About
Musical Futures is an award-winning music education platform dedicated to transforming how music is taught in schools. Founded with the mission that everyone should benefit from the value of music, the organisation supports primary and secondary teachers with a rich library of curriculum-aligned resources, lesson plans, and project materials available through their Musical Futures Online platform. The platform offers practical, hands-on content designed to develop musical skills and knowledge at every level — from early primary projects like 'All About Me' to secondary-level song-based learning covering popular music repertoire. Teachers can access resources such as ChairDrumming, JustPlay, and Singalong projects that make classroom music-making engaging and accessible for all students. Beyond resources, Musical Futures runs a professional training programme including in-person workshops and online Zoom sessions (e.g. 'Discovering Musical Futures Online') to help teachers build confidence and competence using the organisation's methodologies. A community of Champion Teachers collaborates to pilot and refine new content. Musical Futures also maintains an active blog and newsletter, keeping educators up to date on new resource releases, events, and sector news. The platform is ideal for music teachers at all experience levels looking to bring creativity, relevance, and structure to their lessons, as well as school leaders seeking evidence-based professional development in music education.
Key Features
- Musical Futures Online Resource Platform: A curated library of lesson plans and project resources for primary and secondary music teachers, covering popular music repertoire and skill-building activities.
- Professional Development Training: Live and online workshops (including Zoom sessions) that introduce teachers to key Musical Futures methodologies and approaches, tried and tested in real classrooms.
- Primary & Secondary Pathways: Structured learning pathways tailored by school stage, from early primary projects like 'All About Me' through to secondary song-based and ensemble programmes.
- Champion Teacher Community: A collaborative network of experienced teachers who co-develop resources, pilot new content, and support peers through events and shared expertise.
- Regular Content Updates: New projects, resources, and news are published throughout the year, with a newsletter keeping educators informed of the latest releases and training opportunities.
Use Cases
- A secondary school music teacher looking for popular music-based lesson plans that engage students who find traditional classical curricula uninteresting.
- A primary school teacher with limited formal music training seeking structured, easy-to-deliver projects like 'All About Me' to build pupils' musical skills confidently.
- A head of music department seeking CPD opportunities and professional training for their team to refresh and modernise classroom music delivery.
- An education coordinator wanting to introduce whole-class ensemble or group music-making activities aligned to the national curriculum.
- A teacher new to music education who wants access to a community of experienced practitioners and a library of tried-and-tested classroom resources.
Pros
- Award-winning, classroom-tested resources: Materials have been recognised with multiple music education awards and developed in partnership with practising teachers, ensuring real-world effectiveness.
- Covers primary and secondary levels: Comprehensive coverage across all school stages means teachers at any level can find relevant, age-appropriate content without needing separate platforms.
- Active teacher community: The Champion Teacher network and regular events foster peer learning and ongoing professional growth beyond one-off training sessions.
Cons
- Primarily UK-focused: Content and training events are largely oriented toward the UK curriculum and school system, which may limit direct applicability for international educators.
- Premium access required for full resources: While some free content is available, access to the full Musical Futures Online platform and training programmes likely requires a paid subscription or fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Musical Futures designed for?
Musical Futures is designed for primary and secondary school music teachers who want practical, engaging classroom resources and professional development training to improve student outcomes in music education.
What types of resources does Musical Futures Online offer?
The platform includes lesson plans, song-based projects (such as ChairDrumming, JustPlay, and Singalong), and structured learning pathways for both primary and secondary levels, covering a wide range of musical styles and skills.
How can I access Musical Futures training?
Training is available as in-person workshops and online sessions via Zoom. You can view the full training calendar on their website and register for upcoming events such as 'Discovering Musical Futures Online'.
Is there a free option available?
Yes, Musical Futures offers free resources and exclusive content to newsletter subscribers. Teachers can sign up to the community email list to receive updates and access to selected free materials.
What is the Champion Teacher programme?
Champion Teachers are an experienced network of primary and secondary educators who work closely with Musical Futures to develop resources, deliver training, and support fellow teachers in implementing the approaches in their classrooms.
