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The official newsletter of the lead organisation of Coventry Music Education Hub.
Follow us on Twitter and check out our website for all the latest news.
Included in this update:
Music teaching starts again across the city
This month’s newsletter celebrates some of the wonderful music-making in and out of schools during the past half term. I have been amazed by the resilience and dedication of music departments, big and small, in the city to ensure music making continues. Along with colleagues in Public Health, Coventry Council and the wider music education sector, we have managed to support schools and our tutors to safely and securely continue making music.
Most Coventry Music lessons are now taking place in schools, but we have also developed some amazing online resources and where we have parent/carer details we can take lessons online if needed.
Last half term we relaunched the Primary and Secondary Music Networks and had great attendance from across the city. These groups led by teachers from the city will help shape the future of the Music Education Hub as we move forward and make sure we develop in partnership programmes that are fit for purpose both now and as we move into 2021 and beyond.
If you require any support to restart and develop music provision, please do get in touch and we will do all we can to support! Contact us music@coventry.gov.uk
Kevin Stannard – A Music Engagement Officer with Coventry Music - updates us on what has been happening in some of the schools across Coventry
Coventry Music returned to schools in September having spent lockdown preparing a wide range of music materials to aid teachers and students in their musical endeavours. In the unfortunate times of a pandemic, music-making of whatever kind is most needed to soothe the emotions and support our well-being. This has involved the creation of schemes of work and preparation of online teaching and performance videos to underpin music teaching/delivery that has been hampered by the necessary COVID-19 restrictions - as well as the writing and arranging for music ensembles and choirs for when we are able to meet and make music in larger groups outside of school bubbles. We hope those times are not too far away!
Young people have shown great enthusiasm for music since resuming their school studies face-to-face, understanding that there should be more emphasis given to body percussion and rhythm-related activities as well as listening and talking about music. In my teaching, youngsters at Keresley Grange Primary Academy have been focusing on creating and performing riffs and rhythms over a steady pulse and listening to music by Offenbach (The Can Can) and Saint-Saëns (Carnival of the Animals). Year 7/8 pupils at Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School have been listening to and discussing the music of Anoushka Shankar and Gold Panda as performed at the 2020 proms concerts at an empty Albert Hall.
We have been happy for children to sing gently in their bubbles! Indeed, singing has been a lovely way for pupils to (re-)engage with music and help them settle back into the routine and rigour of school, always safely and with the agreement of teachers in a COVID-19 secure way.
First City of Culture events released
We are excited to be a part of the City of Culture 2021 and some of the fantastic events being scheduled for next year and beyond.
Some of the up-coming events have now been released and you can find full details of those events on the City of Culture website.
Watch our website and social media for exciting news about which events we will be involved with and any opportunities for our talented young children in Coventry. We can't wait to showcase all our talent and the great work we do here at Coventry Music and across the city of Coventry.
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 This will be one of the first exciting events coming to Coventry as part of the City of Culture 2021. We will be there, will you? Book your tickets.
Coventry Music online opportunities
We are now offering many online opportunities for those areas not able to meet face-to-face.
Some of our ensembles are meeting online on a weekly basis, including City Band, Fretworks Guitar Group, String Ensemble and Live on Stage. They meet to catch up and share some music as well as get some new resources to practice which we will hopefully be able to perform in the not too distant future.
We are offering online tuition to any students who cannot currently have lessons in their school. Contact us at music@coventry.gov.uk if you would like to have online lessons.
And after our successful trial of our online theory lessons last term we are running them again this term. We have classes for all levels from beginners to those preparing to take music exams. Visit our website to find out more and how to sign up.
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 Fretworks Guitar group enjoying an online meeting
String ensemble continues to go strong online
This term we are once again running an online string ensemble and have been very pleased to welcome several new members to join our existing group from last year.
With so many arts organisations making an effort to raise up the work of black artists following Black Lives Matter, and with October being Black History Month we’ve included new repertoire for this term that reflects diverse composers. The ensemble are working on Florence Price’s ‘Juba Dance’, the third movement from her first symphony as well as anticipating Coventry’s City of Culture status by learning the theme music from BBC TV’s ‘Dr Who’, which was co-written by Coventry composer and electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire, in an arrangement made by the current Dr Who composer, Segun Akinola.
