Listen Imagine Compose is a partnership project with Sound and Music and Birmingham City University. Beginning in 2010 the project consisted of a series of symposia and action research projects. These projects took place in schools in Birmingham, Harpenden, London, Cambridge and Macclesfield and investigated six key questions relating to teaching composition at Key Stage 3 and 4. Themes included: evaluation and effective feedback; creative strategies for teaching composition; the role of listening in the creative process; introducing young people to unfamiliar aesthetics; creative use of technology; and, how expert composers and performers can be most effectively used in the classroom. Each project team consisted of an experienced teacher, a composer and a music education researcher.

The final report on the action research project can be read here.

The project now has a dedicated website which holds the research and resources to date and details of CPD offered through the project. This includes a Listen Imagine Compose MA in Teaching and Learning based on research from the Listen Imagine Compose action research project in partnership with Sound and Music and Birmingham City University, accredited by the latter. See here for more details.

There is also a termly twilight West Midlands Listen Imagine Compose Teachers Network which meets to share practice and have presentations and workshops from teachers, academics and composers.  To find out the next meeting date and book click here.

'I find that these sort of meetings remind me what it's all about - why I love music in the first place! ......could you pass on my thanks - David was interesting and relevant.'

Secondary music teacher, Birmingham