University News Last updated 01 October
A Royal Birmingham Conservatoire alumnus has been awarded Innovate UK’s Creative Catalyst Funding Prize of £50,000 for his mental wellbeing company.
BMus Performance and Composition graduate Will Crawford founded quietnote in 2021.
The start up company, based in Birmingham, focuses on teaching mindfulness through music, an innovative blend of music therapy and mindfulness techniques.
By blending the therapeutic qualities of music with the principles and techniques of mindfulness, quietnote offers a unique approach to understanding our mental health, helping people to build a deeper awareness of their mind and body.
The company provides one-to-one coaching, corporate training, workshops and community programmes – all centred around the innovative concept of mindfulness through music.
quietnote was conceived during the challenges of Lockdown when uncertainty ignited Will's exploration of the connection between music and mindfulness, laying the foundations for what would become quietnote.
Over the past three years, Will has collaborated with HSBC, Selfridges, and PureGym, as well as making significant impacts in local schools and community organisations.
The Innovate UK funding will be used for two main objectives: To form a partnership with the University of Birmingham to conduct scientific research on the effectiveness of mindfulness through music; and to expand quietnote to reach a wider audience.
Will said: "This funding is an incredibly exciting moment for quietnote.
"When I first started out on the concept for quietnote, it was more an exciting research idea to fill the time whilst waiting for lockdown to pass. Three years on and it’s become my full time job, working with new people and organisations every week.
"This funding will help us to really develop the research into what makes our work so unique. As with any start up, the last three years have been immensely challenging but seeing our practice out there making a difference is an incredible motivator.
"Our long term goal is to have our practice widely regarded on a national level. Mindfulness through music is a growing community, giving people back control over their mindset, their wellbeing and their lives.
"The more people we can reach, the better. If you’ve never experienced our work, come along and see what all the fuss is about. I promise you that we’ll bring you round.”
Find out more about quietnote.