As part and parcel of their involvement with Live Music Now Scotland, musicians are offered a range of professional development opportunities, such as mentoring and input from professionals in the field to guide their development as artists.

To provide a thorough grounding for LMNS work, all new musicians take part in three mandatory training sessions before delivering activity. These sessions are Induction, Music & Dementia and Music & Children with Additional Support Needs.

Mentored Performances

Each new group receives mentoring during their early performances with the scheme. These are opportunities to benefit from tailored support from experienced music leaders and performers in outreach settings. LMN musicians tell us that these ‘on-site’ training sessions are amongst the most productive they have undergone. Mentored sessions are planned in the best interests of each ensemble and reflect their experience and readiness for outreach work.

Continuing Support

Once musicians have given their first LMN sessions and are beginning to grow in confidence, they are offered a diverse programme of training events, all free of charge.

This includes everything from how to complete your tax return to peer skills sharing sessions, which build a sense of community between musicians and help grow individuals’ own networks.

In addition to this, the LMNS team offers pastoral support and regularly provides individual references for its artists whether for jobs, further education or personal purposes.