A life with music ABRSM’s role as a global music charity and awarding organisation 

ABRSM is the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and a global music education charity.  At the heart of everything we do is our belief that music enriches lives. While we are best known for our music exams, we reinvest the surpluses we generate to make significant contributions to music education globally, through scholarships, sponsorships, partnerships, programmes, research and advocacy. 

A life with music 

In partnership with our four Royal Schools of Music – the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Northern College of Music – we will continue to champion music and education as we have since 1889, so that everyone, regardless of background or circumstance, can enjoy a life with music. 

Central to this work is a belief that everyone should have access to a music education that is engaging, relevant, accessible, diverse and inclusive. This permeates everything we do – from the rich diversity of music and composers represented within our exam syllabuses and publications to the strategic partnerships we develop and the creative programmes we offer. 

Programmes 

Supporting the next generation of music creators, performers, collaborators and leaders underpins our programmes offer, which has grown substantially over the last five years.  

Our composer mentoring programme, Writing for Music Education, provides emerging composers with opportunities to develop their skills in composing to a brief within educational settings.  

We have also established a Youth Advisory Board – comprising young musicians between the ages of 10 and 25 – as part of our ambition to embed within ABRSM the voices of the many young people we serve. The Youth Advisory Board is helping shape the future of ABRSM, ensuring our products and services remain relevant, accessible and inclusive. 

Music, health and wellbeing 

Our latest Making Music research – in all territories – highlights the incontrovertible truth that music is good for us. Learners and teachers alike recognise and value the role music can play in promoting good health and wellbeing, as our recent Evidence Brief: Music and Health and Wellbeing highlights.