Jo Gibson | Socially engaged practice: Exploring pathways to effective and ethical participatory music-making

Event details

Speaker: Dr Jo Gibson

Date: 26 January 2023

Time: 5.15 - 6.45pm.  

Venue: Alison House, Atrium (G10)

Abstract

In this presentation, Jo shares findings from Music For Social Impact, a three-year international research project, which examined musician experiences of working in participatory music-making contexts in Belgium, Colombia, Finland, and the United Kingdom.

Despite increasing numbers of musicians working in the field of socially engaged practice – and since research is often directed to the participants of such practices – little is formally known about their work, contexts, and beliefs. Drawing on 98 survey responses and 24 semi-structured in-depth interviews with musicians experienced in leading participatory music activities in the UK, this presentation considers the development of capabilities for effective and ethical socially engaged practice. Questions that will be addressed through the presentation include:

• How do UK music practitioners prepare for socially engaged practice?
• What do they say is needed?
• What do practitioners consider to constitute effective and ethical practice?
• What are the implications for practice, pedagogy and policy?

Biography

Jo Gibson is a practitioner-researcher working at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the AHRC-funded project entitled: ‘Music for social impact: Practitioners’ contexts, work and beliefs’ (PI: John Sloboda). Jo is also a Research Associate at The International Centre for Community Music, York St John University. Her practice research focuses on the micro-acts of making in the field of community music for understanding at micro, mezzo and macro levels. This includes consideration of co-creation in participatory music-making practices, the interrelationship between facilitator and participant, and community music as a working towards cultural democracy.  As a community musician, Jo has led creative music-making projects across the education sector, in community centres, health settings and for arts organisations including orchestras and galleries.

Links

Music for Social Impact (external link)