Susan Hallam

Susan Hallam MBE (born 9 April 1949) is an English academic, researcher and author. She is Emerita Professor of Education and Music Psychology at University College London.

Hallam's research is focused in two areas: music psychology and music education; and disaffection and learning. She has written 15 books and over 250 papers. She has been awarded lifelong membership of the British Psychology Society,

Education and early career Hallam was born in Leicester on 9 April 1949. When she was 10, she joined the Leicestershire School's Music Service as an extra-curricular activity, moving to play in the senior orchestra at age 11. Later, she attended the Royal Academy of Music (RAM).

Whilst at the RAM, Hallam undertook freelance professional work as an orchestral violinist. In 1971, she joined the BBC Midland Light Orchestra in Birmingham and became Principal Second Violin. During this time she also carried out a wide range of freelance work including becoming deputy leader of the Orchestra da Camera, and working in theaters and as a member of supporting bands for musicians such as Cilla Black, Gene Pitney, Lovelace Watkins, Frank Ifield and Tommy Steel. She married Richard J. Hallam in 1971.

Hallam began teaching the violin to individual pupils whilst still at the RAM and, on moving to Birmingham, in addition to her performing career, she continued her teaching for the Local education authority and local private schools, to individual and small groups of pupils. In 1978, Hallam took up a full-time teaching post with Sandwell Education Authority after completing her Certificate in Education at Birmingham Polytechnic whilst continuing her freelance playing. This followed a decision to change the direction of her career into psychology and education.

Hallam served as the Editor of the Psychology of Music from 2002 to 2007. In 2011, she was appointed as the Co-Editor of Music Performance Research.

Music Psychology and Music Education Hallam's background as a musician led her to focus her Masters' dissertation and Ph.D. on music. Her Ph.D. thesis uncovered the nature of instrumental practice from players at beginner standard to those at the highest professional level. It also led to research considering how public performance might be optimised.

Further contracts from the Government followed looking at behaviour and attendance in school and also work on ability grouping funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). These interests continued throughout Hallam's career, particularly those related to ability grouping.

Awards and honors 1994 - Conferred as a Chartered Psychologist by the British Psychological Society 1995 - Elected as an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS) 1996 - Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Promotion of the Arts, Manufacturing and Commerce (FRSA) 2002 - Conferred as an Academician of the Social Sciences (FAss) 2001 – Fellow of the Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (now Higher Education Academy) 2006 - Associate of the Royal Academy of Music 2014 - Became honorary lifetime member of the International Society for Music Education 2019 - Honorary Lifelong Membership of Music Mark 2020 - Lifetime achievement award, Music & Drama Education Awards, Rhinegold Publishing 2023 - Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Music

Books Hallam, S., Blatchford, P., & May, D. (Eds) (1993) Psychology of Education II: Individual and Social Psychology Subject Guide. London: University of London. Hallam, S. & Roaf, C. (1995) Here Today, Here Tomorrow: Helping Schools to Promote Attendance. London: Gulbenkian Foundation. Hallam, S. (1996) Improving School Attendance. London: Heinemann Hallam, S. (1998) Instrumental Teaching: A Practical Guide to Better Teaching and Learning. Oxford: Heinemann Blatchford, P., Crowley, C., Hallam, S., & Reynolds, Y. (1999) Psychology of Education II: Individual and Social Psychology Subject Guide (2nd revised edition). London: University of London. Ireson, J. & Hallam, S. (2001) Ability Grouping in Education. London: Sage Publications Hallam, S., Ireson, J., & Davies, J. (2002) Effective Pupil Grouping in the Primary School – a Practical Guide. London: Fulton Hallam, S. (2002) Ability Grouping in Schools: A Literature Review, Institute of Education, University of London Hallam, S. (2004) Homework: The Evidence. London: Institute of Education, University of London Hallam, S. (2006) Music Psychology in Education. Institute of Education, University of London Hallam, S & Rogers, L. (2008) Improving Behaviour and Attendance at School. Milton Keynes: Open University Press Hallam, S. & Gaunt, H. (2012) Preparing for Success: A Practical Guide for Young Musicians. London: Institute of Education Press Creech, A., Hallam, S., McQueen, H., & Varvarigou, M. (2014). Active Ageing with music: Supporting Well Being in the Third and Fourth Ages. London: IOE Press Hallam, S. (2014) The Power of Music: A Research Synthesis of the Impact of Actively Making Music on the Intellectual, Social and Personal Development of Children and Young People. London: iMERC Hallam, S. & Rogers, L. (2018). Homework: The Evidence (2nd ed). London: IOE Press Hallam, S. (2018). The Psychology of Music. London: Routledge Creech, A, Varvarigou, M & Hallam S. (2020) Contexts for music learning and participation: Developing and sustaining musical possible selves. Palgrave Macmillan Cham, Switzerland. Hallam, S. and Himonides, E. (2022) The power of music: An exploration of the evidence. Open Book Publishers

Edited books Hallam, S., Cross, I. & Thaut, M. (eds) (Forthcoming) The Oxford Handbook of Music Psychology (3rd edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hallam, S., Cross, I. & Thaut, M. (eds) (2016) Oxford Handbook of Music Psychology (2nd edition) Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hallam, S. (2026) Practice makes perfect: Understanding the acquisition of musical expertise. Jenny Standford Publishing Pte Ltd Creech, A., Hodges, D. & Hallam, S. (eds) (2021) Routledge International Handbook of Music Psychology in Education and the Community. London: Routledge Hallam, S., Cross, I. & Thaut, M. (eds) (2016) Oxford Handbook of Music Psychology (2nd edition) Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hallam, S. & Creech, A. (Eds) (2010) Music Education in the 21st Century in the United Kingdom: Achievements, analysis and aspirations. Institute of Education, University of London Hallam, S., Cross, I. & Thaut, M. (eds) (2008) Oxford Handbook of Music Psychology Oxford: Oxford University Press.