Students and survival as a small music department: Engaging with wider communities of musical practice

Sykes, Tom (2026) Students and survival as a small music department: Engaging with wider communities of musical practice. In: Music Mark Higher Education Conference: Past, Current and Future Progression Routes to HE, 5 May 2026 - 5 May 2026, Cardiff University.

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Abstract

Despite the overall decrease in numbers of students taking A level music in recent years (ISM 2025), interest in studying music at undergraduate level appears to have remained relatively steady across the sector (Pace 2024). There is, however, an increasing need for universities to make efficiencies, particularly in small departments with expensive provision such as music performance. The need for strong recruitment has therefore never been more pressing for small music departments such as the one in which I work, so how can those of us in such departments attract students in an increasingly competitive sector?

In this paper I will discuss some of the ways in which my music department engages with potential future students via outreach activities and collaborations with an extra-curricular ensemble. Rather than thinking of these as formal music education activities, I am drawing upon an approach based on the communities of practice model, Kenny’s (2016) Communities of Musical Practice, in which members work together – and learn from one another – to achieve a common musical goal. This fosters a sense of community and a feeling of belonging, which could encourage young musicians, who for various reasons may feel out of place in large institutions, to study with us.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Keywords:	university music department
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Creative Arts & Humanities > School of Creative and Performing Arts
SWORD Depositor:	RISE Symplectic
Depositing User:	RISE Symplectic
Date Deposited:	10 Jul 2026 12:49
Last Modified:	10 Jul 2026 12:49
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/4951

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