We help foster the growth of local and regional opportunities to play folk music, particularly where there is currently little provision, and we support music educators to enable this to happen.
We work in partnership with Music Education Hubs, schools and arts organisations across England to create and deliver projects for and with young people.
There are four strands to the Engagement Programme and one project could involve all four strands:
Workshops
We offer engaging instrumental workshops led by folk music specialists designed in collaboration with our partners to maximise learning and impact. Themes include playing by ear, creative music-making, composition and playing for dancing. Our workshops are mainly aimed at Key Stages 3-5 with some work at Key Stage 2, and they take place in schools and in out-of-school settings.
Performance
We work with professional folk artists and National Youth Folk Ensemble alumni to present interactive, educational performances for primary and secondary schools.
National Youth Folk Ensemble members and alumni are also available to perform at conferences, festivals and other events.
Alumni Training
As part of our commitment to developing the next generation of folk music educators, we give National Youth Folk Ensemble alumni opportunities to train and gain experience in music leadership.
Continuing Professional Development
We provide CPD for music teachers and folk musicians to develop skills in folk music education, sharing methods from the National Youth Folk Ensemble creative team. All of our CPD is backed up by our extensive Resource Bank, created for use by music educators.
“In well over 10 years of music education this is the best CPD I’ve been on. Informative, well planned, really interesting and fun. I feel loads more confident coming away from it.” Running a Youth Folk Ensemble CPD participant
Resources
Folk Music Starting Points
To support learners and teachers of folk music, the National Youth Folk Ensemble creative team have produced a series of films to demystify folk music. Explore the resource
Exploring English Folk Music
This resource introduces secondary school students to folk music through an interactive performance by renowned folk musicians Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron with National Youth Folk Ensemble alumni musicians. Explore the resource
Folk and Traditional Music
This resource comprises an interactive performance by the National Youth Folk Ensemble 2018-19 and acclaimed folk band Leveret, with an accompanying learning resource for teachers to use at Key Stages 2-4. Explore the resource
There are many other resources for folk music teaching and learning on our award-winning Resource Bank.
Examples of the Engagement Programme
Folk Experience Days 2022
Each year we will look for Music Education Hub partners to host free Folk Experience Days in their settings. Aimed at secondary school students, these days will include learning by ear and creative music-making with the National Youth Folk Ensemble team. Expressions of interest for 2022 are now closed. Join our mailing list to find out about future opportunities (select the option ‘EFDSS Education News’)
Kent Music, January–July 2022
Led by National Youth Folk Ensemble tutors Grace Smith, Kuljit Bhamra and Sam Partridge, this project will explore tunes and groove from English folk music and Indian bhangra music. Plans include CPD for music teachers, film resources, and secondary school workshops. The project will culminate in a creative music day in Ashford.
Passport to Music, 2020–22
Passport to Music is a cross-genre inclusive music project in South Derbyshire aimed at young musicians who have little access to music provision. The project is led by participatory arts organisation People Express, alongside National Youth Jazz Collective, Milapfest, Baby People and the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Young musicians aged 11-18 are exploring jazz, hip hop, Indian classical and folk music and developing skills in composition, music production, songwriting and ensemble playing. The folk element is led by Sarah Matthews and Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne. Find out more at people-express.org.uk
Soundstorm, March 2020
A week-long residency by National Youth Folk Ensemble music leaders and alumni in partnership with Soundstorm, the lead partner for the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Music Education Hub. Unfortunately cut short by the pandemic on Day 2, the plans included workshops and performances in secondary schools; interactive performances in primary schools; CPD for local music teachers; alumni training in music leadership; and a public performance at The Lighthouse in Poole.
Derbyshire Music Hub, January-February 2020
An 8-week project at Hope Valley College in Derbyshire, led by National Youth Folk Ensemble music leaders and alumni. The project included alumni training; a performance in assembly; workshops for GCSE and Year 9 students; CPD for local music teachers; and resulted in a ceilidh for the school community. The project supported the development of Hope Valley College’s existing folk group and the establishment of Derbyshire Youth Folk Ensemble.
Highly impactful, it has revolutionised the way the folk teaching has been delivered — Kristina Craven, Head of Music, Hope Valley College
NYMAZ, February 2019
The National Youth Folk Ensemble and acclaimed folk band Leveret presented an interactive performance in Giggleswick, North Yorkshire, for local school children and an online audience. The live-streamed show was made in collaboration with North Yorkshire music charity NYMAZ as part of Connect: Resound. A resource pack was produced to introduce teachers and students to folk and traditional music ahead of watching the performance.
View and download the resource pack
Bury Youth Strings, October-December 2017
An 8-week project at Bury Music Service working with their string orchestra to explore folk repertoire. The project included workshops led by folk artists; CPD for local music teachers; and a shadowing opportunity for National Youth Folk Ensemble alumni. The project resulted in a performance at The Met in Bury and supported the establishment of the Greater Northern Folk Ensemble.
The workshops really developed the students’ aural skills and their sound production. It also taught them about shape and form, and gave them some composition and improvisation ideas — Gemma Price, Head of Bury Music Service
Our Engagement Programme partners have included: Bury Music Service, Centre for Young Musicians, Derbyshire Music Hub, Devon Music Education Hub, East Sussex Music, Kent Music, Milapfest, Music Mark, Music for Youth, National Youth Jazz Collective, National Youth Orchestra, NYMAZ, People Express, Philharmonia, Soundstorm and Young Music Makers.
Get in touch with Sarah Jones (Programme Manager) to discuss ideas and financial arrangements for ways we can support the development of folk music in your setting:
Support us, and support the folk arts
We champion folk music and dance at the heart of cultural life, all across England.
Donations provide immediate support. But even more than that, they prove that so many people value what we do – helping us to secure funding from partner organisations.
Can you donate today?
