Closing date for applications: Friday 30th July 2010

KIRKLEES MUSIC SCHOOL

TEACHING VACANCY
Required from 1st September 2010

CLASSICAL GUITAR TEACHER
Part-time- approximately 15 hours per week

The position will be hourly paid

All applicants for the post will be required to teach both small group/individual lessons and work with whole class (Wider Opportunities) and/or whole school initiatives. You must have a passion for widening access to music for all children; have a proven track record of excellence and the ability to motivate young people to achieve their potential.

Pay scale is the equivalent of M1-M6 for QTS or national unqualified pay scale for non-QTS.

For an application pack please contact Anna Farmer- PA to the Senior Management Team, Kirklees Music School, 9 Beast Market, Huddersfield, HD1 1QF.
Tel: 01484 426426 email anna.farmer@kirkleesmusicschool.org.uk

Closing date for applications Friday 30th July 2010

Closing date for applications: Friday 23rd July

Bassoon and Oboe Tutor Required for September

Royal Borough of Kingston Music and Arts service requires a replacement bassoon and oboe tutor to teach individual lessons within our schools and at our music centres.

We are looking for people who are passionate about music and have a desire to work with children and young people of all ages and abilities. We are looking for staff who will offer the highest quality of teaching and learning for our young people.

Experience of whole class and large group tuition is desirable for teaching posts. Teachers will be expected to be qualified to a minimum of Music Diploma.

Hours are variable and can be agreed between KMAS and applicant.
All posts are subject to Criminal Records Bureau Checks
Rates of pay are currently between £20.61 and £23.22 for individual tuition (depending on qualifications and experience).

To apply please go to www.eteach.com/Job.aspx?VacNo=359296&Page=1 and complete the application form.

Kingston Music Service, The Dukes Centre, Dukes Avenue, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 5QY

Closing Date – Friday 23rd July 2010

Candidates will be contacted within 1 weeks of the closing date if they have been shortlisted.

Closing date for applications: Friday 30th July 2010

Two exciting full-time opportunities to work with one of the country’s leading music services within the Resources Department, Berkshire Maestros in Reading:

• IT Co-ordinator (ref: BM0701)
• Instrument and Library Co-ordinator (ref: BM0702)

Full details of the job descriptions and person specifications, together with an application form can be downloaded from the Staff, Job Opportunities section of our website:

www.berkshiremaestros.org.uk/jobs

Your completed application form (together with two page CV including names of references) should be submitted to richardraymond@berkshiremaestros.org.uk by the closing date for applications:
Friday 30 July 2010.

If your application is shortlisted for interview, successful applicants will be invited to meet the
Head of Resources, Mr Richard Raymond on Tuesday 10 August 2010.

For further information regarding the role(s) in the interim please contact either Dawn Garside or Richard Raymond (0118 901 2385).

Salary range: Full-time £17382 to £21796 per annum

Berkshire Maestros fully recognises its responsibilities for child protection and ensure we practise safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children. Full details of our policy can be viewed on our website www.berkshiremaestros.org.uk

ABRSM, the world’s leading authority on musical assessment, is to sponsor the Federation of Music Services (FMS) for the academic year September 2010 to August 2011. John Witchell, Chief Executive of FMS, announced the sponsorship agreement at the FMS Conference 2010 in Belfast (16–18 June). The grant will support the ongoing promotion and provision of the 12- month FMS course “Rising with the tide: managing and leading music services in the 21st century”.

Rising with the tide

Launched in 2010, the course aims to support beginning, developing and established leaders, both individually and collaboratively, in building professional knowledge around learning- centred leadership. The programme extends over 12 months and seeks to enhance school leadership capability and capacity across local authorities in England and Wales, by engaging individuals in a series of innovative development sessions.

A sustained relationship

ABRSM has sponsored a series of FMS activities since 2004. The two organisations announced a new consultancy partnership in 2008 in which ABRSM, through its Director of Professional Development Richard Crozier, would provide FMS with consultancy on professional development within music services at a strategic level. The development and launch of ‘Rising with the tide’ has been a major part of Crozier’s role as consultant.

Guy Perricone, Chief Executive of ABRSM, said: “ABRSM recognises that Music Services make a vital contribution to the teaching and learning of music across the country. We are delighted to continue supporting FMS – and specifically the course ‘Rising with the tide’ – as part of our sponsorship programme for music education organisations in the UK.”

John Witchell, Chief Executive of FMS, said: “Music services in the FMS truly appreciate the ongoing support from ABRSM. This year, as we develop the leadership training programme, we are particularly pleased that ABRSM will be directly supporting colleagues who are preparing for
leadership and management posts in music services. The partnership between the two organisations is testimony to the dedication of those who are committed to the values of music education.”

