Ahead of the kick off to Skills Lab Academy 2026 next month, we’re taking the chance to look back some of the key lessons we’ve learnt in last year’s course.
1. Peer learning is key
Building a career in music facilitation is no easy task. Even as an established leader with many projects up and running, you can end up feeling like an island in a big sea. Tight budgets and limited staff capacity mean that many music leaders can end up working solo, or with small groups of leaders – but finding opportunities to connect with other leaders is vital in skills development. Hearing first-hand from fellow music leaders’ experiences working in different settings can refresh your mindset, spark new creative ideas, and unlock approaches you might never have thought of before.
It can be easy to neglect the importance of peer learning, particularly when your schedule is jam-packed full of projects. What’s clear from bringing together Skills Lab cohorts each year, is that every participant has a perspective to bring, and allowing space to explore these ideas in a low risk environment can be the key to developing creative practice.
2. Confidence can be built through empowerment
As a music leader, you’ll likely know all too well that for many workshop participants, performance and improvisation can often feel quite daunting – particularly to those who may not have had much firsthand musical experience.
To combat initial hesitancies, having a toolkit of exercises and techniques to break down barriers to participation is the most useful approach. One example of these techniques might be massed drone singing in vocal workshops, which allow singers to mask their voice in a chorus of singers, but still having explore creatively among the group. Another technique could be collaborative composition, using techniques such as ‘invisible voting’, where participants vote anonymously about the direction of the musical creation – making sure that every voice in the group feels valued
By interacting with the entire group using games and exercises, leaders can empower smaller groups and soloists in a unintimidating way that allows individuals to seize the opportunity to be creative.
3. Adaptability is essential
Being able to adapt your leading in ways that are accessible in many different ways is vital to ensure that equal participation is achievable. This is particularly relevant when we consider taking music leading into SEN settings for example. A music leader’s approach needs to fit the needs of individuals rather than expecting them to conform to traditional workshop structures. Using simple strategies such as introducing different modes of communication like body language, visual cues, and Makaton can enable your music sessions to be enjoyed by a wider range of individuals.
4. Pre-written music can inspire creativity
Creativity doesn’t need to come out of thin air. It can be influenced and inspired by whichever genre of music workshop participants are passionate about.
Taking apart just a small section of a pre-written work can be a catalyst for groups to explore their musicality. It’s a chance to really think about what it is about the music that connects with each participant individually. Taking a song that is already known to participants is a great starting point, it takes away a barrier, as the group already have a strong understanding of the music their working with.
5. Always take the time to reflect on your practice
No matter which stage you have reached in your career, there is always room to develop and learn new things as a music leader. Remembering to reflect on what went down well in a session and highlighting the challenges you faced in the particular setting is important. There is always space to develop your skills, learn from your mistakes, and innovate in your practice.
Interested in learning more about music leading?
Join our Skills Lab 2026 sessions –
