Music

Lister Community School

Our problemsI posed this question to KS3 Music teachers on Sunday night…

My number one job at Lister:

Changing perceptions

What we do• Every Year 7 and 8 student has an instrument and learns as part of their

normal curriculum lesson• Supported by ECaM and MiSST; heavily involved with NMT• Specialist School Curriculum• Early entry GCSE• E13 Music Partnership• Ever-expanding extra-curricular programme• Long-term projects with Cambridge University, Aurora Orchestra and

Benyounes Quartet• Residentials• Development of community programme

How we do it• The belief that Music can drive whole school

improvement starts with the Head teacher

• Full SLT support for Music and programmes

• Innovation within curriculum delivery and departmental roles

We have five strategic goals at Lister Community School 2014-16.

Number 4 is:‘To offer broad, diverse and creative opportunities for enrichment,

and to fully capitalise on our existing partnerships to ensure that we become a centre of excellence for music in London’

18 months ago…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdrEcUFFTdc

…last weekhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLty039Ltl7QwTy15qiUGLgfu8LiwjB37W

What we’ve learned so far…• Students enjoy being challenged• Relationships are crucial • Partnerships take time and effort

Year 7In under 500 minutes of instrumental tuition (group of 11) these students can:• Sight-read rhythms made up of semibreves, minim, crotchets, quavers and

semiquavers;• Rhythmic dictation; starting on melodic dictation• Describe the technical differences between and can play D major and D minor

scales;• Work out notes on the treble stave and are beginning to sight-read pitches;• Count in 3/4 and 4/4 time;• Perform with a sense of style;• Manage their own practice routines and take responsibility for their instrument,

equipment and attending rehearsals• https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHKGALpPIy0&list=PLty039Ltl7QzxHhe1FER4T5BKzc9yPqwU&index=2

What difference is it making?Music is making a contribution to the school through:• Cultural capital• Community cohesion• Developing positive perceptions amongst staff, students and the

community

Cultural capital• ‘I have never seen a concert like this before…I will hold it in my

head forever…’• ‘Miss I loved it…it was amazing’• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yabtgmguk_s

Community cohesion• Students from all age groups and backgrounds are involved in

Music at Lister• Lots of projects involve students from other schools, bringing

new people into Lister • Community Fair• Community Orchestra• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaEOJlU_8JE• Next step – more community ensembles and a Music PTA

Positive perceptions• ‘A note to say how much I enjoyed the concert yesterday…I take

my hat off to you and the team’• ‘It never ceases to amaze me what young people can achieve…

there is really something special taking place at Lister’• ‘I thought last night’s concert was a triumph…the hard work you

all put in pays off in dividends’• And it comes from the students too – they feel contribution is

valued• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlBZV2t7-WA

Five top tips for Music teachers:

1. Offer solutions not problems2. Be part of a community3. Use your time and money wisely4. Show SLT the change you want to see5. Be your own cheerleader

1. Offer solutions not problems

1. Offer solutions not problems

2. Be part of a community• Make your peri staff part of the team • Be in touch with your local hub and go to network meetings.

If they don’t hold them, suggest that they do! • Know who the other HoDs are in your area and ask each other

for support• Join facebook groups and follow people and organisations on

Twitter• In school, make friends, compromise, do favours and always say

thank you – you will reap the benefits• Get parents involved

3. Use your time and money wisely• Share resources and find shortcuts• Hand responsibility to the students – displays, admin tasks etc• Find concerts and events you can attend for free• Ask your hub for support• If you can make money, even better! • Charity fundraisers, concert ticket money, sponsorship

4. Show SLT the change you want to see• Negotiate –try something new or different with just one class

as a trial? • Collate evidence from different sources• Challenge staff to be involved • Create long-term plans that map out milestones

5. Be your own cheerleader• Publicise your events – school bulletins, local press, Twitter• Celebrate successes – praises, awards• Newsletters and blogs/website• Build the status of Music through advertising• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vS9tgL1Hgs• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gmYMVUVWcg

5. Be your own cheerleader• https://listercommunityschoolmusic.wordpress.com/

• https://twitter.com/listermusicdept

1. Offer solutions not problems

To go back to the start…

• Collate evidence through networking and from your classrooms• Present options and alternatives• Tackle one thing at a time – start small

• Change will come from you!