme which seeks to create better progression routes in music for children in Islington. The programme works in partnership with primary schools which take the lead in recruiting children who show an interest in music making beyond instrumental lessons at school. Schools bring children to the Guildhall School’s after-school centre, where children participate in musical activities for two hours in the afternoon, including small group tuition, ensemble and choir.