Building on the thematic threads emerging from our 2019 symposium Critique, not Criticism: why we ask the questions we ask, the 6th annual ICCM Student Research Symposium will focus on Positionality and the role of the researcher in community music.

ICCM's Ryan Humphrey explains:

"The positionality we hold plays a vital role in framing our understanding and outlook on the world in which we live in. Influenced by the broader social, cultural and political contexts we come in contact with daily, our positionality holds our beliefs and potential biases at its core. As researchers and practitioners in community music, we must understand the influence our positionality may have on the environments that we are working or researching within. The position that we take can affect the scope of our research, the questions we ask, the methodology we chose to employ, and how we work with participants."

This two-day event aims to enable a lively and encouraging discourse examining this important aspect of research and practice. Students and recent graduates of all stages will join us in offering discussions around the theme of Positionality within their specific area of interest. Thank you to all those who submitted a presentation proposal. The call for contributions is now closed and we will be in touch with successful contributors soon. 

After more than a year of meeting online, we are thrilled that this symposium will take place in person at York St John University's new Creative Centre. The conference fee is £50 and bookings will open later in 2021.

Announcing our KeyNote speakers

Dr Diljeet Kaur Bhachu is a musician, educator, researcher, and activist based in Glasgow. Diljeet’s current work portfolio includes teaching at several HEIs, and conducting research on behalf of the EDIMS network into EDI issues in Music HE. She is also a Fellow in Music Education and Participation at the Royal Northern College of Music, focusing on inclusive pedagogy, and development and evaluation in the RNCM’s widening access work. The working title for Diljeet's KeyNote is Who is the researcher? Unpacking positionality.

Also based in Glasgow, Dr Ruth Currie is a Research Associate at the ICCM in York St John and leads ‘Music for Health in Morecambe’: a music and health partnership research project and MOVE: an evaluation of intercultural exchange through music. The working title for Ruth's KeyNote is “We’re used to people like you, coming from the universities and asking us questions…” – navigating critical reflexivity in PhD research.

Further information at:

yorksj.ac.uk/iccm