's Chief Executive blog

If you haven’t aready done so it’s worth looking at Tom Service’s latest blog on the Guardian website
www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/nov/10/in-harmony-music-project. Tom, who writes so passionately about music, is clear about the value of projects such as In Harmony, but also the vulnerability of music education funding. He rightly emphasises the value of the initiative and I would concur with his enthusiasm; there is some amazing work going on with children who are already beginning to rekindle their self-esteem through music. But I know that the whole spectrum of music service provision is making a significant difference to the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people across the UK. And that is the story we now need to tell.

In the latest edition of our ‘Aspirations’, Howard Goodall argues passionately for music services - but he also gives us a warning not to rest on our laurels. It’s no longer any good being the unsung heroes, or as someone else put it, the silent giant; we’ve got to be more effective and clear about telling our message. We know that music is working, but we have not yet conveyed that message with sufficient clarity. Do we celebrate the numerous performances that take place every day? Are we clear about the impact of the Wider Opportunities programme (watch out for the report that will be launched at the next Burning Issues conference on 29th January)? Does the world out there know and value what we do? The answer is perhaps not yet as affirmative as it should be.

So here are four simple things that I believe we should put into practice.
1. Every music service should offer a celebration event for ‘Tune In’ - the Year of Music. We can co-ordinate it at the FMS and let the DCSF know through their agents Freud.
2. Every music service should celebrate loudly the positive findings from their self-evaluation. But we should also ensure that areas for development are tackled positively. For instance, across the country I would like to raise the amount of teaching and learning considered to be good from a healthy 75% to a fantastic 100%. We’re making headway, so we just need to continue to make the improvements.
3. The FMS should continue to shout louder about the fabulous things that take place every day in every music service. Already the Think Again team have visited twenty five services across the country and been bowled over by the energy and commitment of those who are delivering from day to day. This investment in communication is long overdue, but it is already clear that we are beginning to reap the rewards.
4. We must think positively about what we offer to society - not what we want society to give to us. We are not part of a problem; we are part of the solution e.g. in reducing the achievement gap, in raising academic standards, or providing opportunities for all children, schools and families.

I am immensely proud of the work of music services. We know how to teach children, we value and support our workforce, we nurture our talent by providing secure pathways for learning and, most importantly, we care for music and we care for children. But I am also ambitious. I want Music services to continue to thrive whoever governs the country. I know that they will, because music is working and it is working because of what music services do.

This term sees an accelerando of activity for FMS music services, following an particularly busy start to the term. In all the hustle and bustle I very much hope that you enjoy the music making – it’s rather important that you do. Here are a few announcements about some of our key activities.
Quality Assurance

I am delighted to tell you that Margaret Griffiths has agreed to undertake more regular work for the FMS over the next couple of terms in order to ensure that the self evaluation moderation programme is delivered on time and with the highest quality. She will become our Quality Assurance Director and will oversee all the forthcoming moderations. Our determined aim is to complete the first round on time, but we still have some way to go. We all recognize Margaret as a true champion of music services, but she is also a critical friend, which of course we really appreciate. Her sharp eye and wealth of experience will help us enormously as we head towards the completion of the first round of moderations.

Champions

Talking of champions I am also pleased to report that Marc Jaffrey and the Think Again team are now well underway with our messaging campaign at local and national levels. This is hugely important as we approach a general election, but you can be assured that with Marc helping us, not only in applying his media expertise, but also in bringing together champions of music education, we are definitely doing our best to argue the case for strong music service provision beyond 2011. One tangible contribution is a passionate article about why music services are important by Howard Goodall, which will appear in the next edition of Aspirations. If you know of any others who wish to write in support let me know, or contact Douglas Adamson e-mail Douglas@watershed-consulting.com. If you are not part of the campaign yet don’t worry, since we wish to roll it out to as many services as possible.

Good News

One thing I wish to do much more of is to be more effective in disseminating the good stories we have about the work of music services. So, if you have a planned activity that you think could be disseminated more widely please let me know about it and, if possible, I would welcome the opportunity to visit you and experience it first-hand.