Naturally, our young players are really keen to get back to live performance, but it’s been great to see how well they are playing in the online environment, and how friendly and welcoming they’ve been to our new members through a screen.
Any string players who would like to join the ensemble are very welcome to join us; see the Coventry Music website for further details.
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Some exciting new songs been written during lockdown for Mornings of Music 2021
Last year we saw lots of children learn some great songs as part of our Mornings of Music event. We were unfortunately unable to share the songs with each other, but we know the children enjoyed learning them and sharing them in their own schools.
We are excited to announce that we have some great new songs being prepared by our very own Mr Kevin Stannard for this very popular event ready for 2021. This year the theme is a historical journey through Coventry to fit perfectly with the City of Culture 2021
Here is what Mr Stannard tells us about the songs:
"New for 2021 is the Coventry Schools’ Culture Cantata with music composed by Kevin Stannard (Coventry Music Engagement Officer) and words written by Rebecca Thompson (St Mary’s the Mount School, Walsall).
The 10-song cantata is a magical, musical tour for young people living in Coventry today. Journey back through the ages and experience the war-time blitz; meet Sir Frank Whittle; recall the range of motor cars built here and celebrate the importance of Coventry’s industrial heritage before arriving in the times of the iconic Lady Godiva."
We can't wait to hear them and share them with you soon. We will be in touch with more information for all the schools involved as soon as we can.
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Successful Arts Award Discover project
Following the online delivery in the summer term of many ‘Discover’ Arts Awards, our children and young people are being awarded their certificates after half term.
We had some outstanding art work and innovative creative music submitted as part of the award work, and our partner Arts Connect West Midlands shared several examples of work on their social media channels.
Watch this space in 2021, as we will be offering an Arts Award qualification linked directly to City of Culture!
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Artsmark huge success in Coventry schools
It has been wonderful to see all our Artsmark schools in online support meetings this half term, and great to hear of the excellent creative work that has carried on despite plans for live performances being cancelled through the summer term. We look forward to hearing results about the Artsmark awards next year, but in the meantime, look out for events and celebrations during the week of 9 -13 November, when many schools will be sharing their progress and celebrating everything to do with the creative arts! If you or your school is interested in finding out more about Artsmark status, view on our website, or contact Cathy Scott-Burt
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All Saints focus on music in October
At All Saints C of E Primary School their “Roving Reporters” chose to highlight music across the school in October and interviewed Coventry Music tutor Claire Tyler about teaching in year 3 & year 5. The children worked hard to think of lots of interesting questions to ask each other about learning the ukulele and guitar and even did some short demos. They then quizzed Mrs Tyler about her musical knowledge and skills! What a great celebration of musical learning!
Watch their report.
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Free resources for Early Years providers
Coventry Music have been working in partnership with Funky Feet Music to develop an Early Years music and movement programme with supporting training and development available to ALL registered Early Years providers across Coventry.
As so many of us have had to do this year, everyone involved with this project has responded quickly and creatively to adapt the offer to develop a FREE digital music resource - 'Dance, Sing And Do Your Thing' We were delighted to share this resource with registered Early Years Practitioners in Coventry during the summer. If you missed it and would still like to access this fantastic resource details of how to access this resource can be found on our website:
This exclusive package of songs and supporting documents:
- places emphasis on the link between music making and physical/cognitive development and the subsequent effects
- provides a broad range of songs and musical games that support language, literacy and numeracy skills
- follows the same format as the Development Matters framework
- provides opportunities for observation and assessment and gives suggestions for extension activities
- provides creative opportunities
Coventry Music will also hopefully be offering a training and development event during Spring Term 2021 - a chance for EYFS providers to share their experiences of using this resource and to meet Kim Pott from Funky Feet Music who will come along and share her expertise on the research and science behind the project. Keep an eye on our website and social media for more information.
