Wow it’s music next - Executive Summary - download here
Wow it’s music next - full report can be downloaded here
Ten years ago who would have thought that every child would have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument during their time at primary school? It seemed to be an impossible dream. We had insufficient teachers, instruments and money to even consider such an undertaking - although many people thought it a good idea. Yet now, with the combined vision of the government, the music services and local authorities, together with schools and teachers, the programme ‘Wider Opportunities in Music’ is well on the way to making it happen.
This vivid research report, written by Professor Anne Bamford and Paul Glinkowski, tells us very clearly about the impact of the programme – how, at its best, it can transform the lives of children, giving them a sense of pride and achievement, whilst providing them with a real opportunity to learn an instrument in a large group. This programme is about giving a child the opportunity, indeed the entitlement, to learn an instrument for a year – free of charge – and then giving them the choice of whether to continue or not.
In my rôle as the Music Director of the Hallé I have always been passionate about enabling music – in all its forms – to be part of a child’s early life. I am conscious of all those who may have talent but have not had the same opportunities as I did to make a career in music. This report tells us that we have made a superb start in offering instrumental tuition to everyone, but it clearly sets out how we need to continue the investment, especially in tackling the real challenge of how children progress beyond the first year.
It tells us that we have started something which we must continue – for the sake of all children and the musical life of our country.
Sir Mark Elder CBE
Music Director, the Hallé Orchestra
Wow it’s music next! press release January 2010
Wow it’s music next - research key findings
Cambridgeshire Music is delighted to present an exciting series of concerts for the beginning of 2010.
A Celebration of Youth Wind Music
15 February 2010,7pm, West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge
The Cambridgeshire Youth Wind Orchestra will perform under the direction of Russell Cowieson.
CPYO Spring Concert
9 April 2010, 7.30pm, West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge
This concert will feature the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Youth Orchestra performing Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony and music by Bernstein and Copland.
Gala Concert
10 April 2010, 5pm, Peterborough Cathedral
This concert will bring together young musicians from throughout Peterborough and Cambridgeshire to perform a wide range of music in wonderful surroundings. It will be a memorable evening.
TICKETS
Spring Season Ticket (3 concerts): £10
Single Ticket: £5
Free for concessions
Please call 01480 373555 or email cm@cambridgeshire.gov.uk for more information or to book tickets.
Gerard Booth has been appointed to the post of Director of Music for the Oldham Council Music Service following the retirement of Dr. Eileen Bentley earlier this year.
Gerard joined the Oldham Music Service as a brass instructor in 1993. He then qualified as a teacher in 1995 and became coordinator for Orchestral Brass in 1999. Since 2001 he has been Head of the Orchestral Wind Department and has led many trips and projects, most notably a tour of New York by over 90 Music Centre students in 2008. He is also well known to the wider public as the conductor of the Oldham Youth Orchestra.
For well over forty years the Oldham Music Service and Music Centre has provided the opportunity for thousands of Oldham children to receive instrumental and vocal tuition in schools and to meet together, outside school time, to play and sing in various ensembles. In his new position Gerard’s vision is to make the Music Service an even better provider of top quality musical education to all of Oldham’s young people and provide an ever wider range of opportunities and experiences to all communities whilst not losing sight of the standards of excellence that have made Oldham’s Music Service nationally synonymous with top quality music making. There are also plans in the pipeline to provide extended opportunities in the future to adults and pre-school children and listen ever more closely and respond to what the people of Oldham actually want from their Music Service.
In Gerard’s own words, “Eileen Bentley has been a great leader for the Music Service throughout my entire teaching career and I feel privileged to have been appointed as her successor. I fully intend to continue the fine traditions that she maintained throughout her career whilst extending the scope and range of all that the Music Service does to contribute to the educational and cultural life of Oldham”.
Gerard, born and bred in Blackburn and a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, still enjoys performing on the tuba for a number of orchestras and bands in his spare time, having played in the past with ensembles such as the Hallé and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras and Grimethorpe, Leyland, Brighouse and Rastrick and Foden’s brass bands amongst others. His other hobbies include photography, cycling and fell walking. He is married to Tracey Hartnell-Booth, an oboist who also teaches at the Oldham Music Centre. To complete the music family, his three children, Aaron (clarinet), Benjamin (French Horn) & Anastasia (violin) all play in various groups at the Music Centre.
If you haven’t already made your claim for 2009-2010, the Claim Form and the Guidance are available for download here:
Claim Form - Year 3
Guidance on Instruments 2009-10
FMS Members' Photos
Photos from our Music Service members.
FMS Members' Videos
Videos from our Music Service members.
