Exploring how composing
is taught and learned
at KS3, KS4 and KS5

Listen Imagine Compose investigates how composing is taught and learned in secondary schools and draws on the expertise of teachers and their pupils, composers, music education academics and arts organisations.

Listen Imagine Compose is a partnership project between Sound and Music, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and Birmingham City University.

Since 2010

We have been undertaking action research, holding symposia, developing resources and running CPD since 2010. This website hosts all of our work to date and has been funded by Youth Music.

“Listen Imagine Compose has played a significant part in improving the musical and educational understanding of professional musicians, teachers and academics.”

Mark Philips, HMI Music, 2012

Listen Imagine Compose - Why it Matters

Listen Imagine Compose

Listen Imagine Compose began as a series of action research projects and symposia culminating in a major report by lead academic Professor Martin Fautley

Phase One

Phase 1 comprised a series of symposia and six action research questions that look at six key projects.

Phase Two

A Continuing Professional Development course for secondary music teachers was piloted in Birmingham and London during the 2014/15 academic year.

Phase Three

The CPD is now available through free Listen Imagine Compose Teacher Network Events and as an accredited course at Masters Level (Level 7). The first cohort began in the 2016/17 academic year, with teachers working towards a Masters in Teaching in Learning or a Masters in Educational Leadership.

Alison Willis on the 2018 Listen Imagine Compose Away Day

When I was invited to the Listen, Imagine, Compose Away Day I really didn’t know what to expect. I knew it was a project to do with composing and education but very little beyond that. What I found was a structured and carefully thought out day of thought provoking presentations and discussions reflecting on how … Continued

29th June Away Day (Birmingham)

The Listen Imagine Compose annual Away Day in Birmingham this June brings together the partnership’s researchers, composers, teachers and arts organisations for a day of presentations, discussions and practical activities focusing on how composing is taught and learned in secondary schools. The Away Day is an invaluable opportunity for secondary music teachers to explore … Continued

15th May West Midlands Teacher Network Event

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group is hosting the second Teacher Network Event for West Midlands music teachers wanting to explore and strengthen their approach to teaching composing. These informal events draw on the research generated by Listen Imagine Compose and offer teachers a chance to explore its findings, share personal experiences and to discover practical solutions … Continued

13th June London Teachers Network Event

Sound and Music are hosting the second Teacher Network Event for London music teachers wanting to explore and strengthen their approach to teaching composing. These informal events draw on the research generated by Listen Imagine Compose and offer teachers a chance to explore its findings, share personal experiences and to discover practical solutions to teaching … Continued

London Teachers Network Day

Yesterday evening we held our first ever teachers network day in Somerset House! 11 teachers attended the event, which explored how they could improve the education of music composition within the classroom. The workshop involved discussions around the teachers’ current classroom practice and how they individually approach lessons with each year group. They shared creative solutions with one … Continued