Download the press-release (63Kb PDF)

Likewise, in a session where key figures in music education were asked to share their priorities for music services, Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the ISM, Christina Coker, Chief Executive of Youth Music, Mark Phillips, National Adviser for Music (HMI) and Marc Jaffrey, Think Again, didn’t pull any punches. But their messages were clear - music services provide the infrastructure for music education provision, but cannot work in isolation, hanker after some sort of status quo, or assume that the quality of everything is as we want it. They all fervently support music services, but are absolutely clear about the need to manage change professionally and positively. And when we heard from heads of service in a panel discussion, it was clear that we are doing that - with energy, passion and zeal.

High points in the conference were the performances by young people - traditional Irish music of the very best quality. So we must thank the performers and their dedicated teachers who provided inspirational music that reminded us why we do what we do. Given the economic climate and the challenges ahead, we must always draw on our natural reserves of music to charge our batteries and strengthen our resolve. Actually I think the conference succeeded in doing that, but we now know that we are in the middle of the most critical time for us. Many colleagues are facing very difficult economic pressures and need to be reassured that everyone in the FMS is supporting them.

One of the things that we will soon be reporting on is our work on business modelling with Ernst & Young. Of course we all know that there are no magic bullets, but I can assure you that we are doing all we can to support each and every service. After our next executive meeting on 30th June we plan to publish guidance by the end of term. It’s a critical task, because the transformational power of music will go nowhere if we don’t have sound business acumen to maximise every ounce of funding and income and provide the best value for money.

Finally I want to emphasise the importance of everyone’s contribution to the FMS. Sir Tim Brighouse made it clear that he knows that for many music leaders there is no such thing as work life balance - our work is our life. The FMS is truly a family of the most wonderful people and over the last three years I have been honoured to serve them. I was truly humbled by the spirit of the delegates at the conference and will never forget my short time at the helm. We’ve now jumped over the first hurdle in that the Music Standards Fund will continue to be ring-fenced until April 2011. But, with our indomitable determination, we will ensure that music services continue to serve their schools, families and communities, not just for the next few years, but for the rest of the 21st century. Mind you, we won’t all be around to see that!

So let’s keep on the front foot, remain committed and confident and, above, ensure that we all keep on making music, which is what we do best of all.

You can also read about the cross culture Irish welcome that conference delegates will receive from talented pupils in each of the Education and Library Boards.

Presentations from the conference will shortly be on the conference page.

Download the Feedbackformhere! Conference Feedback Form 2010

On the first full morning of the conference at the Belfast Hilton hotel, delegates will be greeted by a youthful Irish musical extravaganza in the form of ‘Celtic Fusion’. The band has a meld of talent from across the province including drummers and dancers are from St Cecilia’s College (Western Education and Library Board) and the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB), and traditional musicians from Our Lady’s Grammar School (SELB).

Said Caitríona Ruane MLA, Minister of Education, in welcoming the FMS to Belfast, “Music has a very important role to play in the curriculum as it forms an essential part of a balanced education; it is a powerful and distinctive form of communication and expression, as well as enhancing young people’s self-esteem and confidence.”

The boys and girls performing are aged from 14 – 17 years. ‘Celtic Fusion’ consists of sixteen drummers and seven instrumentalists including fiddlers and whistlers and one keyboard player. They will be playing an assortment of instruments including violin, tin whistle, harp and concertina. Percussion will be provided by Lambeg, Bodhran and African drums. This exciting combination of instruments and styles will provide the accompaniment for their own ‘river dance’ as they are joined by traditional dancers performing jigs, reels and horn pipes.

John Witchell, FMS Chief Executive, said: “What better Irish welcome could we have with the magic and mystery of a traditional fiddle, whistle and drum band to play us into our conference? The spirit of creative cross-school collaboration is an inspiration to all music teachers and demonstrates children making music at its best.”

There are a series of other musical highlights throughout the conference from the Province’s schools including A-Freek-A, 25 players of African drums, Codetta, City of Derry Civic Choirs who will sing in Belfast’s City Hall on Thursday evening at a drink’s reception, St Malachy’s College Senior Traditional Group, a Jazz Ensemble and a Harp Ensemble.

The FMS conference speakers include Sir Tim Brighouse, educational guru and former London School’s tsar and Roy Leighton, motivational speaker and education, learning and enterprise specialist. It is anticipated that all five of Northern Ireland’s regional Education and Library Board Chief Executives will be in attendance. The conference is also hosting a variety of workshops covering such diverse subjects as Music and Special Educational Needs, New Business Modeling and Music Camps.

Download the complete Press Release.

Ms Haworth-Galt is the first FMS chief executive to come from outside the world of music services and her appointment signals a mood of change within the music education sector as budgets come under scrutiny and streamlining of services moves into sharper focus.

