An account of the Musical Futures programme that Southwark Music Service offers to schools in the region
Southwark Music Service
Victory School House, Rodney Road, SE17 1PT
Contact: Denise Barber, (t) 07949 377736, (e) denbarber@aol.com
No of schools participating in MF in region: 5
No of students participating in MF activity (approx): 400
Age range of students: Key Stage 3/4
Denise Barber explains their Musical Futures approach:
"We started out MF programme in September 2008. I interviewed four people to make up a band, and to work with Key Stage 3 students to help them to learn current pop/rock songs. The four people were chosen for their teaching skills and diversity so as to resonate with the range of different students we would work with. The 'band' was formed of a guitarist, bass player, drummer and keyboard player.
I had attended training courses about MF, and was impressed with the idea, knowing first-hand how difficult it is to teache whole Key Stage 3 music classes satisfactorily in an inner city setting. MF also seemed a good way of continuing the Key Stage 2 Wider Opportunhities whole class teaching method.
We spent approximately £15k on instruments which we move to each of the schools we work with after our five-week programme. Next academic year schools will pay £1,500 towards costs. Our four core staff have been offered paid-time to attend a Musical Futures training session.
We have developed a five-week programme that involves students grouping into bands, learning material, and receiving expert coaches from our musicians. Their material is recorded and uploaded onto NUMU.
We have discovered that there is not one model that fits all students/schools. Our availability on only one day means that we usually work with at least one Key Stage 4 class, and sometimes do an after-school club for all-comers. One school with a highly influential music teacher had all of her scholarship and G&T students take part. These students made very quick progress and challenged us to find new appropriate material.
Plans for next year include offering a continuation programme which builds on the Informal Learning Model and which ends with a Battle of the Bands style competition. As funds become available we would like to have a Music Service network on NUMU."
