The recently published report featuring the initial findings and recommendations of the Curriculum Review has been welcomed by the Federation of Music Services (FMS) who represent Music Services, Music Education Hubs and 12000 music teachers.

The retention of music at Key Stages 1-3 and the highlighting of sound reasons why music and the arts should be part of Key Stage 4 is an exciting and thoughtful step forward if adopted.

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education said in his written ministerial statement accompanying the review:

“The Expert Panel argues that England narrows its curriculum for the majority of pupils too early.”

The report goes on to recognize:

·        the importance of pupils acquiring knowledge of their cultural heritage

·        that a good arts and music education benefits individuals, their communities and the nation as a whole

·        arts subjects in the curriculum have the potential to meet aims and purposes in all four curriculum domains – economic, cultural, social and personal.

Virginia Haworth-Galt, FMS Chief Executive said:

“We urge the Government to accept these recommendations and charge the arts education sector to join up the thinking between the Curriculum Review, the National Plan for Music Education and Darren Henley’s forthcoming review of cultural education. This conjunction will make music and the arts a driver for the wider achievement of children and young people.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1.    The FMS is a registered charity that was formed in the 1990s to help the regional music services organisations to be more effective and represent them in dealing with central and local government.

2.    There are 165 Music Services organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who are members of the FMS (99% of all Music Services).  Their role is to provide primary and secondary schools with all that they need to teach music: they set standards, provide teaching aids, equipment and training for heads of music/music teachers. They employ about 12,000 music teachers, music tutors and assistants nationwide and teach over 2 million pupils every year. FMS members are the backbone of music education in this country.

For further information and interviews contact:

virginia.haworth-galt@federationmusic.org.uk

Ms Virginia Haworth-Galt 01722 412829

douglas@watershed-consulting.com

Douglas Adamson 01423 755009 or 07860 420763

The Expert Panel’s full report and recommendations are available on the Department for Education’s website: https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DFE-00135-2011

FMS to share hub skills with wider music education industry audiences

FMS is delighted to launch a Hub Associate Membership scheme. With effect from 1st January 2012, individuals, schools and business organisations can become Federation of Music Services (FMS) Hub Associate Members.

The offer reflects the fast changing landscape of music education as Music Education Hubs become the new focus for music and arts education in schools and communities. The new membership level will be known as Hub Associate and will be open to peripatetic and classroom teachers and musicians working with children and young people, school leaders and heads of music departments and organisations and businesses who are supporters of music in Hubs.

“Hubs mean closer links with schools, businesses, arts organisations and individuals involved in music education. Hub Associate Members will now have a voice and a forum for debate. This has to be a positive move forward and I urge all those involved in music education to get behind this new membership scheme.” Virginia Haworth-Galt

A copy of the FMS Hub Associate Membership Leaflet is available for download.

For more information call the membership hotline on 01722 412829 or email hubassociate@federationmusic.org.uk.

The awaited National Plan for Music Education (The Importance of Music) announced today gives a clear signal to all schools that music should be part of the educational curriculum across the age spectrum. This vision and ambition is welcomed. The National Plan will only be achieved within the reduced funding confines if all the parties engage in genuine and positive partnerships. These must have the core aims of benefiting all children and young people and maintaining the quality of provision.

Music education recognised

Virginia Haworth-Galt, the Federation of Music Services (FMS) Chief Executive, said:

“The FMS welcomes the Government’s introduction of a National Plan for Music Education with protected funding over three years. We are pleased that the ambition of the plan focuses on core Music Service principles of first access, progression, ensembles and singing; we believe that Hubs can build on the work of Music Services and schools and will improve the opportunities for all children and young people. We note the Government’s anticipation that Music Services will be well placed to drive this work forward within the new Hub structures and look forward to rising to the challenges ahead.

“The FMS will work alongside Arts Council colleagues to ensure that music and vocal tuition maintains its educational rigour and discipline.” 

Music Education Hubs

The principle of working hand-in-hand with more arts related bodies to maximise budgets, teaching power and resources is recognised as fundamental in achieving the aspiration of supporting more children irrespective of age and ability. Many Music Services already work in close partnership with other music and arts providers to support children and schools in preparation for the Hub bidding process.

The FMS is resolute that transparency and impartiality during the bidding stages is maintained to ensure that this process delivers the successful outcomes everyone seeks.

Support

The FMS is supporting Music Services through training and consultancy on the preparation of bids to run Music Education Hubs. The relevance of the FMS’ Open University accredited management training course ‘Rising with the Tide’ has been recognised by Government (Para 69 The Importance of Music) and will be continued.