Leadership training

You may already be aware that Richard Crozier and the CPD group have arranged three ‘taster’ days for those considering signing up for the leadership programme. The dates are 10th November in Bristol, 11th in Hammersmith and 12th in Leeds. The FMS office has further details, but we are anticipating heavy demand for these, so colleagues are advised to make early applications. The target audience is anyone seeking to gain the necessary knowledge and skills for music service leadership. The training will be ideal for existing middle managers, or teachers and musicians who may be interested in taking more responsibilities. There may also be some existing heads of service who feel that they never had such an opportunity.

Impact assessment

I wish to thank all those who have helped the Engine Room in gathering evidence for the impact assessment of the Wider Opportunities programme. There have been a few problems in some areas with the school questionnaire, but invariably heads of services have done their best to help us iron them out. This findings of this evaluation will provide the first national picture of the programme, enabling each participating school to identify the strengths and weaknesses. Once all the data is collated and interpreted we plan to disseminate it at a Burning Issues conference early in 2010. I will let you know the date of this as soon as possible.

With very best wishes to all

John Witchell

Ed Balls and the DCSF must be congratulated for making this the National Year of Music. Particularly heartening is his comment that he wants two million children to be having the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument - I agree with him wholeheartedly. His comment is welcome because it also tells us that the government recognises that we have more to do. Let’s face it; music services up and down the country have made huge strides in widening access at Key Stage Two, but we know that the hardest part is still to come. We know we can deliver high quality opportunities for whole classes to learn instruments, but we also know that it is more difficult to continue the pathways beyond the first year. What Ed Balls signals is that the government will help up to do that. If government support can be sustained and strengthened, we can - with our partners - meet the national aspirations by 2011. Whilst thanking Ed Balls in advance, I will also urge him to help us deliver the government pledge by ensuring that we have ongoing government support.

I appreciate that some people have been a little perturbed because some musicians who are supporting the National Year of Music may use some dubious lyrics from time to time. Of course all our advocates must also be good role models. But personally I am absolutely delighted that talented musicians such as Jamie Cullum, are supporting us. However, what is more important is that everyone should support the Year, whatever their musical preference and whatever their background. Don’t let’s put ourselves into camps, but rather emphasise the transformational power of music, whether it comes from Slovenia or Slash. Let’s remind ourselves that we provide all kinds of musical opportunities for all kinds of people.

An associated report by Sue Hallam also comes at a good time. She reminds us that there is objective evidence that music enlarges the left side of the brain and helps to increase IQ. She also shows how working in music groups promotes trust and respect. That’s welcome news. But we also know that it is the intrinsic qualities of music that are our real strength - how music provides a mysterious form of expression that taps into our hearts and minds. Ed Balls knows that as well. So we must now unite with all those who value music in ensuring that music education is not only sustained beyond 2011, but strengthened. The National Year of Music is a major building block for the future - it’s a celebration of what we do now, but more importantly an endorsement of support for the future.

Let us know how your music service is supporting the National Year of Music - I hope that every single music service will share the celebration.

John Witchell

Dear Colleagues

 Welcome back to the FMS after what I hope has been a relaxing summer break.  Heads of services have been dispersed around the world, either relaxing on beaches, evaluating the local vineyard or even policing boisterous members of the brass department during the middle of the night (Oh what memories I have!).  August is a month that seems to disappear and all of a sudden we find ourselves in the middle of a new term with all the joys and tribulations that that brings.

 I think we all realise that this in many ways is a crunch year for music education.  So it’s good that the government has decided to call this the Year of Music – it gives us the opportunity to tell our good news story and make it clear that we are indispensible to the world of music and essential to the world of education.  Heads of services will already have received a request from Sarah Adamson for details of forthcoming activities that could be included in the Year of Music programme; she has also asked for web links, so that we can ensure that YOUR activities have high visibility.  I intend to ensure that music services are up front throughout the year and will do all I can promote them.  But please make sure that you make the most of the opportunity as well.

