Services to Support Music in the Primary Curriculum

The Primary Music team

The Primary Music team is led and managed by Deena Day, who also works as an adviser and consultant to schools.

Kirsty Allman-Ward, Theresa Johnson, Helen King, Nicky Macer, Jane Parker, Gill Rice, Jo Sands, Katy Scrase and Joan Wright are our specialist classrooom music consultants.

Our base is at Stevenage Music centre, Valley Way, Stevenage SG2 9AB.

Here we have offices, a classroom shared with the music school and a Resources library.

You can contact us by telephone - 01438 728055 – leave a message if we are not here, or FAX - 01438 746413, or Email - deena.day@hertscc.gov.uk.

How can we help you?

We aim to :

1. Provide advice and support to schools, thus contributing to school improvement and the raising of standards

Deena Day works as a Primary Music adviser and can offer visits to support any aspect of Primary classroom music, - subject review and audit, post OFSTED action, co-ordinator support, in school training sessions. These visits are charged in line with the pricing structure of the School Improvement and Advisory service, currently - per day.

We also offer Primary Music consultancy, - a real time, demonstration based solution to music training needs. This usually takes place over a longer period of time (more than a term) and involves demonstration lessons being taught to your pupils by a specialist. The aim is to train teachers to deliver the curriculum themselves through observation, joint planning and careful selection of appropriate resources. Each PMC package is individually tailored to a school’s particular needs and can vary in approach and length.

Single PMC demonstrations are also available to highlight individual aspects of the music curriculum Primary Music.

2. Contribute to the continuing professional development of teachers

By providing a relevant and interesting programme of in service training to support the delivery of the National curriculum. Each term we contribute courses to the School Improvement and Advisory Service’s programme of in service training. Details of these courses can be found in the pack sent out to schools or via the internet. We can also provide training days in schools, or workshop staff meetings.

3. Enable Primary teachers to access music teaching resources

At the Primary Music Base we have a resources library containing most of the published materials available for class music. There is also an extensive collection of plays and performance music, and a large selection of listening materials.

Due to high demand from Music service staff we are unable to offer full lending facilities, but some items can be lent out by arrangement. Schools may have a selection of resources out on loan after having a training session, and teachers can visit the library any time during term time – phone first if you would like to speak to one of us. Many teachers have found this a useful way of deciding how to spend the money available to them. We hope to provide a wide range of ideas and materials on this website. Look out for QCA scheme help and much more.

4. Provide curriculum enriching workshops and events which focus on practical music making.

We work closely with area music managers to provide music making events for primary school pupils. Some of these are yearly events, such as town festivals and singing days, and some are one off, in response to demand from schools. We are developing an exciting and varied programme of workshops for schools. This currently includes-

• Minibeasts – a day of rhythm workshops for a whole school with a sharing assemble at the end
• Jazz and Blues – a 2 hour workshop for upper juniors
• Fireworks - a day of musical fireworks experiences for a whole school
• Boomwhacker workshops – tailor made for each school, using colourful Boomwhacker pitch tubes
• BOING! – A rhythm workshop for upper juniors using basketballs as instruments
• We are also happy to respond to any ideas or requests you may have, such as recorder playing days for a cluster of schools, or themed music workshops.

5. Provide specialist curriculum music teachers to those schools who want it.

We have a team of experienced, expert teachers who visit schools weekly, 33 weeks per year. Our teachers will plan and deliver high quality lessons which fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum , and give the pupils a wonderful weekly musical experience. They will also be available for your plays and presentations, subject to contract and timetable.

This service provides an opportunity for class teachers to observe and learn from a specialist , and to practise their own skills by following up the lessons.

For current prices or to apply for a specialist teacher please contact the Primary Music Office on 01438 728055, or FAX - 01438 746413, or Email - deena.day@hertscc.gov.uk.