Education partnerships
Education partnership and collaboration are integral to the RBC Learning and Participation Department. We value and support music and arts partners through a range of joint ventures with reciprocal benefits. Our partners include music education hubs, schools and arts organisations.
RBC works with a range of music education partners including most recently Birmingham Music Education Hub, Gloucestershire Music, Lancashire Music Hub, Leicestershire Music, Sheffield Music Hub and Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust. We work with our partners to enhance their provision, with RBC staff and students delivering a range of opportunities including side-by-side experiences for young instrumentalists and youth orchestras, dynamic performances for primary school children, and CPD for music hub staff and classroom teachers. Our students support the delivery of this programme, often going back to visit the areas where they learnt as under-18s.
In 2024 we launched our first Primary School of Music. RBC St Benedict’s Primary School of Music in Small Heath, Birmingham, provides a range of opportunities for staff and pupils in the school with the aim of building a sustainable model of primary music education. Through the programme, class teachers develop their confidence to deliver music in the classroom. RBC students assist in delivering the programme, gaining valuable skills whilst supporting the young learners.
As well as training music educators of the future, RBC works with education partners to provide continuing professional development opportunities for their staff. This ranges from one-off training days, to our new postgraduate course PG Cert Musician as Educator.
Our partnerships with organisations often lead to future employment for our students. For example, through our partnership with Orchestras for All, a number of our graduates now work regularly for the organisation. The RBC/OFA Orchestral Tutor scheme has given five students the opportunities to develop their skills in inclusive music practice. Our placement scheme with In Harmony Telford & Stoke-on-Trent has led to a number of graduates joining their delivery team.
Our work in schools across the region allows us to support the development of young musicians as well as providing opportunities for our students to gain first-hand experience of putting the skills learnt on their course into practice. Placements in schools enable RBC students to learn from experienced class teachers. We have a network of primary and secondary schools who we work with regularly in a variety of ways, including ensemble development, composition workshops, curriculum support and CPD for teachers.