 You may be pleased to hear that we are now on the road with our partnership with Think Again, led by Marc Jaffrey.  Even though the first phase of the campaign is limited to 25 or so services the intention is to ensure that the benefits flow through to all services.  Indeed it will be important to roll out to a wider range of services early next year.  Marc and his team will help us to articulate our vision, purpose and values to all the key stakeholders.  Our message must clearly show how music services really are at the heart of music education and we must tell the story of our achievements for the sake of all the people and communities we serve.

 To that end, may I reinforce a message from Jennifer Hopkins about the impact assessment on Wider Opportunities?  We have collected considerable data from the focus music services, but are a little disappointed (though perhaps not surprised) with the number of completed returns to the school survey.  Jennifer tells us that we have a couple more weeks at the beginning of term to nudge, push or cajole the schools into completing the form on-line.  We’re also asking you to ask your Wider Opportunities teachers to check that their schools have completed the survey on their first visit of term.  That way we will increase the response so that it is valid.  Please help if you can, and thank those who help us.  And don’t let’s forget that this piece of work will be critical to ongoing viability of the key stage two instrumental programme.

 Instrumental teaching is also mentioned in the government’s latest white paper on education.  As part of the new Pupil Guarantee the curriculum will be tailored to every child’s need so that, “by September 2011, every primary pupil receives the support they need to………… learn about the arts such as learning to play a musical instrument.”  If it’s a government commitment, we need to ensure that a) we can deliver it and b) we have the resources to sustain and further develop it.  The White Paper is easily accessible and I think it is worth reading at least the executive summary.  On the DCSG website it is called “Your child, your school, our future”.

 This term sees the next phase of moderation of self evaluation for music services.  Some services will be undertaking the moderation for the first time, whilst others will be moving to the Second Visit Review.  The second year is designed to follow on seamlessly from the first and focus on progress made on the main areas of development during the year.  Whilst no-one can say that the process doesn’t involve additional work, the overwhelming feedback is very positive; in particular colleagues say how it has enabled them to focus on the performance of their service much more specifically than before.  As you know, the DCSF is keenly watching the programme, not least because it has funded the first two years in England.  Our task now is to ensure that self evaluation really does help to raise standards as well as our profile, so it is essential that we continue the implementation this year and spread the programme to Wales and Northern Ireland, albeit within their different funding parameters.  If you have any concerns with the programme, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

 The self evaluation programme is closely aligned to Local Authority Music Plans and you will no doubt have received a communication from Richard Hallam, National Music Participation Director reminding us of the agenda this term in developing the local strategies for music education.  Following the last national executive it was agreed that we would provide a little more guidance that will help those who are writing the plans.  Dick has already done an enormous amount, but I recognise that it would be helpful to provide a template that helps you to cover the ground in the most efficient way.

 So we certainly have everything to play for this year – literally.  In all this activity may I urge you to take care of yourself and ensure that you protect your work/life balance?  Not many people outside music services really understand the volume of work that we undertake – timetables, teachers, schools, pupils, parents, ensembles, projects, school improvement, national aspirations, budgets etc etc.  It’s a huge workload, but one that has enormous rewards when we experience the joy of music on the faces of our young musicians.  Last week I attended a concert by former members of my previous youth orchestra.  Ninety odd people, now in all walks of life, were reunited and gave a superb performance of Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony.  I realised that the music service had provided those people with the life-long love of music; and that without our input their lives would be all the poorer.  Their music-making was my joy; my reward was their music-making.  So have a very good year and don’t forget to be a vigorous member of the FMS.

 John Witchell

PS – from 3^rd September I will have no home – really sad!  From that date my FMS telephone number will be no longer.  Please use my mobile number (07850 761067) or the FMS office number (01943 463311) to contact me, or my e-mail address: john.witchell@federationmusic.org.uk

PPS - if you have a nice house for sale at a bargain price, let me know!

Making More of Music Making was the theme of this year’s FMS conference held on 1-2 June.  Over two hundred delegates basked in sunshine following the half term break and enjoyed the ambience of Beaumont House, Windsor.

