Music Service
Newsletter
The Common Approach
Hertfordshire Young Musicians
RPO Project
County Recorder Forum
Soul Singing in Stevenage
East Herts YO in Florida
Mid Herts Centre for Music and Arts
Feature: Music & SEN
Music Therapy Service
Piano & Keyboard
String Tuition in Primary Schools
Samba Workshops
The Arts in Hertfordshire
Steel Pans in Stevenage
Primary Music News
Primary Schools at RCM
Project Veronika
Music ICT
New Music Service Teachers
Music Service Calendar / Spring Term - February 2002
Welcome to… Upbeat
The Hertfordshire Music Service News Bulletin
Editor: David Boarder
Email:
Music Service Website: www.thegrid.org.uk/trade/music
How Common is the COMMON APPROACH
by John Witchell – County Adviser for Music
More observant colleagues within the music service may have noticed that I have not been around much during the autumn term. For four days a week I have been seconded to the Royal College of Music and the Federation of Music Services to edit the revised and expanded ‘Common Approach’. The work has taken me to meetings with working parties across the country and provided me with endless fun looking at a computer screen. Indeed my computer is now so overloaded with objectives, teaching activities and units of work that it comes to a halt rather too frequently for my liking. Back up your work, they say, so I must do so for this article, otherwise it will not reach the deadline for ‘Upbeat’.
Hertfordshire instrumental teachers adopted the original ‘Common Approach’ as their long term planning tool. It sets out five Programmes of Study that identifies what needs to be included in an instrumental/vocal curriculum from the beginner stage to the advanced. All teachers in the music service should have a copy and no doubt most make it compulsory reading before they embark on their teaching each week!
The original ‘Common Approach’ was a good document since it was the first publication to prioritise the main elements of a curriculum and illustrate how pupils can make progress - in their range of skills, in the demand of work undertaken and in the quality of their playing and singing. It identified the main learning processes and described them in a way that hopefully helps teachers plan their work for all their pupils.
Over the past two years however teachers have realised that they need more tools in order to plan effectively in the medium and short terms. ‘Common Approach’ provided a framework, but it did not help teachers in deciding what to teach. Classroom teachers have the benefit of model schemes of work published by QCA but instrumental teachers have nothing. Of course most of our teachers have developed their own schemes and know precisely what and how to teach. Indeed much of our thinking in Hertfordshire has informed the revised document. Nevertheless it is important that within the service we can be absolutely confident about the consistency and quality of teaching and learning. It would be irresponsible for us to leave these matters to the individual without providing help and support.
So I can say confidently that Hertfordshire will be endeavouring to make best use of the new publication when it comes out in the summer. We will ensure that everyone is engaged in a worthwhile planning process which on the one hand will improve the quality assurance of our work, and on the other will be manageable on a daily basis.
What then will the new document contain? I can reveal a little. First, it will be published in nine versions - each for different groups of instrument ranging from the traditional groups to contemporary guitar, keyboard, piano and voice. Each version will contain common guidance in areas including:
- progression and continuity
- preparing activities, units of work and individual lessons
- identifying and describing attainment levels
- assessing, recording and reporting
- practice
- inclusion
- instrumental and vocal learning in the Early Years
- health and safety
- ICT
These will be based on a revised framework that refines the expectations of long term planning. This new framework reinforces all the areas of learning that need to be included and it also emphasises the importance of holistic learning (sometimes referred to as simultaneous learning). This means that we accept that all aspects of teaching are interrelated and interdependent on each other. No single aspect should be taught in isolation, rather the emphasis should always be on the musical, creative experience. The main strands have been reaffirmed as:
- listening and internalising
- making and controlling sounds
- creating and developing musical ideas
- playing and singing
- performing and communicating
But in all of these pupils are also to be taught to:
- express their musical ideas and feelings
- make use of their creativity and intuition
- apply their knowledge and understanding
- reflect on and evaluate their progress
The publication then goes on to describe instrument specific Programmes of Study which provide more detailed learning objectives for long term planning. Here the major difference from the original document is the inclusion of technical details relevant to each instrumental faculty. After the programmes come ‘Specimen Activities’. These are really banks of ideas that teachers can draw on when planning their lessons. They are based on agreed principles of good practice and have been devised by leading teachers across the country (including some of our own Hertfordshire teachers). Each activity is linked to a relevant major objective and is described in a way that explores the holistic nature of learning. There follow five specimen ‘Units of Work’ which are designed to pull together the activities and illustrate particular approaches which are relevant to the faculty. For instance, the voice edition includes a unit on the changing voice and the contemporary guitar has a unit on teaching the self-taught guitarist. Hopefully the units bring the teaching to life by tackling real, everyday issues that confront all teachers.
A template for weekly lessons is provided as a short term planning tool. We already have this in Hertfordshire but the inclusion in the document reminds us how important it is to know in advance what and how we plan to teach (without having to ask the pupil!). Of course we have to use this planning tool in a manageable way bearing in mind the quantity and variety of pupils we teach. We also have to sustain our flexibility - i.e. not stick to a predetermined plan for the sake of it but have the flexibility to adapt the lesson to the response of the pupils.
The final section of the document describes attainment levels in order to track progression and enable teachers to make objective assessments of their pupils. In a way this section completes the circle and sets the ball rolling on deciding what needs to be taught next.
Like all new things the new ‘Common Approach’ is likely to take a little while to settle. However it is my firm belief that we need such a document to ensure that we really do think through what we offer our pupils. I very much hope the document will be helpful to teachers in the service and in schools. I hope that it will strengthen the quality of our work and, alongside positive performance management, will make the service better for all ‘Children, Schools and Families’.
