Million pound project will see Music embrace digital opportunities

Think, Design

The University of Liverpool’s Department of Music will join five other universities as part of a £1million project aiming to enhance student employability through the introduction of new digital initiatives.

The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) Ensemble+ scheme received £1.05 million from the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s (HEFCE) Catalyst Fund, and will see Liverpool connect to the RNCM as well as music departments at the Universities of Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and York.

The project aims to enhance student employability, widen participation and develop new teaching approaches. It will be supported by the BBC and School of Sound Recording.

Costing a total of £2 million, RNCM Ensemble+ will enable all partners to benefit from a host of digital initiatives, such as live streamed classes and workshops with visiting tutors, collaborative seminars providing scope for interactive contributions, ‘distance’ music-making for staff and students at all partner institutions, and professional recording sessions with support from the BBC (based at MediaCityUK) and School of Sound Recording.

It will also widen participation across the north of England, offering ‘distance’ teaching opportunities to schools, colleges and music education hubs.

HEFCE Director for Universities and Colleges, Yvonne Hawkins said: “HEFCE is pleased to support this initiative which will deliver new digital technologies and ways of working for students across higher education and with the employers.

“The benefits for students should be significant, both during their studies and in support of their future career and employability.”