 At the centre of the conference was a keynote by Paul Robertson, founder leader of the Medici String Quartet and Chief Executive of the Music Mind Spirit Trust. His compelling speech about the power of music in the lives of everyone - from pre-birth to old age - was deepened by his own near death experience this year when he was in a coma for six months. Why is music important to every single person? It is because music is part of our human spirit and a means of communication, even when everything else appears to fail around us.

 Keith Swanwick, Emeritus Professor of Music Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, is perhaps the guru of music education in this country. At the conference he demonstrated how good teaching and learning is dependent on knowing how learners develop their musical understanding. In music education today we are grappling with many different initiatives that are all aimed at strengthening the opportunities for young people. Professor Swanwick reminded us about some deep values and principles of learning that are common to all approaches to music-making.

 Anne Bamford, Director of the Engine Room and author of ‘The Wow Factor’ is currently undertaking the first national research on the Wider Opportunities on behalf of the FMS, the DCSF and Awards for Young Musicians.  Anne has an enormous wealth of experience of arts education across Europe and has worked extensively for the EU and UNESCO.  She spoke about the value and impact of arts in Europe and helped us to place the Wider Opportunities programme into a truly international context.

The FMS conference provides an opportunity for those working in and with music services to come together, support each other, improve the musical offer and strengthen the resolve to make music education better. The recent Ofsted report ‘Making More of Music’, whilst acknowledging the many good aspects of music education, was also clear in identifying issues that must be improved. This conference was part of the improvement process. We have many things to be proud of, including a Wider Opportunities programme that is leading the world, and a national singing campaign, Sing Up, that is addressing the needs of all children in all schools with the simple belief that singing enhances everyone’s lives. 

If you attended the conference I very much hope you felt it was worthwhile.  An evaluation form has been sent to all delegates so please make sure you complete it and provide your feedback.  The conference is a key event in the FMS year, so it is important that it meets everyone’s needs as much as possible.  The range of speakers, break-out sessions, exhibition, venue, cost and date are all aspects that have to be evaluated  So let us know what you think worked well and what didn’t: that will help us to inform next year’s conference.  Details of presentations will appear on the website shortly.

Happy music making during the last half term of this academic year.

 John Witchell

Amongst the many important activities taking place in music services throughout the FMS several national events are taking place this term.  First there is this year’s conference at the Beaumont Centre, Windsor on 1st and 2nd June.  Entitled ‘Making More of Music-Making’ the programme focuses on some very pressing issues that affect us all.  Here’s what’s in store.

On the first day after the Annual General Meeting, Paul Robertson will be reflecting on Music, Mind and Spirit.  He will, I’m sure renew our spirit.  Following  a performance of young people from Berkshire Maestros there are a range of seminars (which will run twice) as follows:

Update on National Curriculum Issues (Kevin Rogers)

Music and special needs (Bob Heath)

Great Expectations - an open discussion on the expectations of schools chaired by Mo Hanke with invited head teacher and director of a children’s service

Working with large group (Paul Harris in anticipation of a forthcoming publication relevant to Wider Opportunities)

Musicians’ health (Karenna Caun)

Kinaesthetic learning (Penny Stirling)

After time to visit the exhibition workshops and presentations will be offered by Ian Clethero on ‘Zone’ information (who are supporting) the conference, Val Whitlock, who is an inspiring singing teacher, Mark Burke on developments with Charanga, David Liggins on how the ocarina is being used across the country, Bill Martin on links between services and Yamaha (who continue to be a key sponsor of the FMS) and Abigail D’Amore on Musical Futures.   After all that we will have our conference reception and dinner.

We are delighted that Keith Swanwick joins us on the second day.  His keynote speech will focus on the sensitive issue of progression - the vertical and horizontal.  In boisterous mood we will be joined by Tom Service of the BBC Radio 3 Music Matters programme, who will open a debate on music education, the title of which is still to be decided, but which will capture some of his thought-provoking views.  Two more keynote presentations will then be made: the first by Anne Bamford, who will relate our impact assessment of Wider Opportunities with ‘the Wow Factor’; the second by Lucy Green who will bring us up to date with her research on informal approaches to learning  - the aural and the instrumental.  In all these presentations I am sure that we will be inspired and challenged. 

