A view from the workshop floor: What skills and qualities are demanded of today's community music workers and how can they best be taught?

This paper considers the following questions: Do existing models of training, based in higher education/conservatoire institutions, equip today's musicians with appropriate skills to work in community settings and can vocational training be incorporated within conventional music courses as options, or do we need to see specialist full-time courses? Using the Abraham Moss Centre as an example of practice, outlines of the key skills needed to be a community musician are described. In conclusion, this paper suggests that instead of adopting a top-down approach to training, providers might ask those directly involved in the work what kind of training they think is important.