Matt Griffiths, chief executive, Youth Music: How I Got Here
Matt Griffiths
Monday, May 27, 2019
Channeling a love of music in academia
Music has been a constant in my life. Back in the mid-80s in Cardiff doing my A-levels, I was in various bands playing bars and clubs in the city and in the South Wales valleys. Mum and Dad took me out to lunch as they could tell I was thinking of keeping on doing this rather than going to university. They didn't tell me what to do, but they did set out the options. I took their wise advice and started a performing arts degree specialising in music at Leicester Polytechnic in 1986.
It was a highly practical yet experimental degree, which was the making of me. The amazing music staff were teachers but, more importantly, they were mentors too. Young people need to be guided by people who really listen to support them in whatever they want to do.
Understanding musical benefits
After graduating in 1989, a 10-year freelance career followed. A pivotal moment was when I successfully auditioned for Live Music Now in 1990. This is a national charity which places young musicians at the start of their careers in a range of settings.
I found myself working as a solo percussionist in prisons, mental health units, special schools, hospitals and nursing homes, creating music with a wide variety of people from very different backgrounds and experiences.
This is where I saw first-hand the significant personal, social and musical benefits of music-making, particularly for people experiencing challenges in their lives. Social change through music has been the driving force for my career ever since.
The importance of mentoring
I had what would now be called a "portfolio career": making my living doing loads of different things, which I loved. The quest for fame wasn't part of it for me.
A career in music can happen in a multitude of ways - what young people need to know is what those ways are, and how to pursue them. Again, it's all about mentoring, advice and guidance, combined with empathy and expertise.
My next goal was to move to a senior, salaried role in music - but it proved challenging. I wrote lots of applications and occasionally got an interview. I wrongly played down my passion for music and how it can change lives, instead focusing too much on spreadsheets, management techniques and what suit I was wearing.
Moving into management
Eventually, I realised I didn't have to try to be someone I wasn't to achieve this change in direction. What's most important is to have a personal vision based on your own values and experiences, which drives all that you do, and brings people with you.
Authenticity and integrity are key. This realisation helped me to secure my first salaried role: I became the founding director of Plymouth Music Zone in 1999.
This role brought all my skills and experiences together, and I loved having the opportunity to set up a charity from scratch. This has been a theme throughout my career in the music and charity sector, and led to my current role, which I began in June 2012. A total privilege and dream job.
TOP THREE CAREER TIPS
- I'm not one for reading the latest books on management, or following the theories of any particular leadership guru. Learning from a multiplicity of people - both the good and bad - is much more useful.
- Keep your organisation's purpose at the front of your mind to avoid being derailed and getting distracted: "mission creep" can be a common problem in the charity world.
- At the heart of Youth Music's thinking is always "What do children and young people want? What do they need? What matters to them?", which helps us focus on what's important.