Exploring Music Careers

Lesson Plan Overview:

This 50-minute lesson is designed for Year 13 Music students, aligning with the A-Level Music curriculum (Key Stage 5). The session explores career pathways in music, societal undervaluation of music, and critiques the high school music curriculum. It engages critical thinking, creativity, and active participation to inspire students to consider diverse opportunities within the music industry.

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Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the wide variety of career options available in the music industry.
2. Critically examine why music is undervalued in schools and society.
3. Discuss overlooked and unconventional pathways in music careers.
4. Reflect on what students want to gain from their own music lessons and how these lessons could better serve their aspirations.

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Starter Activity (5 minutes):

"Myths Busted: Music as a Career"

• Objective: Break preconceived notions about music careers.
• Activity: Shuffle a stack of career titles (e.g., Film Composer, Music Therapist, Audiologist, Sound Engineer, Arts Manager, DJ for video games).
  • Give three random card titles to each group of 4–5 students.
  • Groups briefly guess what they think the role involves and discuss whether they think it's a viable career for someone studying music.
• Use this as a springboard to explore how far-reaching music careers can be.

Teacher's Prompt: “Music isn't just about performing and teaching. There are entire industries shaped around music—platforms for you to explore personal and professional growth."

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Main Activity 1 (15 minutes):

"Why isn’t music valued?" (Critical Thinking Debate)

1. Objective: Encourage critical thinking regarding the perceived devaluation of music in education and society.

2. Set-Up: Split students into two groups. Assign roles for a debate:

   • Side A: Defend music education as essential and consider why it deserves more focus.
   • Side B: Present arguments that might explain why music is deprioritised in schools.

3. Hints for Discussion: Provide debate prompts like:

   • "Government cuts to arts funding."
   • "Focus on STEM over creative subjects."
   • "Perceived lack of music career stability."
   • "Music lessons sometimes fail to connect with real-world creativity."

4. After 7–8 minutes of debating, debrief as a class: What can schools do to better align music lessons with real-world opportunities?

   Teacher's Reflection: Link this discussion to shortcomings in the UK high school music curriculum and ask how students would revise it.

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Main Activity 2 (20 minutes):

"Charting Your Career Pathway"

1. Objective: Inspire personal reflection about each student's potential music career pathway while introducing non-traditional options.
2. Activity Instructions:
   • Hand out career map templates (custom worksheets with blank flowcharts).
   • Students brainstorm their dream “main” music career, such as a songwriter or producer.
   • Using arrows and smaller branches, they map “side careers” or backup roles connected to that main role. For instance:
     • Main Pathway: Songwriter
     • Side Options: Music Publisher, Lyric Editor for Ad Agencies, Session Musician, or Film Scorer.
   • Encourage students to think outside the box. Provide a list of lesser-known career ideas:
     • Digital/AI Music Programming
     • Music Therapy in Healthcare
     • Forensic Musicology (e.g., copyright cases)
     • Foley Artist (creating sound effects)
     • Arts Advocacy and Community Arts Leadership
3. Sharing: Pair students to explain their maps and give constructive feedback.

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Actionable Discussion (10 minutes):

"Rethinking Music Lessons for Us"

1. Group students into pairs or small groups.
2. Prompt: Students brainstorm what they want from their music lessons at school. Possible guiding questions:
   • Does the current music curriculum prepare you for a career?
   • What practical skills or industry knowledge do you feel are missing?
   • If you could design one lesson or module that excites you, what would it be?
3. Write responses on mini whiteboards or large sticky notes for class review.

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Wrap-Up & Reflection (Final 5 Minutes):

1. Recap key takeaways:
   • Diverse Career Options: What surprised you?
   • Value of Music: Why is music important, and how can you advocate for its inclusion after school?
   • Personal Goals: How does today's lesson reshape your thoughts on your future?
2. Have each student share one inspiring thing they learned about a music career path they didn’t know before.

Teacher’s Note: End with a motivational statement.
"The world of music is constantly evolving, and this classroom is the launchpad for people who will shape its future."

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Resources:

• Career Map Templates
• Pre-made Cards with Career Titles (for Starter Activity)
• Mini Whiteboards or Sticky Notes for group discussions

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Assessment/Reflection Tools for Teachers:

1. Evaluate student engagement during debates and group discussions.
2. Review the depth of thought on students’ career maps.
3. Analyse feedback from “What do you want from music lessons?” activity to inform future teaching approaches.

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Teacher Strategy Tips:

• Foster debates with probing, thought-provoking questions to deepen their engagement.
• Highlight pathways unique to the UK music industry (e.g., British artist management roles, PRS for Music opportunities, BBC music broadcasting).
• Relate curriculum critiques to students’ immediate experiences, connecting abstract issues with tangible improvements.

With a session like this, year 13 students will leave empowered not only with knowledge about career options but also with a personal connection to their future roles in music. They'll also walk away confident in articulating the societal and educational value of music as a discipline.