For more information about Funky Feet Music visit their website at www.funkyfeetmusic.co.uk or take a look at what they have been up to on Facebook
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Coventry Music create online lessons for use during on-going pandemic
All our talented staff at Coventry Music have been busy creating a set of video resources to showcase our whole class instrumental teaching delivery; instruments and tutors, musical warm ups, warm downs and energisers that can be used in any class during the ongoing pandemic.
This resource is available to any of our schools who have signed up for whole class delivery, and for our music tutors and teachers to use during their lessons, as well as across the wider West Midlands Music hubs too.
We also have access to some resources prepared by the other music hubs to use with Coventry schools to share good practise and create a resource that we can tap in to for many years to come for continuing staff CPD.
We have put this in place in case our teachers have limited access to schools due to COVID-19 restrictions and to ensure Coventry children still have access to bespoke, high quality music delivery at all times.
We are determined that children should not miss out on musical learning and experiences during these difficult times.
You can watch the brilliant demo video on our YouTube channel.
Coventry Music Tutors back teaching in schools and online
We are so pleased to be back teaching face-to-face across Coventry schools.
We are able to provide whole class and tuition, online and face-to-face due to the excellent risk assessment and guidance we have provided to schools and tutors.
We continue to follow the government guidelines and will adapt our teaching accordingly, with the ability to switch from school to online quickly and efficiently.
If you would like us to provide music in your school, we offer great value and bespoke provision, see our prices below. Contact us at music@coventry.gov.uk for more information.
The Modulo Programme is now free!
Here at Orchestras for All HQ, we have been busy speaking with music teachers around the country to gain an even clearer picture of the new challenges schools are now facing - and we have listened. That's why, and with huge thanks to our amazing funders, we have we have taken the decision to make participation in the Modulo Programme free of charge for this year only! All of the support and exciting opportunities for both you and your students will be exactly the same, but without the financial commitment. We understand that the uncertainty of this year makes it really difficult to plan ahead, so we are asking that each school does their best to take part in all Modulo activities, but with flexibility around the ongoing changing and challenging circumstances. Whether you are running your ensembles as year group bubbles, as part of your classroom activities, or entirely virtually with students preparing their parts at home, the Modulo Programme is here to support you. As a reminder, once you sign up to the programme you will have access to:
- An online Welcome to Modulo session for your students
- A CPD session on inclusive ensemble leadership plus access to our online Music Leadership Training (MLT) modules
- Specially-created Modulo music and resources to help you champion ensemble music-making in your school or community.
- Online activities with our orchestral partners, BBC Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and City of London Sinfonia, to support your students to keep making music
- A masterclass with musicians from our orchestral partners for your Modulo, either in school or online
- Online or in-person (Covid-dependent) Regional Meets in Spring 2021 and National Meets in Birmingham or London in Summer 2021 where your students will participate in a pop-up orchestra supported by our orchestral partners
Anyone interested in finding out more is invited to join a free CPD webinar introducing the programme, content and some top tips for leading an ensemble on 2 December. To register your interest, please email us on info@orchestrasforall.org.
Find out more or you can sign up for the Modulo programme.
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PHD student looking for teachers to take part in Music Project
Roz Bruce, a PhD student in music at the University of West London, is looking for music teachers who use popular music and 'informal' or 'non-formal' learning as part of their curriculum at upper-primary level, to take part in my project.
It is an exploration of the relationship between popular music education and social-emotional learning, with the aim to create an enhanced approach to teaching popular music to primary children, wherein social-emotional and musical targets synergize.
Your participation will involve a few short video call interviews, whilst pupil will be asked to fill in a questionnaire, dependent on parental and head teachers' permission of course.
Those who take part will benefit from the opportunity to act as 'co-researchers' and reflect on their practice, to consider which areas of social-emotional learning can be targeted, and how, in their music lessons. This reflective process could be a great CPD opportunity.
If you’re interested, please email guitaristroz@hotmail.com
 See a full range of resources on our website at www.coventrymusichub/resources
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If you would like these monthly updates to include what your organisation is doing for the children and young people of Coventry, please sign up or contact amy.randall@coventry.gov.uk.
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