Our partnership programme aims to increase access to music making for local families and young people from less affluent backgrounds and underrepresented groups.
Below you can find further detail about current projects which align with our strategic vision and in turn offer RCM students invaluable experience of working within a variety of music education settings.
Early Years settings
In addition to our 'Mini Sparks' series delivered in the local community, RCM Sparks leads a Knowledge Exchange workforce professional development programme for nursery practitioners from the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF).
Knowledge Exchange is the process of universities (in our case, conservatoires) working with external partners, in a mutually beneficial way to create a positive impact on the cultural, social and economic prosperity of the UK and beyond.
The overall objective of the RCM Sparks and LEYF partnership is to increase the musical skills of a team of practitioners, 'Music Champions', with a long-term aim to improve practice across the whole organisation.
Find out more about the project on the RCM's Knowledge Exchange page.
Watch the video.
School settings
RCM Sparks leads activity with primary and secondary schools, delivering a programme of bespoke support to those who may especially benefit, alongside events such as our concerts for schools which aim reach as many young people as possible.
IntoUniversity
IntoUniversity and RCM Sparks work in partnership to reach local young people who may face barriers to pursuing higher education pathways. RCM Sparks deliver a termly series of workshops within five local centres: Brent, North Kensington, Hammersmith, Haringey and North Islington. In 2024-25, RCM Sparks delivered 9 practical music making workshops in both Into University centres and at the Royal College of Music involving a total of 120 participants.
The RCM, represented by the RCM Sparks team, is a strategic partner as part of the Tri-Borough Music Hub (TBMH). The TBMH is the lead organisation overseeing the delivery of music education in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and the City of Westminster (the RCM’s closest boroughs). An award-winning organisation, TBMH is a centralised local authority that receives core funding from the Department for Education via Arts Council England, working with schools, pupils and the workforce.
In March 2023 Arts Council England announced a reform of the current Music Hub structure which led to the TBMH becoming the lead hub organisation for the new London West Music Hub (LWMH), covering Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea & Westminster.
The National Plan for Music Education (England) sets out a vision and drive for excellence in music education to be on offer to all, to “ensure all pupils receive a high-quality music education, strengthen the creative pipeline and help create the musicians and audiences of the future”. Therefore, the role of the RCM is to work closely with TBMH (and the Royal Albert Hall) as strategic partners, helping to achieve the following aims:
These aims align closely with the RCM’s commitment to widening participation and workforce development/employability focus. The partnership with TBMH enables Sparks to gain a detailed understanding of the areas of need in the local area, provide a meaningful pathway of musical learning and practically support RCM students in becoming experienced, versatile educators.
Find out more about Tri-borough Music Hub
Large-scale projects
Every four years, the RCM works in partnership with the Tri-borough Music Hub and the Royal Albert Hall to commission a large-scale project, bringing exciting live music experiences to thousands of local school children.
In June 2023, Music Makes Me, a brand-new work by Emily Stratford and Gabriel Krchnavek, premiered at the Royal Albert Hall. This multi-school music education and performance programme shone a light on the importance of inclusive practice and celebrating everyone for who they are. Music Makes Me is a gateway into the world of music, regardless of who you are, and it draws on music as a strength in how we communicate with others.
The event followed in the footsteps of previous award-winning TBMH production, Seven Seeds (2015), awarded the prize for 'New Music' by the Music Education Council of Great Britiain (MEC) and shortlisted for the 'Best Classical Music Education Initiative') and more recently, Convo (2019), an ambitious new work by RCM alumnus composer Charlotte Harding.
Further information and resources:
Convo
See and hear more about Convo from the people involved, including RCM composer Charlotte Harding
Convo follows the success of Seven Seeds, a large scale performance of a newly commissioned vocal work involving 160 schools, more than 20 Royal College of Music students from and 150 music co-ordinators. In November 2015 Seven Seeds was awarded the prize for 'New Music' by the Music Education Council of Great Britiain (MEC) and shortlisted for the 'Best Classical Music Education Initiative'.
Turtle Key Arts
“Turtle Key Arts promote many initiatives and implement a series of measures to engage with the most vulnerable and disadvantaged parts of society.” - Everything Theatre
Turtle Key Arts, English Touring Opera, and RCM Sparks have been collaborating since 2009 to bring songwriting, movement, and singing to people living with Alzheimer’s and all forms of dementia, along with their carers and companions.
In 2024-25, four Turtle Song projects were delivered across the UK, including in Liverpool, Bishop Auckland, and Oxford. These projects provided meaningful connection and a sustained musical experience to over 90 participants, while offering valuable hands-on learning for two Royal College of Music student ambassadors.
In addition, Turtle Opera, another initiative by Turtle Key Arts, offers autistic young people the opportunity to engage in a multi-disciplinary creative project combining music and drama. In 2024-25, 30 participants took part in Turtle Opera in Oxford and London, with two RCM students supporting the London-based programme.
Find out more about Turtle Key Arts and English Touring Opera.
In Deep
Since 2019, RCM Sparks has partnered with In Deep, a registered charity dedicated to supporting isolated older adults and children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Through this collaboration, In Deep has offered year-long placements to students from the RCM, allowing them to take part in group music therapy sessions. Students have also participated in one-off opportunities such as holiday workshops, drama productions, and performances by the Over-50s Choir.
This partnership has brought talented professional musicians into In Deep’s community while providing RCM students with valuable hands-on experience in the field of music therapy. Several former placement students have gone on to work with children with SEND or pursue careers in music therapy, highlighting the long-term impact of this meaningful collaboration.
Turtle Song is a Turtle Key Arts, English Touring Opera, and RCM partnership project which brings song-writing, movement and singing to people with Alzheimer’s and all forms of Dementia, and their carers and companions. In 24-25 there were 4 projects delivered in-person in locations across the country including; Liverpool, Bishop Aukland, Liverpool and Oxford. These projects provided connection and a sustained musical experience to 90 participants and gave valuable experience to 2 RCM student ambassadors.
Royal College of Music
Prince Consort Road
London SW7 2BS
United Kingdom
Registered charity No. 309268
