Music Leadership Training 2026
Are you a musician who wants to build your confidence and expand your skills as a music leader? Join Starling Sessions Artistic Directors Lauren Spiceley and John Ruddock for this free six week training course in music group leadership. The course is informed by the methodology and principles used in Starling Sessions and topics covered will include the fundamental skills you need to run a successful workshop, facilitating peer to peer learning, playing by ear, working with multicultural groups, and more.
Build your confidence as a workshop leader with practical skills and experience
Understand the "why" behind the methods
Learn the community building magic of peer to peer learning
Grow your music leader connections in a supportive group setting
Whilst all 6 workshops are designed as a course you can pick and choose the best topics for you
1:1 mentoring offered alongside the workshops
FREE of charge - your place is paid by public funding
Details
When? Every Tuesday from 14th April - 19th May 2026
What time? 1pm - 3pm
Where? The Nest, 33-35 Little Clarendon St, Oxford, OX1 2HU
Topics
14 April: Introduction to Starlings methodology and reflective practice
21 April: Groups: creating a safe and beneficial learning environment and facilitating peer-to-peer learning
28 April: Working by ear with traditional music from musical cultures worldwide
5 May: Arranging for mixed ability groups, creating both accessibility and challenge
12 May: Working with international groups with diverse and difficult experiences
19 May: Putting it all together: understanding community music in our current UK context PLUS informal networking
Each session will contain practical elements and time for discussion. We will practise our new music facilitation skills on each other and explore the concepts and experiences that come up. Some sessions will involve more music making, others more talking.
This training is designed as a 6 session course. We recommend attending all the workshops if you are able. We understand that regular attendance may not be possible for everyone, so you are welcome to come to as much as you can manage and you can sign up for individual sessions.
All workshops FREE of charge - your place is paid by public funding
Course facilitators
Lauren Spiceley
Lauren is a musician, facilitator and producer committed to pursuing social change through musical projects. Her work encourages open mindedness, exchange and participation in and through music.
With over 10 years of experience leading and producing cultural projects, Lauren has specialist experience in Intercultural Music Facilitation (Ethnofonik) and Community Music Leadership for Peacebuilding and Social Change (Musicians Without Borders). Lauren holds a degree in Music from the University of Oxford, and is a professional violinist, accordionist, singer and pianist.
John Ruddock
John is an experienced play and behaviour specialist with many years of work in therapeutic communities. He is a guitarist, singer, workshop leader, community music facilitator, occasional sound engineer, and reluctant events producer. He plays in several bands and has toured internationally.
He is at his happiest playing music without any stage to separate performers and audience, and cares deeply about making music accessible to all.
About Starling Sessions
Starling Sessions is Oxford's global folk community orchestra, exploring the global traditional music of the city's citizens. We believe in building connection and understanding through music-making. The sessions give space for group members to bring songs from their backgrounds to share, and we work together on arrangements and perform locally. Whatever your instrument, level, age, wherever you're from, you're welcome at Starlings!
Starlings Sessions has run for 4 years, with more than 120 participants representing over 50 different cultural traditions.
Founded by Lauren Spiceley and John Ruddock in 2021, the project follows on from Tandem Collective’s international music exchange, Ethno England, bringing the focus to local communities.