Federation of Music Services website: www.federationmusic.org.uk
John Witchell can be contacted at Wheathampstead Development Centre
tel: 01582 830379
Top
Hertfordshire Young Musicians Out and About
by Jennifer Hopkins – Head of Instrumental / Vocal Tuition
Hertfordshire as a county enjoys many benefits from having its southern border so close to London. One is to allow our musicians the excitement and privilege of performing from time to time in the great international concert halls of the capital. Unusually no less than three of those occasions occurred during the autumn term.
All eight of the senior County groups performed in a Gala Concert at the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank on September 15th. Concerts at the end of the Summer term; courses, tours and concerts in the holidays and some last minute rehearsals as term began had all prepared the County Youth Orchestra, Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Brass, Choir and the Jazz, Recorder and Guitar Ensembles for the occasion. What could have been something of a logistical nightmare proved to be a very special concert, including the presentation of the Bob Gibbons Awards to some of our most dedicated and talented musicians. Any concert that can have the audience cheering as enthusiastically for the spirited performance of just six recorder players as for the exhilarating numbers of the Jazz Ensemble can only have been a success.
A different logistical challenge brought a choir of 600 children from schools all over Hertfordshire to sing at the Last Night of the Schools’ Proms at the Royal Albert Hall on November 7th. Together with the County Youth Orchestra, conducted by our County Adviser for Music, John Witchell, they raised the roof with some of the songs from Chris Hazell’s funny and poignant work Bits and Peaces. This was commissioned by Hertfordshire Music Service for a Millennium celebration last year. At the special invitation of Music for Youth, the organisers of the Schools’ Proms, the County Youth Orchestra also performed John and the Magic Music Man by Antony Hopkins, well known for his radio series ‘Talking About Music’. The orchestra’s conductor, Peter Stark took the helm and then passed the baton to Antony Hopkins who conducted Land of Hope and Glory for the 108th, but sadly last, time in his career. Mr Hopkins was already in the Guinness Book of Records for conducting the work more times that any other conductor. Will our own CYO be mentioned in the next edition as the orchestra that contributed to a record that seems unlikely to be surpassed? As the final notes sounded, fireworks, balloons and a fantastic ‘ticker tape’ explosion brought the evening to an extraordinary close. Mrs Bernadette Quinn, Headteacher of St Cuthbert Mayne R.C. School in Hemel Hempstead wrote to John Witchell: ‘...the opportunity to participate in the Proms, at the finest concert hall in the world, is an experience we will never forget’
In the very last week of an extraordinarily long and busy term the County Youth Orchestra was at the Royal Festival Hall on December 15th to take a major role in one of Richard Stilgoe’s concerts for children and families. Traditionally an orchestra from one of London’s Conservatoires has played in these concerts and this was the first time a county youth orchestra has been asked to take part. This honour is yet another national tribute to the exceptionally high standard of achievement at the top of Hertfordshire Music Service’s ‘pyramid’ of activities for orchestral players. Peter Stark, the orchestra’s Music Director, was again in charge and one of our ‘home grown’ ‘cellists, Louisa Tuck, played the final movement from Haydn’s ‘Cello Concerto in C’ to great acclaim.
These three major events might lead those unfamiliar with our County Youth Orchestra’s usual programme to believe that they perform only in term time. In reality, the orchestra is supposed to be a ‘holiday’ activity! They returned to Hertfordshire and their allotted duties just after Christmas for a course at St Albans Music School leading to a concert at the Watford Colosseum on Saturday, 5th January. Known in a former life as Watford Town Hall, international orchestras have recorded many legendary performances in this hall over the years - enticed by its superb acoustics. The orchestra’s very distinguished guest was John Lill who gave a magnificent performance of Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto. Peter Stark then drew an exciting, characterful and beautifully moulded performance of Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony from the orchestra. Angela Gilby has been reluctant for anyone to play the piano in the hall of St Albans Music School since its keys were graced, not to say pounded, by John Lill!
Jennifer Hopkins can be contacted at
Wheathampstead Development Centre Tel: 01582 830379
Top
Creative Project with Members of the RPO
by Angie Gilby – Area Manager: West Herts
We are planning an exciting project with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s education department for part of the Hertfordshire Achievement concert on 30th April at the Coloseum in Watford. The project will involve some 120 pupils of all ages and abilities together with their instrumental teachers, members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and three composers.
We set up a similar project two years ago which culminated in a memorable performance in the Central Hall Westminster of a composition that had come to life over two days of workshops, preceded by a number of INSET sessions for the teachers. The piece eventually lasted for about 40 minutes and was performed from memory. It was an experience enjoyed by all. Everyone, whether an 8 year old recorder player or principal trumpet of the RPO was on the same team (and was equally scared that they would forget what happened next in the piece) and each performer put their own musical ideas into the piece.
Our 2002 project will involve an area Youth Orchestra, a group of rock and pop musicians and primary school instrumentalists. The orchestra will work with the composer Tim Steiner exploring material which can be used as a basis for improvisation in the performance. The music composed by the other two rock and pop musicians and primary school instrumentalists will be incorporated into a large-scale structure. Instrumental teachers and members of the RPO will also be involved as composers and performers in the piece.
It is always exciting taking part in these creative projects but planning and stage management is a nightmare! Since the piece only comes together on the day of the performance no-one can tell how long it is going to last, or where the performers should be placed on the stage until the last minute. Think of us on 30th April, or if you are in the vicinity of Watford come and hear how the piece turns out!
Angie Gilby can be contacted at
St Albans Music School 01727 860941
Top