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

From Conservatoire Student to Music Educator

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

Music Curriculum Design

OHMI Music-Makers WCET Programme.

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

Birmingham Arts School Evaluation

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

Music Makers of the Future

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

Creativity Collaboratives Billesley Primary School

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

Music teacher attitudes to assessment

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

A Level music decline and disadvantage attainment gaps

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

Music Teaching Provision in Primary Schools

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

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

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

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

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

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

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