Ms Haworth-Galt was previously Chief Executive of Artswork, the national youth development agency that provides a range of creative and cultural opportunities for Young People at Risk, which she is credited with steering to national prominence. She has worked closely with both the DCMS, DCSF (now Dept for Education) and the Arts Council and has been an adviser to the Secretary of State for Culture in matters concerning cultural provision and the interests of Young People at Risk. Ms Haworth-Galt also has a strong background in advocacy and communication for the arts sector both regionally and nationally.

The outgoing FMS Chief Executive, John Witchell, said: “We are delighted to have attracted someone of Virginia’s talent and experience to help lead the FMS through the challenging times that lie ahead. The role of the Federation in education has never been more crucial: music’s contribution to the wellbeing of our children’s cultural development is inestimable. I am certain that Virginia will ensure that access to music for all young people will remain at the forefront of the educational agenda.”

Ms Haworth-Galt commented:” I am very much looking forward to joining the FMS. It is an influential and well-respected organisation and I am excited about building on the excellent work that has been done in recent years, working with its members on new developments and reinforcing the Federation’s key role on the educational and cultural agendas of the day.”

Download the press release

Ten years ago the head of the service that I worked for said he really wished that we could bring instrumental teaching closer into the curriculum and I agreed with him. Well now we have. Wider Opportunities, which is now recognised as a world class success, has transformed music in the primary school and brought out the best of classroom and instrumental teachers working together. Musical Futures has turned traditional pedagogy on its head and been a leader in personalisation. A Common Approach has provided a world leading curriculum framework for instrumental and vocal teaching and, with our National Standards for Instrumental Teachers and our rigorous self evaluation programme, has enabled us to raise standards of achievement, learning and access. The profile and advocacy of music services is stronger, due in many ways to the sterling work of the Think Again team and Watershed Consulting and we are providing more and better professional development opportunities, not least with our new, highly regarded leadership programme. All these things support the work of individual teachers in all our music services.

Enough of blowing our own trumpet, though it’s important for everyone to appreciate the achievements of music services in the FMS. But we are also very much aware that all these qualities provide the underpinning for the future development that is now needed in music education. We have to help the new government address wider issues other than music and we can do that through music. We have to acknowledge the unevenness of provision across the UK, even though many of the contributory factors have been beyond our control. We have to be clear about finding solutions and answers to problems and to do so we need to lead from the front and relish opportunities to be innovative and creative. Above all we must unlock the resources of all organisations involved in music education and be at the centre of deep and trusting partnerships.

So here are a few strategic objectives to think about.
1. We must strengthen our investment in leadership so that there are sufficient people who have the skills and understanding to ensure that the nation’s vision for music is realised. We have made a perfect start with the 10 day leadership course managed by Richard Crozier - and there are some brilliant people around.
2. We need to capitalise on the progress made with self evaluation. The country needs to know that every child wherever they live will benefit from the same high quality opportunities to fulfil their potential in and through music.
3. We must build on our high pedagogical credentials and ensure that through curriculum developments and revisions of A Common Approach (digital and interactive) we can make our workforce really fit for the 21st century.
4. Our teachers are our life blood; without them we can do nothing. Therefore we have to raise the bar of professional development and support for individual teachers.
5. We must remove any obsolete barriers in terms of structures, or ways of working, so that partnerships are deeper and are characterised by trust and mutual advocacy. All music services ‘provide’ some form of music education, but our role is now much wider. The greatest appreciation of what we do comes when we also foster partnerships, facilitate the work of others and build bridges. It seems to me that the future of music service provision will depend on the ability of the music education sector to unite, not just in its message, but in its ability to maximise its resources for the good of all.
6. We have to be adaptive and imaginative in the ways we ensure the greatest efficiency and best value. In particular we need to have determination and skills in finding new business solutions and structural configurations that are fit for purpose in a more difficult economic climate. Therefore I am delighted that we are about to undertake some important work with Ernst & Young in this area.
7. Our close relationship with schools must be further strengthened so that our work is truly integral to all their curricula.
8. And, as important as anything else, we must continue to tell the story, communicate the message and fight for the future of music education, for the sake of all children.

When we say we have a world-class music education system we make the point that the country must use it well, sustain it and invest in it. In return we must commit ourselves to continual and sustained improvement. Like schools, or any other institutions, we are not perfect. But we are ‘good’ and determined to make things better. We are already shaping music education in the 21st century. Let’s make sure that music services play their full part and make the most of every morsel of resource that is in their reach – sharing, promoting, collaborating and supporting everyone who contributes to the ongoing improvement in education. Together we are ‘on the threshold of a dream’ – so I hope I will see you at our important conference in Belfast this year on 17 and 18 June when we will be dreaming about the future, whilst we are wide awake!