In a separate move the FMS is well underway with plans to widen its membership base to include a wider cross section of music and arts providers. More details will be announced very shortly.

Teacher training standards

The FMS represents 12,000 qualified and assessed music teachers. Quality teaching has always been the hallmark of Music Services’ offer to schools. The Teaching Agency’s plan to include add-on modules for classroom teachers in the summer of 2012 to improve musical teaching standards is welcome together with a music educator qualification and more robust monitoring and benchmarking of music provision in schools by Ofsted.

Funding

Virginia Haworth-Galt commented: “The FMS is heartened by the support shown by the Government with a three year Music Grant award totalling £202 million. However, we still remain concerned that when this reduction in central funding is added to the many local authority cuts already announced there will be a detrimental effect on overall music provision. Unless Hubs can tap into other external reserves of funding quickly there will be less money available in the short term. This must jeopardise opportunities for children and put at risk the quality of provision. The wide range of music being taught and the sustainability of some ensembles and orchestras will also be thrown into doubt unless outside funds are realised to bridge the gaps.”  

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1.    The FMS is a registered charity that was formed in the 1990s to help the regional music services organisations to be more effective and represent them in dealing with central and local government.

2.    There are 165 Music Services organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who are members of the FMS (99% of all Music Services).  Their role is to provide primary and secondary schools with all that they need to teach music: they set standards, provide teaching aids, equipment and training for heads of music/music teachers. They employ about 12,000 music teachers, music tutors and assistants nationwide and teach over 2 million pupils every year. FMS members are the backbone of music education in this country.

For further information and interviews contact:

virginia.haworth-galt@federationmusic.org.uk

Ms Virginia Haworth-Galt 01943 463311

douglas@watershed-consulting.com

Douglas Adamson 01423 755009 or 07860 420763

Two new prizes have just been announced for Classical artists entering Next BRIT thing - www.nextbritthing.com

The winner of the Next BRIT thing classical category will get to perform at the Royal Albert Hall and their performance will be broadcast nationwide on ClassicFM.

This is in addition to a share of £10,000 of music equipment for students and schools and a master class with industry experts and performers.

Students have until 16th December to enter their performances as audio or video and compete in the Official UK youth chart.

For young composers there is an additional prize for best original composition that is supported by PRS for Music

For more information and video interviews with classical performers and composers visit www.nextbritthing.com 

The National Music Council (NMC) has announced that from a record number of applications the Major Trophy has been awarded to Blackpool for outstanding work during the past year; FMS member Andrew White, who is the Music Adviser for Blackpool, said that he was ‘proud and elated’ by the news and that the award would have a massive positive impact upon all involved in Blackpool Music Service, allowing them to collectively celebrate their achievements, have pride in what they do and increase their personal aspirations.

Diplomas of Merit have been awarded to Bolton, Devon, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Southampton, Staffordshire and Tower Hamlets.  The awards will be presented by Darren Henley the Managing Director of Classic FM, on Monday 7 November at the Southbank Centre in London.  At the same time the PRS Foundation will also award a Diploma of Special Merit to East Lothian for their commitment to creative music making.

The NMC LA Music Education Awards Scheme (co-ordinated with the assistance of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Federation of Music Services) has been in existence for over 35 years.  The annual awarding of a Major Trophy and a variable number of Diplomas allows NMC to provide recognition to local authorities that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to music education provision in a particular year.  Reports from previous years can be found at: www.nationalmusiccouncil.org.uk

For further information or if you would like to attend the Awards ceremony, please contact

