We Make Music Scotland
National Music Education Conference 2026
Conference Brochure – WMM-Conference-2026
Our second We Make Music Scotland National Education Conference took place on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 September 2026 in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow. Thank you to our main sponsor ABRSM.
The two-day event brought together over 250 delegates from across the country and was designed for instrumental teachers, freelance musicians and community music practitioners.
The conference showcased how music shapes minds and communities through an engaging programme of hands-on workshops, inspiring keynote speakers, presentations, youth performances and partner trade stalls.
The conference started with a fun, inclusive and energising mass singing session led by Andy McTaggart from The Cumnock Tryst. This interactive singing session offered a welcoming opportunity to connect with fellow delegates and experience the joy of singing.
Key note speakers were Dr. Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason who spoke about equitable access to music and the transformative power of music education and the vital role teachers, freelance musicians and community practitioners play in nurturing young people’s potential. Dr Graeme Smillie (MEPG), spoke about the new MEPG strategy alongside findings from the We Make Music Now research and the strategic priorities and key insights that will help share the future direction of music education in Scotland.
Workshops were led by a wide and varied range of industry professionals and offered a rich learning experience for delegates. A Wellbeing in Practice workshop by osteopath Andrew Patterson guided delegates through a practical workshop to support their own health and the wellbeing of the young people they teach.
The 2026 conference programme is available to view here .
Feedback from the conference has been really positive:
“Thank you for providing this opportunity to collaborate with colleagues nationally.”
“I have found the last 2 years so inspiring. Looking forward to next year already. Would love to be involved.”
“Enjoyable warm up, speaker fantastic, great to network with fellow instructors, interesting talks and workshops. More space to mingle would be good and more stalls.”
Plans for next year’s conference are now underway. We are looking for a new venue next year as the RCS is not available so please watch this space.
Conference Resources
Thank you to the presenters who have shared their resources from the conference:
Sarah Freestone – ABRSM Writing and Arranging for Mixed Ability Ensembles