Learn & Take Part Schools & Early Years Listen Imagine Compose Primary Listen Imagine Compose Primary is an award-winning long-term project, led by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and its research partner Birmingham City University, funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. It aims to improve the quality and frequency of composing teaching and learning in the primary schools through inviting composers and teachers to work, plan, teach and reflect together over the long term. Purchase the Listen Imagine Compose Primary, A Planning, Refleciton and Progression Toolkit HERE Download the Listen Imagine Compose Primary, A Planning, Refleciton and Progression Toolkit HERE Read the LICP1 Executive Summery of the Research Findings HERE LISTEN IMAGINE COMPOSE PRIMARY 2 (LICP2) LICP2 builds on the success of the first phase of Listen Imagine Compose Primary (LICP1). Over the next two years, starting in Autumn 2025, LICP2 will see 5 composers residencies in 5 Birmingham primary schools, working with over 600 primary-age children to develop their composing skills and support their emerging musical voices and identities. Each Composer-in-Residence will also work with classroom teachers and school Music Leads to sustain and embed high quality composing teaching and learning in schools. The project aims to support children to get better at composing, and to support teachers to become more confident and skilled at teaching composing. There will also be opportunities throughout the project for teachers and composers from the different schools and those beyond the immediate scope of the project to meet, identify common challenges, celebrate and share practice, and learn together. Research by the Birmingham Music Education Research Group (BMERG) at Birmingham City University will investigate the long term impact of the LICP approach on pupils and schools. As well as the activity in schools, BCMG plans to develop itself as a centre of excellence for composing with young people, and to offer support and guidance nationally. LICP2 Composers To find out more about the LICP2 composers, click on their names. Amrit Sohal, David Austin Grey, Maja Pluta, Michael Betteridge and Natalie Mason LICP2 Partner Schools We will be working with children and their teachers from 5 Birmingham primary schools, Elms Farm Primary School, Ark Tindal Academy, Hollywood Primary School, Yardley Wood Community School and Bordesley Green Primary School. Find out more about each school by clicking on their school logo. Courtney Watkins, Music Lead at Hollywood Primary School, commented: 'As a school, we are extremely proud and excited to be part of the LICP2 project. We recognise that all our children should have the opportunity to be creative and have the chance to celebrate their creativity. We are hoping that the project will build confidence amongst our staff and children, strengthening collaboration through the art of composing music. Music has the power to enable children of all ages and abilities to express themselves and we believe that with the support of the LICP2, our children will discover their unique musical talents and be able to showcase them with the wider community.' LICP2 Associate Schools Alongside our partner schools, we’ll be working with three Associate Schools from the wider West Midlands area, supporting specialist Music Teachers to utilise the methodology and frameworks of Listen Imagine Compose Primary: Bentley West Primary in Walsall, Mere Green Primary in Sutton Coldfield and St Alphege Primary in Solihull. LICP2 Research Team Birmingham Music Education Research Group (BMERG) at Birmingham City University will undertake the project research with the team comprising of Dr Victoria Kinsella (Lead Researcher), Dr Anthony Anderson, Dr Adam Whittaker and Naomi Wellings (Research Assistant). The project is looking at three main research questions: How can teachers be supported to teach composing at Key Stage 2? What is the role of LICP resources, composer residencies, and professional development in making this possible? What is the impact of composing on children’s musical learning and wider development? LISTEN IMAGINE COMPOSE PRIMARY 1 The first phase of Listen Imagine Compose Primary saw composers working with 8 schools in Birmingham and Bristol over two years, involving 480 children from Year 4 then Year 5, their teachers and the school's Music Lead. The project was delivered between 2021 and 2023. LICP1 Composers To find out more about the LICP1 composers, click on their names. Natalie Mason, Angela Slater, Kala Cheung, Richard Barnard, Will Frampton, Robert Crehan, Chloe Knibbs and Michael Betteridge. LICP1 Schools We're working with classes of year 4 and year 5 children and their teachers from 5 Birmingham schools and 3 Bristol schools. Teachers who participated in LICP1 said: 'LICP has made me realise how much emphasis had been on the performance aspect of music previously and although there were elements of composition, these were very structured and scaffolded and limited children's creativity. The project has completely thrown open the gates of what musical learning could be and our music curriculum has for more opportunities for children to develop their composerly thinking, build on it over time, and although there might be guides and scaffolds in place, children have more opportunities to take their compositions in their own direction.' 'LICP has significantly increased my confidence to plan and teach effective composition lessons and music generally because I can see how a range of creative approaches such as using art, drama or dance as a composition tool helps learners to understand the content. I have a range of lesson ideas that could be adapted to meet various objectives.' LICP1 Research Team Professor Martin Fautley of Birmingham City University led the research team comprising Emma Nenadic, Dr Anthony Anderson, Dr Victoria Kinsella, Dr Adam Whittakar and Gary Spruce. The key research questions were: What can we learn about children in Years 4 and 5 as composers? What is it to make progress as a composer in the primary classroom? How do we structure or plan activities, lessons and schemes of work to support children’s learning and progress incomposing? What pedagogies support children learning and progressing as composers? Funded by: Project Partners: Award: Blogs: Read our LIC Primary Manifesto Read about Composer Richard Barnard's experience working with LIC Primary Manage Cookie Preferences