Spotify have launched a new initiative, Spotify for Education, to team up with teachers and creative academics to “strengthen the role of music in schools”.

Spotify have revealed ‘Spotify for Education’, a new initiative from the world’s most successful streaming service aiming to promote music’s importance in schools. They’ve launched with an advisory board made up of nationally-recognised teachers and other creative academic minds to build a series of new programs that champion music in classrooms.

Spotify’s director of social impact, Kerry Steib said: “Spotify believes that everyone should have access to music, and we know that nowhere is that access more powerful than in education. We’re committed to building programs that start with the voices of real teachers, and we’ve been fortunate to find a group of passionate, thoughtful, innovative experts to help us create initiatives that work.”

Spotify aren’t treating this as just a promotion for their music streaming service and are placing great value in their campaign of reinforcing the importance of music in education. To ensure they’re doing the best work they can, Spotify have partnered with the Council of Chief State School Officers’ (CCSSO) National Teacher of the Year Program.

Spotify are also kicking of their campaign by joining the US Secretary of Education, John B. King, on his Back To School Bus Tour at his stop in Memphis, Tennessee. The event will feature high profile appearances from Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA, Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood, and a selection of teachers from around the country all working together to create a live lesson plan for attendees.

spotify music streaming service education schools
Kerry Steib runs Spotify’s ‘social impact’ and is responsible for Spotify’s actions beyond it’s music streaming platform

Steib spoke on their participation with the Back To School Bus Tour, saying: “Memphis is a city with deep musical history that’s using music and the arts to reach a diverse group of students. We’re excited to celebrate their teachers and the role that music plays in their classrooms, alongside the members of our advisory board.”

The chair of Spotify’s new advisory board, Dr. Darla Hanley said: “It’s great to explore the exciting possibilities of Spotify for Education with such a group of impressive teachers and educational arts leaders. Finding ways for music to be in education beyond the borders of the music room will engage students and make their learning across all subject areas even more relevant.”

Spotify have always had a keen interest in helping enforce the importance of music in education and giving children and students the resources to be able to learn and experience music. Spotify have started a number of initiatives to promote music and education including the donation of a recording studio to Kealing Middle School.

The teachers who are working with Spotify on the advisory board and founding the community of Spotify for Education include 2015’s National Teacher of the Year, Shanna Peeples, 10+ different State Teacher of the Years, and members of #HipHopEd.  They join educational advisors that include Dr. Darla Hanley, Dean of the Professional Education Division at Berklee College of Music; Dr. Chris Emdin, Faculty Member at Columbia University and best-selling author; and Dr. Nola Jones, Coordinator of Visual and Fine Arts for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.