The conference is filling up fast, so if you haven’t already done so, please complete the online application.  We can’t guarantee additional places at the conference beyond 180.  And talking of the centre I hope you will delighted with what it offers.  It really does provide first class conference and residential facilities.

This term the impact assessment of Wider Opportunities will be taking place.  May I thank all those services who have provided details of their participating schools?  We aim to contact all 7,000 so that we see the first complete picture of the impact across the country.  Anne Bamford, our lead researcher, will be visiting eight music services for a closer look at what’s going on and by the autumn we hope to have some evidence to report back to you and to the DCSF.  I believe that this evaluation is one of the most important pieces of work that the FMS has commissioned.  We need to be absolutely clear about what Wider Opportunities does for schools and children.  We need to tell the story, share good practice and take note of those aspects that we can improve.

I wish also to thank all those who have so readily engaged in self evaluation.  The feedback from everyone - heads of services, MSEPs and even directors of children’s services continues to be extremely positive.  I have no doubt about the benefits that this process has brought to services and I am heartened to hear about how it has helped services to focus their minds on the central issue of delivering the very best service possible for our schools and children.  This term the six pilot services will be exploring the second ‘review’ visit.  A framwork is in the final stages of completion so that the reviews can be carried economically and systematically.  However, if you are a service that is still waiting for its first MSEP visit, may I remind you that one of the most important preparation tasks is to complete as much of the Self Evaluation Form as possible with your teams in advance.  Don’t regard this as an extra chore, but as essential, integral and routine process of good planning.

Richard Hallam continues to support us all in his work as Participation Director and is making rapid progress in driving the Local Area Music Plans (LAMPs).  I know that he is grateful to everyone for completing the first plans and impressed with range of ambitious activities taking place.  It is critical that we continue to support him this year, knowing that we are providing him with evidence to argue the case for music service provision with ministers and officers at the DCSF.

All these things are additional to the music making that you generate from day to day.  I think you would agree that there are more demands on music services than ever before.  As Ofsted reported, the impact of music services on schools is significant.  So take care, harness your passion and measure your energy so that you also can also have time to experience the joys of music.  I hope to see everyone at the conference.  I wish everyone much success in their music making this term.

John Witchell

You may have read an interesting article in the Guardian on 2nd April by Tom Service.  In it he suggests that we are ’shutting children out of classical music’ because of lack of funding, the demise of youth orchestras and diminished music service provision.  In some ways it makes for depressing reading, since he appears not to acknowledge huge advances that have been made in recent years.  In other ways his comments are quite useful - he stirs up the debate and by the end of the article he says the solution is a ‘national revitalisation of music services’.  Read it and see what you think. 

I have responded and this is what I said.  (I mention my age, because he says he is a 33 year old music critic)…

Some wrong notes in Tom Service’s article on music services

Response to Tom Service

As a 60 year old classical musician who likes Rufus Wainwright as much as Ralph Vaughan Williams,  I would like to thank Tom Service for endorsing the value of music services, but also put him right on quite a few of his misunderstandings.

He says that primary schools don’t have money for instrumental lessons – wrong.  Through the Wider Opportunities in Music programme we are on course to provide every child in primary schools with the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrumental by 2011 free of charge.  This year 53% of primary schools are offering this and this set to rise substantially every year until we reach 100%.

He thinks that there are no proper instruments for children to play – wrong again.  Government funding has allowed us to provide 100,000 proper musical instruments this year alone.  Before Wider Opportunities there was no such provision.

He believes that the flagship for each Music Service was its youth orchestra – it still is.  Ask any of the 150 music services about youth orchestras and they will show thousands of children playing and singing in orchestras, ensembles, bands and choirs.  They don’t all play classical music all the time and thank goodness they don’t.  But pop along to the National Association of Youth Orchestras’ summer festival or Music for Youth’s National Festival in Symphony Hall in July to hear some great youth orchestras.  I’ve heard some fabulous performances of Mahler 5, Shostakovich 10 and Stravinsky’s ‘Rite of Spring’.  And my old youth orchestra is planning to do Gurrelieder this summer.  That’s a litmus test for me.

