Volunteering Opportunity: International Music Research Volunteer with Music for my Mind

Overview of the role

Music for my Mind is a small charity, working to improve the quality of life of people with dementia, their families and carers, through the use of personalised playlists. Our Playlist Maker tool helps families and caregivers create personalised music playlists for loved ones living with dementia. To make this tool effective globally, we are expanding our song database to include the most popular songs from different countries between the 1940s and 2000s. As a Music Research Volunteer, you will be a "musical detective," finding the tracks that defined generations across the world and ensuring they are accurately categorised, to provide people of different backgrounds the most representative selection of songs, which has the power to improve their wellbeing.

Opportunity Type: Short-term Commitment

District: Bedford, Broxbourne, Central Bedfordshire, Dacorum, East Herts, Epping Forest, Harlow, Hertsmere, Luton, Milton Keynes, North Herts, St Albans, Stevenage, Three Rivers, Uttlesford, Watford, Welwyn/Hatfield

Location: From home, Online

Time of day: Casual or Intermittent, To Be Discussed

Practical Considerations: Volunteer must have their own laptop

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, University students

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Health and Wellbeing, IT, Technology & Digital Inclusion, Languages, Performance & Entertainment, Other

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: No

Download Full Role Description

Full Description:
Key Responsibilities
 Research and Data Compilation: Identify the top popular songs for specific countries on a year-by-year basis (1940 to 2000), using official chart archives. For countries where official chart data is unavailable, find and use reputable online resources/ archives to compile the most accurate lists of popular songs.

 Database Entry: Compile data into our database including:
o Song Title and Artist.
o Year the song charted/ was popular.
o Music genre.
o A valid YouTube link for the track.
o The specific Spotify Track ID.

 AI Integration: Use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) to help speed up the discovery of regional hits and genre classification, while manually verifying the accuracy of the output.

Who we are looking for

The ideal candidate doesn't need to be a professional musicologist, but they should possess a love for music and some basic understanding of genres, ability to work on their own and a curious mindset.

Essential Qualities & Skills
• Good level of tech skills and grasp of new technology – you must be comfortable using spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets) and navigating streaming platforms like YouTube and Spotify.
• Resourcefulness in looking for difficult-to-find information.
• Great attention to detail.
• Curiosity - an interest in global cultures and how music trends shifted across the decades.
• Self-Motivation - ability to manage your own time and meet milestones is key.
• Experience with AI (desirable but not essential) - familiarity with using AI prompts to do research, cross-reference data or find resources.
How this role can be of benefit to you
• Increase your experience - working for a small charity and a small but passionate and motivated team, whilst learning from some brilliant industry experts and leaders.
• Make a difference - this work will directly help people with dementia reconnect with their memories and families.
• Expand your knowledge - become an expert in global music history across seven decades.
• Build new skills - in database management, digital research, and utilisation of AI tools.
• Flexibility - this role can fit around any existing schedule.