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ACM is proud to work with local schools, Surrey Arts and Culture Box to support attainment raising and use music to address young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Tuning In is a project established as a part of ACM’s Access and Participation Plan. The project aims to raise young people’s aspirations, support their skills development, and provide them with an opportunity to learn what it is like to study for a degree in music and to work in the music industry.

Tuning In consist of two workshops delivered by ACM expert staff and students and a professional recording session in our SSL studio. The workshops are focused on using the medium of music to support mental health and wellbeing. They include elements of song writing, musical composition, and performance. The aim is to help young people write and record a song.

At the end of the project, they come to ACM to record the song they wrote, and experience working with professional sound engineers, and music producers. They are supported by ACM staff and student mentors they’ve worked with during the workshops.

The recording session is professionally filmed for the purpose of creating music videos and promotional materials, like the ones listed below, which can be used by students and other
stakeholders to promote creative potential of the project and its participants, and to aid young people in their future academic and career endeavours.

All schools interested in participating, are advised to contact kchojnacka@acm.ac.uk or surreyartsmusic@surreycc.gov.uk by the end of June. We particularly encourage to apply schools with large groups of students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. The schools selected for the project will be contacted by the end of summer.

Their representatives will be invited to planning and consultation session (online) to help ACM tailor workshops to their students’ needs and interests and make logistical arrangements. Please note that the project usually runs from September to December each year and is regularly evaluated by ACM to ensure improvements and positive outcomes for the participants.

If you want to know more, please have a look at the Tuning In Film and the music videos from the 2022 edition with Warlingham School Six Form College and Three Rivers Academy in the playlist above.