Further Talent: Awards for Young Musicians expands its programme for supporting musical learning of young people living in challenging circumstances

Awards for Young Musicians (Photo Edward Webb)

Furthering Talent is a programme from UK charity Awards for Young Musicians (AYM) which aims to support the musical learning of young people living in challenging circumstances. AYM has recently announced that it will be partnering with Music Education Hubs in Liverpool, Lewisham, Sunderland, Worcestershire and Bournemouth/Poole/Christchurch, and these hubs will begin delivering AYM's Furthering Talent programme during the next six months.

The aim of Furthering Talent is to sustain young musicians who would otherwise stop their instrumental teaching when their school whole class lessons end. Participants receive a range of other support, including weekly instrumental tuition for a minimum of two years. Their parents/carers and teachers are also supported in a variety of ways. The hubs' role is to identify local young musicians who could benefit the most from joining the programme. Hubs in Bradford, Brighton, Greater Manchester, Hull, Leicestershire, Manchester, Nottinghamshire, North-West Midlands and Wiltshire already deliver Furthering Talent, which has been described as 'overwhelmingly successful' by music education expert Richard Hallam. The addition of the five new Hubs means that, with significant support from Youth Music, the programme will help over 500 young people across England by 2021.

Founded over 20 years ago, AYM aims to support young musicians by providing funding and help for those from low income families, and through training, advocacy and research. AYM provides holistic support ranging from funding instruments, lessons, transport, expanding young people’s musical networks to giving them opportunities to perform, as well as supporting the wider sector e.g. through training teachers in identifying and nurturing talent wherever they find it.

Full details from the AYM website.