Research projects

Birmingham City University has a proud history of being at the cutting edge of research in music education. B-MERG brings multiple faculties together to research teaching and learning, pedagogy, classroom and school music learning, instrumental and vocal music tuition, formal and informal learning, and lifelong learning under one umbrella.

View all research groups

View all current projects

B-MERG has a broad remit, including the following:

To act as a forum for academic and practitioner research and activity in music education in all its forms
To develop work in key themes of local, national, and international interest in Music Education for researchers, teachers, parents, participants, communities, policy-makers and legislators.
To research and develop innovative ways of teaching and learning in music in all its forms.
To work with local, national, and international organisations to develop partnerships for research and activity in music education.
To provide a centre for research and ideas in music education.
To organise seminars and conferences concerned with Music Education

Projects

The research explores how undergraduate conservatoire students can develop pedagogical knowledge.

The OHMI Music-Makers WCET Programme led by The OHMI Trust and funded by Arts Council England, has been active since 2...

Birmingham Art School (BAS) connects schools and arts organisations - including music , dance, theatre and visual arts ...

Improving youth voice and youth-led approaches across Music Education Hubs in the West Midlands to increase engagement ...

Working with Billesley Primary School, the academic team will evaluate the Arts Council England Creativity Collaborati...

Working with international partners to investigate what music teachers think is important in assessments.

Researchers in BMERG have been investigating the decline of young people choosing music as an A Level subject, and whe...

Exploring how schools interpret music education policy to assess the state of music education in primary schools.

This project will explore the interaction between STEAM subjects and their inherent creativity to better understand th...

Comparing cultural differences and sharing best practice around the teaching of music composition in the UK and Germany...

Responding the recorded lack of diversity in classical music education, this study aims to investigate the lived exper...

As a London-based music organisation expands its outreach, BCU has partnered with them to ensure their work - promotin...

Improving music activities to engage young people with special educational needs, and / or disabilities and enhancing t...

Understanding the impact of whole school curriculum models on music subject leader practices.

This research will develop understandings of how to use repertoire as a stimulus that opens the composing horizons for...

Working with young people to create new music around the theme of auto-immune disease.

Imagine Compose explored how groups of beginner instrumentalists up to Grade 3, can compose within a “Wider Opportunit...

The evaluative report undertaken by Birmingham City University detailed a variety of perspectives on the Teach Through...

Can getting young people involved in musical activities help those at risk of low attainment or exclusion?

How successful is Whole Class Ensemble Teaching (WCET)?

Highlighting key themes in music education for young people

Working in partnership with Sound and Music to understand more regarding musical learning through composing

Examining the impact the Singing School model has on the educational outcomes of children and young people

Sound Connections, a leading music charity based in London, approached BCU to act as the data analysis partner in an e...

Evaluating music education in projects with specialised instruments for those with upper-limb disabilities.

What does classical music mean to today's generation?

Investigating the impact of community arts provision on educational resilience.

Raising awareness of the Deutsche Bank Art Prize for Schools

Exploring the performance of music education hubs across the country

Identifying regional contrasts in A-level music provision, and to understand the contexts within which the downturn in ...

How do we assess music proficiency across the world?

Working with Birmingham Music Education Partnership to assess the music education pupils in primary and secondary scho...

The project seeks to address weaknesses in current secondary school music provision.

Research projects

View all research groups

View all current projects

Projects

From Conservatoire Student to Music Educator

Music Curriculum Design

OHMI Music-Makers WCET Programme.

Birmingham Arts School Evaluation

Music Makers of the Future

Creativity Collaboratives Billesley Primary School

Music teacher attitudes to assessment

A Level music decline and disadvantage attainment gaps

Music Teaching Provision in Primary Schools

Re-thinking curricula: STEAM education from early years through to higher education

Comparing composition teaching and learning in secondary school education in the UK and Germany

Investigating how socio-economic background influences music students’ aspirations, sense of identity and belonging within UK conservatoires.

Musical Beacons

MEHEM UpRising!

Curriculum models in school practices

Through the Music Maze: Creative Composing for young children

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group: Resolution project

Imagine Compose

Teach Through Music

Youth Music: Exchanging Notes

Whole Class Ensemble Teaching Research Report

Just Play

Go Compose

Voices Foundation Singing Schools Programme

Evaluation of BBC Ten Pieces initiative

Analysing accessible music education

AHRC Network - Representations of/in classical music

Educational resilience through community arts education

Art Prize for Schools External Project Evaluation

Arts Council England Music Education Hub data return analysis

Geographical and social demographic trends of A-level music students

Global music examinations

Birmingham Music Education Partnership

Listen Imagine Compose