Music Services have adapted to the 21^st century – the widening of cultural horizons and the pressures of the contemporary world, including the recession.  We would all agree that there continue to be financial pressures, not just because funds in the past have been delegated to schools, but also because local authorities have found it increasingly difficult to sustain their contributions.  However, this government has boldly ring-fenced the Music Standards Fund until 2011, which has promoted growth and creativity. 

What I do agree with Tom is that we need to continue the revitalisation of music services.  They have the infrastructure and the workforce to ensure that all young people get the chance to enjoy all types of music, including classical.  They are working with lots of other organisations – Youth Music, Sing Up and Sound Connections to name but a few – in a new spirit of partnership and co-operation.  In schools and communities there is strong recognition of the power of music in everyone’s lives; personally and socially as well as musically.  Music Services want everyone to support them in ensuring that music is properly funded over the next decade.  And yes, statutory status would certainly help. I hope that Tom will be one of our strongest advocates, knowing that the musical landscape for young people is actually better now than it was ten years ago.

John Witchell

To all in FMS, what are your views?

I hope that colleagues will all have had a chance to read Ofsted’s report ‘Making More of Music’.  In many ways it provides a wake-up call to all those involved in school music education.  It’s by no means comfortable reading, since it plainly identifies areas where improvement is needed.  It also highlights good practice and, in this respect, it is encouraging that the role of music services is seen to have the most impact on music provision in schools.  This is an incredibly important statement for us - because much of the impact is good, but as Ofsted says, some of it isn’t.

I  know that we will listen to Tony Knight at the Burning Issues conference with particular interest.  We need to be clear about action that is necessary.  My own view is that first, we have come a long way over the last few years.  We have expanded the uptake of KS2 pupils from 8% in 2006 to 34% this year and are set to raise this to 87% by 2011 - that’s an ambitious target.  We’ve also introduced a completely new concept of instrumental teaching to all children, which has involved retraining of instrumental and class teachers.  We’ve needed to design new schemes of work, develop new ways of assessing children’s progress, find ways of managing whole classes playing instruments and stretch financial resources to the limit.

But second we need to find ways of making things better where we can.  Are all our programmes sustained, progressive and continuous?  Do all our teachers yet feel confident in delivering Wider Opportunities and have they received sufficient training?  Have we secured realistic agreements with schools to maximise the funding available and have we convinced the government that adequate resources are critical success criteria?

If the Key Stage 2 programme is going to deliver in the long term, everyone must realise that we must a) invest in people b) address fair funding issues c) work in close and meaningful partnerships with schools and other providers and d) continue to strengthen and deepen our new pedagogy - the old one just won’t do!

Let’s be positive about what music services do.  Let’s recognise that many colleagues work 24/7 for the benefit of their young people, schools and communities.  We are passionate about our work and all share deep values about music education.  You can be assured that the FMS will continue to do all it can to support you, raise our profile and promote the well-being of our learners, our staff and our music services. Those who came to the last conference, don’t let us forget the lessons of Henry V - the resolve he had in his battles and the new growth in the spring.  Spring is nearly upon us and the new shoots of musical opportunities will push through the hardened frost of the winter!

February is a busy month for music services, yet so was January and December and November!  I think it would be fair to say that music services are now busier than ever.  The preparation of Local Area Music Plans doesn’t happen over night and I know that many hours have been spent on these.  Self evaluation is not a one-off process and both services and the Music Service Evaluation Partners have been putting in overtime in order to make the best of the process.  And then there are all the new partnerships, not least with Sing Up area leaders who we are supporting as they introduce platinum awards to the very best singing schools.

So the Burning Issues conference on 10th February comes at an appropriate time.  Already we have 230 people signed up for it and we are delighted to welcome Tony Knight who will be presenting his latest report called ‘Making More of Music’, which has interest for everyone in music services.  I hope you will be able to join us then.

