We think that harnessing the power of music, and of practical musical activities within our schools and communities, has real potential to raise awareness of the issues and give voice to people’s concerns about them.

Ross Purves

Associate Professor of Music Education

Environmental Sustainability Practices in Music Education Hubs and Music Services

Between March 2024 and May 2025, Dr Ross Purves and Emma Arnott, with Prof Evangelos Himonides, all from UCL’s Institute of Education and the Crafting Sustainabilies Collective conducted a comprehensive study into environmental sustainability practices within UK music education hubs and services. Funded by the sector organisation Music Mark, the project gathered qualitative and quantitative data from over 150 music education professionals through surveys, interviews, and case studies.

The research revealed a sector increasingly engaged with sustainability but facing significant structural and logistical challenges. While many organisations reported having an environmental sustainability policy, these often lacked depth or remained focused on narrow operational concerns such as travel or energy use. In contrast, teaching and learning activities emerged as a more vibrant area of engagement, with hubs and services embedding environmental themes into concerts, composition projects, and creative work using recycled instruments. These initiatives frequently fostered youth voice and strengthened local ecological connections—demonstrating music education’s unique capacity to inspire environmental awareness and action.

Yet substantial barriers persist. Time pressures, funding limitations, and insufficient staff capacity were widely cited, alongside uncertainty about how to embed sustainability meaningfully into everyday practice. Transport remains the most pressing operational challenge, particularly for peripatetic teachers in rural areas. Innovative responses—such as redesigned digital delivery models and zero‑emission instrument‑transport partnerships—show promise but are not yet widespread. Instrument repair and reuse practices continue to grow but require greater sector‑level coordination, training, and investment.

The study highlighted a clear sector appetite for practical guidance, professional development, and structured networks for sharing emerging models and examples of good practice. Recommendations included embedding sustainability within curriculum and organisational strategy, prioritising repair and reuse infrastructures, and developing cross‑sector partnerships with environmental organisations.

Research Impact and Sector Influence

To maximise sector engagement, accessibility, and impact, the research generated a suite of dissemination outputs that have already prompted discussion and reflection within the UK music education landscape:

1. Webinar (November 2025)

Hosted in collaboration with Music Mark, the webinar presented the research findings to a national audience of music educators, hub leaders, and sector organisations.

• A recorded summary presentation provided a concise, accessible overview of key findings for long‑term use on the Music Mark website.
• A further extended, more provocative and questioning segment encouraged attendees to interrogate current practices and consider new possibilities for action.
• Music Mark contributed an organisational response outlining how the research would shape their future programmes and support offers.
• The 30‑minute discussion and Q&A demonstrated strong practitioner interest, with contributions emphasising practical challenges, opportunities for collaboration, and appetite for continued discussion.

Watch the webinar presentations back here.

2. Podcast Episode: “Make Your Mark: Notes on Music Education” (July, 2025)

The research informed a widely shared episode exploring the role of music education in tackling the climate crisis. Featuring Ross Purves alongside sector leaders and practitioners, the discussion:

• Highlighted barriers preventing educators from adopting more sustainable practices;
• Showcased examples of positive change already underway;
• Positioned sustainability as both a pedagogical and operational challenge for the sector.

Listen back to the podcast here.

3. Peer‑Reviewed Conference Paper (CMMR 2025)

The international conference paper situates the music education sustainability findings within broader debates about music technology, environmental justice, and emerging models of creative and repair‑based learning. By doing so, it:

• Helps connect UK‑based practice to global conversations in music technology and digital sustainability;
• Highlights the environmental implications of digital music‑making;
• Advocates for redefining musicianship to include sustainability, repair culture, and critical technological fluency.

Read the conference paper here.

The full research report is available at: https://www.musicmark.org.uk/resources/environmental-sustainability-practices-in-music-hubs-services/

Project team and collaborators
Dr Ross Purves profile
Prof Evangelos Himonides profile
Emma Arnott
Music Mark