Community Musician Basic Training
An intensive entry-level training in Community Music practice: facilitation fundamentals, inclusive musical leadership, co-creation methods, and clear principles and standards. On completion you can plan and lead participatory music-making activities with confidence, and you will know the most relevant next step for your development.
Who it’s for
Social work and community practitioners, educators, and musicians who want to lead participatory music safely and effectively, and apply it in real settings. You should have a participatory mindset (be willing to work with people on eye level), be open to reflection and feedback, be comfortable making music in front of people (to whatever standard), and be curious about leading/facilitating groups in co-creation.
What you will learn
By the end of the 5 module / 2.5 day Basic Training, you will be able to:
Explain Community Music practice clearly (and accurately). Describing what Community Music is (and isn’t), including participation vs community, ethics, power, and boundaries.
Set up and run a participatory music-making activity in a workshop setting that is safe, inclusive, and workable. Able to prepare an activity practically (space, materials, timing, transitions) and safely.
Read and respond to group dynamics in the moment. Recognising common patterns (confidence gaps, resistance, dominance, disengagement, chaos) and making basic facilitation choices that keep the group moving.
Lead effective warm-ups and create a strong start. Using a warm-up toolkit (body/voice/rhythm/listening/play) to build trust, activate participation, and adapt activities for mixed abilities.
Facilitate participatory music-making with clear musical leadership. Leading musically using simple structures (call-and-response, cues, layering, grooves) that support inclusion and musical quality.
Co-create new material with groups. Using accessible composition and improvisation frameworks to generate lyrics/rhythms/melodies with participants, supporting shared ownership and agency.
Plan a participatory music-making activity and evaluate it realistically. Produce a simple plan and use basic evaluation methods to reflect, learn, and evidence impact without turning the work into paperwork theatre.
Identify appropriate next steps in the PLC development pathway. Decide whether to embed learning in existing work, progress into Basic Plus/mentoring, or pursue other routes (e.g., fellowship / external certificate options) based on readiness and context.
Format
Two and a half days, cohort-based.
Interested? Contact Matt Robinson to find out more