Harriette Goldsmith at the National Music Council

Tel      01707 662662

Email  info@nationalmusiccouncil.org.uk

Stars including Katie Melua, Nicola Roberts, Dan Gillespie and Laura Wright urge young people to record, upload and vote!  Lucky winners to be crowned ‘Next BRIT Thing’ and win a recording session at Abbey Road StudiosThe public can now play their part in choosing who will be crowned Next BRIT Thing as voting starts for a nationwide music competition for young people aged 11-19, backed by the UK Music industry, The BRIT Awards and the Government.Entrants have been able to upload audio and video entries since Monday 19th September, with nearly a thousand entries already received.  Voting now opens to the public starting from today, and will run until 12 noon on Friday 16th December 2011.Musicians of any genre are still being encouraged to record and upload their performances to Next BRIT Thing, with two categories for the competition:  popular and classical music, plus an additional award for composition.Anyone can listen to the entries and vote via the competition website  at www.nextbritthing.com, and using the competition’s free iPhone app.British music stars today encouraged young people to get involved in Next BRIT Thing:Katie Melua said, “The Next BRIT Thing competition gives all young people a fantastic opportunity to show off their talent and get their music heard.  So anyone that would like to get involved should start now by writing, performing, recording and voting on your favourite tracks.  You never know where it might lead – it could be you recording your song at Abbey Road next year!”Culture Minister Ed Vaizey also reiterated the opportunity offered by the competition, “By launching the Next Brit Thing, the music industry is making a huge investment in the next generation of talent.  Anything that brings music into young people’s lives gets my vote of confidence, but one exciting element of Next Brit Thing is that it gives aspiring young artists the opportunity to find their own style, be it classical, pop or jazz.“Learning an instrument and singing are incredibly important for young people and should be a key part of education, which is why we will shortly be launching a National Plan for Music Education.  In the meantime, I urge as many people as possible to visit the website and get voting.”Some of the UK’s biggest music stars have already supported Next BRIT Thing, encouraging young people to get involved – including Jessie J, Pixie Lott, Paloma Faith, Tinchy Stryder, Laura Wright, Chipmunk, Eliza Doolittle, Dionne Bromfield, Cairo from Encore, Siva from The Wanted and Dappy from NDubz.From this week, a rolling chart of the most-voted for entries in the last seven days will be published online.  Regional charts will cover the South of England, the Midlands, North of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.The top 30 most popular acts in each category, in each region, will form a long-list to be assessed by the expert panel, with up to six acts taking part in regional eliminations. These will be held at special one-day sessions, where competitors will not only get to play in front of the judges, but will receive coaching and one-to-one feedback on their performances.The regional events take place in the first week in February 2012, with the finalists going forward to the national final at the O2 Indigo in March 2012.Some fantastic prizes are on offer for Next BRIT Thing contestants, including: 

•  The chance to record at the legendary Abbey Road studios for the winner of the popular music category.
• The winning song will appear on the next BRIT Awards album.
• A one-day masterclass with iconic producer Steve Levine, held at Bucks New University’s state-of-the-art studio suite for the runners up.
• A classical recording session.
• Tickets to The BRIT Awards for regional and national winners.
• A share in £10,000 worth of music equipment from a major manufacturer.

Young people entering Next BRIT Thing also have access to high-quality tutorials and resources to help them improve their skills, develop confidence and explore careers in music or other creative industries.

Rhythm and Melody in Music Therapy

Warwickshire County Music Service would like to invite you to participate in their first Music Therapy Conference with a theme: Rhythm and Melody in Music Therapy.

This conference is aimed at music therapists, musicians and other professionals who apply rhythm and melody as part of their music.

(more…)

FMS is launching a new one-day taster day course in Autumn 2011

This course will preview a full 10-day leadership and management course in 2012, and will give Music Service Teachers; Area Heads; Centre Leaders; Heads of Service or Anyone with a Team to Manage an opportunity to:

1. Understand more about the aspects of leadership and management which are a part of their work
2. Gain an in-depth look at issues facing everyone involved in running a music service
3. Explore the key elements of the full accredited training programme.

(more…)

Classic FM’s Music Teacher of the Year is back for 2011!

Classic FM has teamed up with Yamaha, Avid and Music for Youth once again to recognise and reward the nation’s most inspirational music teachers.

Do you know of an inspirational music teacher? Somebody who makes music lessons feel like more than just a lesson? Well, Classic FM is giving you the opportunity to reward a music teaching hero.

As well as recognising primary and secondary school music teachers, the awards also pay tribute to peripatetic/private music teachers and those who work with children with special needs. And for those who have made music teaching their life’s work, there’s an award for Lifetime Achievement.

The five winning teachers will each receive thousands of pounds worth of musical equipment from Yamaha and Avid software for their schools or music services.

The awards will be presented at the Music For Youth Schools Prom over three nights at the Royal Albert Hall on 7-9th November 2011.

For more information on how to enter please visit: http://www.classicfm.co.uk/musicteacher

Comment from Virginia Haworth-Galt, Chief Executive of the Federation of Music Services:

“Any programme that helps to shine a light on Britain’s emerging musical talent from whatever genre of music gets the full support of the Federation of Music Services (FMS). Young people age 11-19 now have a fantastic opportunity to have their musical talent show-cased to a national audience of music industry luminaries and influencers.

“The Next BRIT Thing offers a great new way to recognise young people’s amazing musical and vocal skills and we will be encouraging our Music Service members to register at www.nextbritthing.com or via www.facebook.com/nextbritthing and Twitter @nextbritthing and send in their audio and video entries.