But what are some of the key issues for FMS at the moment?  First we are completing the Evaluation Summaries of the autumn term’s moderations, and services and their local authorities will be receiving these shortly.  Sincere thanks and congratulations go to everyone involved in the process so far.  It’s not been easy, and inevitably there have been a few teething problems.  However many heads of services have said that they felt the completion of the Self Evaluation Form and the moderation has enabled them to focus more on what they provide for their communities.  One said that his team felt they knew more about the service than ever before.  Some MSEPs have felt that the experience, whilst time consuming, has been particularly useful professional development.  But it has taken time, especially first time round.

Nevertheless we now have to address our own ‘areas for development’.  Not least is the need to eliminate any inconsistencies that have emerged as the documentation has evolved.  We also need to clarify the procedures for the visits, ensuring that the SEF is available before the first day and that the Quality Assurance Link is able to support the MSEP before the Evaluation Summary (ES) is drafted.  In the first round we underestimated the demands of writing the ES, so that is something we are now addressing.  We plan to arrange a ‘refresher’ day for MSEPs later on in the term when we can go over these amendments.

May I take this opportunity to thank wholeheartedly all those who have been involved - as host services, as observers, as MSEPs or as Quality Assurance Links - it’s been a superb effort all round and I am convinced that music services and the FMS will be all the better for it.

Another important development for the FMS is the commissioning of an major impact assessment of Wider Opportunities.  Many of us have felt for sometime that we need to tell the stories of WOPs alongside collecting data for the DCSF.  I am delighted to announce that Professor Anne Bamford, Director of the Engine Room will be undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of the programme across the whole country.  Anne was the principal investigator for UNESCO in evaluating the global impact of the arts and has also worked extensively across Europe.  We have asked her to dig down to find qualitative evidence of the impact of Wider Opportunities in terms of personal/emotional, social, cultural, general educational and economic impact as well as musical  development (which of course is hugely important!).  During the coming months all key stakeholders will be asked to tell us what they think the impact of Wider Opportunities is.  By the end we will have a powerful story to tell and share with others - not least the government as they consider the options in the next spending review.  We will have a picture of best practice, how the programme continues from one year to another and what difference it makes in the lives of all children.  We will also know some of the reasons why it might sometimes be less successful.  So watch out for more information as the assessment gets underway.

Communication has always been an issue for FMS and at the last executive some frustration was expressed at our modest attempts to tell the story of our success.  We’re now trying to do something about it.  By the time of Burning Issues a short newsletter entitled ‘Aspirations’ will be published.  We are also investing more as part of a new communications strategy.  However I can’t stress enough how important the profile is at both local and national levels.  It is the local service, galvanising the workforce and music practitioners, which plays the most important part in the community.  But it is up to FMS to ensure that the message is delivered effectively to government.  We have sustained excellent relationships with government ministers and the DCSF and I promise you that we will continue doing that to the best of our abilities.

So yes, they are busy times and we all have a heavy workload.  Even so, we must never forget why we do the job - and the joy that we bring to children, schools and families.  Take care this term - and don’t forget to tell us (using the new website) about your events and successes.

Yours musically

John Witchell

Many people feel insecure about the beginning of 2009 and people in music services are no exception. In a time of economic gloom some prospects for the year are not looking good.

BUT… we have a lot to be thankful for. First we have a brand new, state of the art website developed on our behalf by Charanga. Second we have just completed the first term of moderations for music service self evaluations. Colleagues in music services across the country have been working incredibly hard to undertake rigorous self evaluation, building on successful good practice (of which there is a lot), but also identifying how improvements can be made. We’ve been working closely with Dick Hallam, National Participation Director for Music in meeting the aspirations of the government. There is much to celebrate both in the Wider Opportunities programme and Sing Up, and plenty to aspire to in the forthcoming year. The breadth of work, the developing strength of partnerships and the excitement of exploring new ways of working are all things to look forward to during the year.

Yes finances are going to be tight - the cost of instrumental and vocal tution is not going to reduce - but the power of music remains as strong as ever. We have the wonderful gift of touching the hearts and minds of children, families, schools and communities. Let’s stride out this year with renewed confidence, knowing that we are making a positive difference to the lives of all those who make music with us.

Happy New Year and happy music-making.

John