Services For Education, the Birmingham charity responsible for Birmingham’s Music Service that teaches music each week to 32,000 children in 98% of Birmingham schools, has paid tribute to its outgoing Head of Music Service who is leaving the organisation after 33 years.

Stuart Birnie, a professional tuba player, joined Birmingham Music Service as Lower Brass Specialist, being appointed Head of Music Service in 2019 having previously been Assistant Head for six years prior to that. He and his team are credited with being driving forces behind the expansion of music education in the city.

When he first joined the Music Service, Stuart was one of just 30 music teachers. Today, Services For Education employs around 180 music professionals and runs one of the largest Music Services in England, having received numerous awards and honours for its work.

The Music Service, which became part of Services For Education in 2013, provides 27,000 musical instruments free of charge, organises the country’s largest youth proms running over four nights at Symphony Hall, has significantly expanded its world music department and has introduced music to support children and young adults with special education needs.

Sharon Bell, Chief Executive of Services For Education, said: “Whilst we are sad that Stuart is leaving us, we are enormously grateful that he has led and been supported by a team that has made an enormous contribution to the lives of thousands of young people and has helped firmly establish music as an important component in Birmingham’s schools. We are very grateful for his work, team leadership and dedication and wish him every future success.

“We have in place a structure and team that will enable us to continue to move forward especially with the recent announcement by Arts Council England that Services For Education has been selected as the Music Hub Lead Organisation in Birmingham – that will enable even more Birmingham children to enjoy playing music,” said Sharon.

Stuart, who departs Birmingham to take up a post in the south of England so as to be closer to his family, said: “The teaching of music in our schools has improved dramatically – but I must emphasise that it has always been a team effort and throughout my 33 years in Birmingham, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most talented music teachers and professionals as well as with great schools, heads and teachers..

“I have been fortunate to witness the impact that music and the creative arts can have on young people. Music should be available and accessible to all. When I first joined the Music Service, learning to play music was largely the domain of children whose parents could afford it. Whole class teaching back in the early 1990s was rare and we started our whole class instrumental teaching programme in 2004 with just seven classes. Today, we are delivering 450 classes across the city. Birmingham can be proud that it has led the way in enabling more schools and their children to participate in music.

“The Music Service in the city has also been responsible for many other initiatives. Our collection of 27,000 music instruments (which we reckon to be the largest outside the armed forces) enables children to be loaned an instrument free of charge. Introducing that facility at the Music Service’s inception really helped change the face of music education in the city.”

Stuart is particularly proud of the Music Services’ work with and support for children and young adults with special education needs where music has been proved to be easier to process than language and is therefore vital as a communication tool in special education – not forgetting of course, the simple joy that music making can bring.

He believes too, that the support of other organisations in Birmingham, has been crucial.

“The development of Birmingham Music Education Partnership has had a tremendous impact on schools and young people. This is a partnership that has grown over the past six years, and we are blessed with the skills we have here in Birmingham. Being able to collaborate on projects with our hub partners – City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham City University, Quench Arts, MAC Makes Music, Ex Cathedra and B:Music – has been transformational to schools and young people. Their support has been incredible,” said Stuart, who also sits on the strategic advisory board for Birmingham Arts School.

The Music Service has also introduced what is believed to be the UK’s first world music department. Each week, 3,500 Birmingham children attend small group and one-to-one lessons in African djembe drumming, North Indian tabla, sitar, steel pan and dhol folk drumming from Punjab. Almost one-in-five are from non-BAME backgrounds.

“As a result, through music, children in Birmingham have a better understanding of different cultures, traditions and heritages and appreciate how music influences us all,” said Stuart.

ENDS

Pictured: Tuba player Stuart Birnie, who is leaving Services For Education as Head of its Music Service

About Services For Education:

An education and training charity based in Birmingham, Services For Education brings music and learning to life. Services For Education employs more than 220 staff and delivers music tuition to children along with expert training and development to teaching and school support staff. It has annual income of £6.9m (Y/E August 2022). Part-funded by Arts Council England it also has its own fundraising and subsidised commercial operations.

• Services For Education’s Music Service, one of the largest in the country, works with 98% of Birmingham schools and each year teaches music to nearly 32,000 children – as well as running 113 free ensembles. It provides 27,000 musical instruments free-of-charge so all children have access to playing and enjoying music together and its Youth Proms at Symphony Hall give 4,000 young musicians the opportunity to perform to an audience of more than 10,000. It also runs music schools, has a world music department, provides private music tuition to all ages as well as working with partners to deliver music and choral opportunities to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Its award-winning Online Music Educational Resource was completed and launched free to schools in 2021 to appeal to a young IT-connected audience attracted to learning online and to complement traditional tuition.
• Services For Education’s School Support Service provides expert training and development to teaching and support staff in nearly 600 schools in the West Midlands and increasingly across England, to improve practice and ensure teachers are best equipped to respond to developments in curriculum and policy. As a leading provider of safeguarding education, Services For Education works with 400 schools delivering training in-person and on-line. It also delivers innovative programmes to support the physical and emotional health of children and young people through Health for Life and other community-based activity. servicesforeducation.co.uk

For further information:

Public and media relations for Services For Education:
David Clarke
E: david-c@clarke-associates.co.uk;
M: 07808 735255

Issued on behalf of:

Services For Education
Unit 3 Holt Court
Holt Street
Birmingham Science Park
Aston
Birmingham B7 4AX