Tuning In

About Tuning In

ACM is proud to partner with schools, colleges, music hubs, charities, and other creative organizations in London, Guildford, and Birmingham to deliver the Tuning In project. This initiative supports attainment raising, skills development, the promotion of creative industries and arts, and young people’s entry into higher education.

Tuning In is a project established as part of ACM’s Access and Participation Plan. ACM aims to raise young people’s aspirations, support their skills development, and provide them with an opportunity to experience studying for a degree in a creative field and working in the creative industries.

This project takes a holistic approach, helping participants understand different 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 type of workshops we offer is flexible and depends on the needs and interests of participants and their organisations. Workshops include, but are not limited to, songwriting, musical instrument practice, game development, music production, sound engineering, live sound, AI and music technology.

Staff Training and Equipment Consultations – These sessions are designed for school and college staff who wish to develop specific skills through additional training and/or receive advice and guidance on music and studio equipment.

Application Advice and Guidance – We provide tailored individual and group sessions on applying for a degree in the creative sector. These sessions cover the HE application process, entry requirements, student funding, personal statements, and auditions. Participants in our skills workshops gain experience and access to creative content produced during the sessions, which they are encouraged to reference in their applications.

Industry Events and Open Days – ACM hosts various industry-related events and concerts where professionals 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 tailored campus tour to explore our facilities and meet our exceptional staff.

Tuning Into the Creative Industries Network – This is an opportunity to network 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 could consist of 2-3 workshops delivered by ACM expert staff and students, along with a professional recording session in our SSL studio. The workshops may 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 write and record a song while working alongside professional sound engineers and music producers. They are supported throughout by ACM staff and student mentors.