Empowering Students to Shape Scotland’s Music Scene
How a partnership between The University of the West of Scotland and the Scottish Music Industry Association is bridging the gap between academia and industry.
Catherine Lawson
Nestled along the banks of the River Ayr, the University of the West of Scotland campus is an idyllic place to study, even on a crisp winter morning which sees me blowing into my hands as I step inside to meet Dr Iain Taylor. As Senior Lecturer in the School of Business and Creative Industries, and Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Commercial Music course, Iain is all too aware of the impact surroundings can have when it comes to fostering creativity.
“One of the advantages of studying here in Ayr is that we’re not in the city. We’re in a kind of creative enclave – a beautiful and nourishing space to explore and nurture creativity outside an urban area. Sometimes being removed from the city in a place which is green and serene gives us different perspectives – it allows creativity to thrive.”
The BA (Hons) Commercial Music course which has been running now for 25 years has seen many students thrive in that time, going on to enjoy illustrious careers in the music industry. Among the celebrated alumni is Robert Kilpatrick, CEO of the Scottish Music Industry Association – it’s a source of great pride for the university given the weight of the work being done by the association to ‘strengthen and increase the value of Scotland’s music industry both at home and on the world stage; economically, socially and culturally.’ (SMIA)
While the university has always enjoyed a strong working relationship with SMIA – founded in 2008 as a trade body and membership organisation for the music industry – it’s their recently announced formal partnership that I’m meeting with Iain to discuss: a partnership which has the potential to significantly strengthen the competitive advantage students already enjoy by virtue of studying at UWS.
Building meaningful connections between academia and the professional world of music lies at the heart of this partnership and it’s a partnership which is built on a strong foundation. SMIA colleagues have long been involved in guiding curriculum structures and accrediting the Commercial Music course delivered by UWS staff, and UWS staff have long maintained a foothold in the music industry, enjoying diverse musical careers in their own right. Through the new partnership, however, students now have access to the most up-to-date expertise from both sides, allowing them to develop the knowledge and skills which best align with current and emerging trends in the industry.
In a multi-billion-pound industry which supports thousands of artists across the country, keeping up with the pace of change can be a challenge, particularly when it comes to embracing changes in the way we live with music in the modern world.
“Music is a universally human experience,” Iain explains. “It tells us something about ourselves and how we relate to the wider world. It’s about connection. It has always had immeasurable value in our lives, but the way we value it today has changed – the industry has been completely re-configured and that’s what we need to keep up with. Where once we waited patiently to save our money and head to the shops to buy a favourite record, students today have immediate access to almost everything that has ever been recorded and they can access it from anywhere. They also have more complex tastes in music and listen to it much more broadly – the economic value has shifted there.”
I ask Iain what this shift means for UWS, in particular the partnership with SMIA.
“Our partnership allows us to be deeply connected to the shifting modes of value. As educators we need to be intimately connected to the cutting edge of the industry. The further we get away from the embedded experience, the more we need those in the industry to help us bridge the gap. It keeps us relevant and helps us focus on what we’re here to do – provide a rich, meaningful experience for our students.”
And that’s an experience which both UWS and SWIA are committed to extending far and wide. As a university, one of UWS’s core values is to forge new pathways so that all students can access learning, no matter who they are or where they’re from.
“There’s an uncomfortable truth in the industry that music is predominantly middle class. In Scotland this is less so – SMIA works tirelessly to provide broader roots which extend the reach of opportunities to those disadvantaged by gender or socio-economic factors and that’s one of many values we share. One of our own lecturers, Jayne Stynes, chairs the SMIA panel on equity, diversity and inclusion which works to improve equity of opportunity for all. Together we’re working to ensure all students can be welcomed into a creative space which reflects the rich diversity of Scotland’s music scene, and which empowers them to achieve.”
Iain tells me that music is a powerful force for change, and from our conversation it’s clear that students are being empowered through this new partnership to be agents of that change. As the next generation of music professionals studying here in Ayr step from academia into industry, they’ll be well positioned to play a key role in shaping the future and in strengthening the economic, cultural and social value of music in Scotland.
