Think Again News

One of the great things about helping people to get their message across effectively is when you see it being put into action – especially with digital or “new” media.  Although sometimes it can be a bit unnerving.  Digital media aren’t just changing the way we communicate, they’re changing the way people react and feedback when you’re training or working with them.

Yesterday, we had a great session with the team at Tameside Music Service – helping them to come across better on TV and radio. A few months ago, we’d convinced them of the value of using social media to promote their work. They were obviously listening because by the time we got back to London, the films of their interviews were up on their Facebook page, attracting loads of positive comments and discussion – along with a photo taken, unknown to us, on an iPhone during the radio session.

Today, I was explaining the benefits of Twitter and other social media to a conference at the Cass Business School attended by representatives of Black and Asian charities and campaign groups.  Highlights from the presentation were tweeted live by some of the people attending, some of the people I mentioned were notified (on Twitter, of course) of what I’d said and I got live, digital feedback straight afterwards. Thankfully, the audience and the feedback were really positive.

If you’d like us to enlighten or inspire you on digital media or any other aspect of your messaging and communication – drop us a mail.  Or just Tweet @ianparkinson or @jaffreyman

“The Think Again training is inspirational…able to deliver exactly what we need at the time we need it – which is NOW”

A ringing endorsement – one we’re really proud of – from the Chair of the Federation of Music Services.

So far, 25 local authority music services have taken part in Think Again’s Campaign and Communication programme and another 25 are being given the opportunity when the second programme gets underway in March.

Full details here.

Need convincing of its value? Listen to just one testimonial from the first sessions:

‘The course is practical, challenging, relevant and enjoyable. The leaders are experienced in media and marketing, and they share their experience openly and professionally.”

We can do the same for you, of course, whatever business or sector you’re in.

Marc Jaffrey has been given an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.  The award is in recognition of his services to education.

Marc took on the role of Music Manifesto Champion in 2004 to campaign for improvements in music education in schools and communities. He led a team drawn from the music industry, the arts and education to influence government policy and unlock record levels of funding for young people’s music making.

Thanks to Marc’s leadership, millions more children now have the opportunity to play instruments and sing. “I feel privileged to have worked with an amazing team of people who are as passionate as I am about music and its importance to a child’s development.”

“Music has the power to inspire, enrich and transform a young person’s experience of learning. It is fun, it gives us all a lift and it brings out the creative individual in us all. I am proud to be honoured in this way. Our music education system and our music industry are world leaders. This award recognises the brilliant work being done by thousands of people around the country to keep Britain musical. Music is working for children, our young people and our nation as a whole.”

Darren Henley, Managing Director of Classic FM and Chairman of the Music Manifesto, says he’s delighted by Marc’s award.  ”Without his tireless efforts, many of the landmark changes in music education over the past few years would simply not have happened.”

marc.jaffrey@thinkagainmedia.co.uk

Photo by Hazel Thompson

Bob Lefsetz is one of the most consistently entertaining commentators on music and culture.   For a quarter of a century, his “Lefsetz Letters”  have been a passionate but clear-eyed take on the music business; championing the fans and the artists but with little time for the shroud-waving and special pleading of record label dinosaurs.

His latest thoughts on music education are worth reading, prompted here by the efforts of the great Quincy Jones.

As we travel the country working with the UK’s music services, the value of teaching children a musical instrument, or singing, becomes clearer than ever – and the stories we’re collecting will provide valuable evidence in the campaign to preserve that  precious resource.

Lefsetz has stories to spare, and he tells them well. But the line that echoed most with me is buried in the middle of his letter  ”Screw kids taking lessons in order to raise their math and English scores, kids need to learn music for music itself.”