Community music: History and current practice, its constructions of ‘community’, digital turns and future soundings, an Arts and Humanities Research Council research review

The United Kingdom has been a pivotal national player within the development of community music practice. There are elements of cultural and debatably pedagogic innovations in community music. These have to date only partly been articulated and historicized within academic research. This report, funded by the UK’s Arts and Humanities Research Council, brings together and reviews research under the headings of history and definitions, practice, repertoire, community, pedagogy, digital technology, health and therapy, policy and funding, and impact and evaluation. A 90-entry, 22,000 word annotated bibliography was also produced an informed group of fifteen practitioners and academics reviewed the authors’ initial findings at a knowledge exchange colloquium and advised on further investigation. Some of the gaps in research identified are: an authoritative history, an examination of repertoire, the relationship with other music (practice), the freelance practitioner career, evidence of impact and value, the potential for a pedagogy.