About Tuning In
ACM is proud to partner with schools, colleges, music hubs, charities, and other creative organisations in London, Guildford, and Birmingham to deliver the Tuning In project. This initiative supports raising attainment, developing creative skills, and enhancing understanding of the creative industries and arts sectors. The project aims to improve young people’s entry into and participation in higher education.
Tuning In is a project established as part of ACM’s Access and Participation Plan. ACM aims to provide an opportunity for participants to experience studying for a degree in a creative field and working in the creative industries. This project focuses on helping participants understand various career paths in the creative sector, acquire soft employability and academic skills, gain experience for their creative portfolios, and receive mentorship from ACM staff and students.
What We Offer
As part of the project, we provide the following:
Skills Workshops – The workshops we offer are flexible and depend on the needs and interests of participants and their organisations. They include, but are not limited to, songwriting, musical instrument practice, game development, music production, sound engineering, live sound, and music technology.
Staff Training and Equipment Consultations – These sessions are designed for school and college staff who want to develop specific skills through additional training and/or receive advice and guidance on music and studio equipment.
Application Advice and Guidance – These sessions cover the higher education application process, entry requirements, student funding, personal statements, and auditions. Participants of the tuning In Workshops gain experience and access to creative content produced during the project, which they are encouraged to reference in their applications.
Industry Events and Open Days – ACM hosts various industry-related events and concerts where professionals from different areas of the industry showcase their work and share their experiences. Tuning In participants receive invitations to these events. Additionally, they are invited to ACM and Metropolis Studios open days.
Campus Tours – Tuning In participants can request a personalised campus tour to explore our facilities and meet our outstanding staff and students.
Tuning Into the Creative Industries Network – This is an opportunity to connect with other creative education providers, industry experts, and charities to build a strong community of practice. Together, we aim to promote the creative industries, identify and address skill shortages in various regions, and encourage more young people to pursue creative pathways.
Example of a Tuning In Activity
A typical activity may consist of 2-3 workshops delivered by ACM expert staff and/or students, along with a professional recording session in our SSL studio. The workshops can focus on using music as a medium to develop professional skills and support mental health and well-being. Activities include songwriting, musical composition, performance, and studio recording.
As part of the project, participants compose and record a song while collaborating with professional sound engineers and music producers. They receive continuous support from ACM staff and/ or student mentors.
How to apply
All schools, colleges, and other organisations interested in participating are encouraged to email Karolina Chojnacka at kchojnacka@acm.ac.uk.
We especially welcome applications from schools with large groups of students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds.
Please note that the project runs year-round and has no application deadlines. ACM and SEER evaluate the project to ensure quality and positive outcomes for participants.
If you want to learn more, please check out the YouTube playlist below, featuring songs created in previous editions.
