The Community Musician Podcast

The Community Musician Podcast

I had conversations with six amazing community musicians across the North East of England to find out how they coped during the covid 19 pandemic. I hope you enjoy this podcast and find your own stories in there somewhere. There are four episodes in this series, the first one is Welcome, the second is Adaptability, the third is Recovery and the fourth is Hidden Costs.

Episodes

April 28, 2025 23 mins

Originally from Liverpool and now residing in Leeds, Victoria shared her journey from teaching to becoming a community musician. She overcame a lifelong fear of singing and learned to play steel pans, forming her own band and Foxwood Panyard. Victoria discussed her efforts to establish a charity to teach steel pans, facing challenges in securing funding. She emphasized the importance of intergenerational music, noting her children ...

Listen
Mark as Played

Liv and Kevin, co-directors of Sounds Better, work primarily in the South of England. They discussed their journey and the evolution of their community music organisation, working with various demographics, including people with dementia, respiratory conditions, and learning disabilities. The pandemic forced them to adapt, move online and develop new skills. They highlighted the challenges of returning to in-person sessions, emphas...

Listen
Mark as Played

Lee is Director of the International Center for Community Music at York St John University. He has been in community music since the early 90s and emphasised the non-building-based, people-centric nature of his work. He discussed the impact of the pandemic on his large-scale research project on young people's engagement in folk music. He attended the Community Music Now conference to stay connected and to develop sessions on resear...

Listen
Mark as Played

Based in Leeds, Joanna is a franchisee for Musical Moments, who provides music in care homes, and is a PhD student in community music. During the pandemic, she transitioned her work online, offering singing and piano lessons globally. She found the online format provided a valuable outlet for many and post-pandemic, maintained a few online students. Joanna attended the Community Music Now event to network and to explore new opportu...

Listen
Mark as Played

Co-director of Magic Acorns, in the East of England, working with young children through improvisation and emergent practices. The pandemic led to a shift in funding priorities, and Jess's organization received a recharge grant for well-being. They now employ a two-artist model for better reflection and professional development. Jess attended the Community Music Now event to network, emphasising the importance of sustained connecti...

Listen
Mark as Played

Founder of Sound Wave in West Cumbria, David recounts his journey as a community musician, adapting practice through the pandemic by maintaining online sessions and resuming in-person activities when able. He highlights the struggle to retain young talent in a region dominated by STEM industries. He emphasised the importance of community music in providing alternative opportunities for youth.

Listen
Mark as Played

Becki Driscoll is a community musician based in Bideford, North Devon. She shares her journey from playing in a teenage folk band to specialising in community music at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. She discussed her transition to running her own community music project, disrupted by the pandemic, and adapting by conducting online workshops. 

Listen
Mark as Played
September 6, 2023 15 mins

In this episode we will be looking "behind-the-scenes" of a community musician. From taking care of our own health and wellbeing to that of our participants. The investments we make, both financial and pastoral, the insecurity of work and the ongoing concern with regards to future pandemics. 

Listen
Mark as Played
September 6, 2023 18 mins

And the world opened up and we had to navigate our return to face-to-face delivery, work with our venues to create a safe space, support our participants to feel confident in returning to groups and all the while managing our own feelings about returning. 

Listen
Mark as Played
September 5, 2023 16 mins

When talking about adaptability, we are considering all of the things that community musicians had to do in the face of the crisis of the pandemic. Trying to stay connected to our groups, developing new skills, and learning to deliver online. 

Listen
Mark as Played
September 5, 2023 14 mins

In this episode we will be talking about what it means to be a community musician, the relationships and the responsibilities. 

Listen
Mark as Played
September 5, 2023 2 mins

Introducing The Community Musician podcast. This 4 episode series will see me, Carol Bowden, chatting with community musicians from the North East of England about their experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and how that has shaped their work.

Listen
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

    Betrayal Season 5

    Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices