Saturday Morning Music Centre

Timetable & Information

New from September 2019

Saturday Mornings

9:00-12:00, term-time only

hank you for your interest in our Saturday Morning Music Centre!

We believe that learning basic music skills and playing music together is the key to good musicianship and making life-long friends. The Centre is designed to

offer instrumental lessons to complete beginners and ensemble-playing for those that already play or who have progressed through our ‘Learn to Play’ system, as well as a range of musical activities in a range of styles. There are also opportunities to have individual lessons directly with our teachers.

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Choirs

Music for Bedford Borough | Saturday Morning Music Centre

Saturday Morning Music Centre Timetable

9:00 9:30 10:00 10:15 10:45 11:00 11:15 12:00

Learn to Play

Brass

*Beginner Brass

Ensemble

Brass Lessons may be available via the co-

op

*Junior Orchestra

Learn to Play

Woodwind

*Beginner Wind

Ensemble

Woodwind Lessons may be available via

the co-op

First Steps

3-4 years old

Next Steps

5-6 years old

*Musicianship 2

Learn to Play

Strings

*Beginner Strings

Ensemble

Musicianship 1 String Lessons may

be available via the

co-op

*Junior Orchestra

Learn to Play

Drums

*Beginner Percussion

Ensemble

*Drum-kit

Concepts

*Junior Percussion

Choir 1 *Singers’

Workshop

Choir 2 Mixed Recorder Ensemble

(no lessons required)

Learn to Play

Keyboard

*Beginner Keyboard

Ensemble

Keyboard Lessons may be available via the

co-op *Junior Keyboard Ensemble

Learn to Play

Guitar

*Beginner Guitar

Ensemble

Learn to Play

Bass Guitar

*Junior Guitar Ensemble

*Rock Band

Guitars

*Rock Band

Drums

*Rock Band

Vocals

Guitar lessons may be

available via the co-op

*Rock Band

Introduction to-

iPads

*Rock Band

Keyboards

* Composing & Song-Writing

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CODE:

EARLY YEARS … First Steps (ages 3-4). Learning songs and basic music ideas such as beat, through games with puppets, parachutes and

instruments.

…Next Steps ages 5-6). Moving on from ‘First Steps’ there is more emphasis on pitch and rhythm.

OPEN GROUPS – no previous experience necessary. Group sizes may be limited.

*STEP-UP GROUPS – no lessons required for being a member of these groups but previous experience is necessary. Group sizes may be

limited. (See notes below on specific groups).

*BEGINNER ENSEMBLES – at least one year’s lessons required before joining this ensemble (e.g. ‘Learn to Play‘ or lessons from a teacher)

and also be continuing with lessons.

*JUNIOR ENSEMBLES – approximately grade 1 + standard, must still be having lessons on the instrument they use to play in the

ensemble.

*ROCK SCHOOL – guitarists, drummers, keyboard players must be having regular lessons and be between grades 3 - 5. Singers are

expected to be confident. Numbers are limited.

LEARN TO PLAY – aimed at complete beginners. Students may have done a whole-class instrumental programme at school for at least a

term but not necessarily on the instrument they decide to learn. (This is a one-year programme only. After this time students can organise

lessons directly with the Bedford Music Co-op or other recognised instrumental teacher).

Further information about specific groups that need prior experience

Previous iPad music-making and/or instrumental experience is necessary. The iPad will be used for creating music using software

such as GarageBand.

Students would be required to have had previous percussion lessons/experience, either at Saturday morning or with a teacher.

elsewhere

Must have attended either ‘Musicianship 1’or studied some music theory (doesn’t have to have taken the exam) and/or be having

lessons on an instrument.

In this session, students will learn more about how to produce a good singing sound, the fundamentals of technique and a variety

of repertoire.

*These ensembles or groups have conditions attached to them. Please use this information when making choices for membership.

*Composition

and

Song-writing

*Drum-kit

Concepts

*Musicianship 2

*Singer

Workshop

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General Music Centre Expectations and Information

• The main aim of Saturday Morning Music Centre is for

students to learn a musical instrument, have fun and

make friends. They are encouraged and supported in

making progress.

• Students can be a member of groups and ensembles

across different stages if they meet the necessary

requirements.

• Membership at each stage and for each ensemble and group is generally for a full school year unless the

teacher feels that a student is ready to progress during that time. The teacher would make a

recommendation to the Music Centre Manager who has the final say in any move. Parents would be kept

informed. This is in order to ensure students are ready to move and to make sure that ensembles are not

disrupted.

• Numbers in ensembles and groups – there is a maximum number for most groups and ensembles

to support good learning. These are:

• Choir = 30

• Learn to Play = 12

• Open Groups = 20

• 1st Steps and Next Steps in Music = 15 each

• Rock School = 16

• Introduction to Music Technology = 20

• Composing with IT = 20

• Junior Groups and Ensembles = 28

• For ‘Learn to Play’ groups, students will receive a Practise Notebook. Regular practise is expected in order

for progress to be made. Parents will be informed if a student is not making the expected progress and we

reserve the right to move students to a more appropriate group where this is the case. In extreme

circumstances, where students are not making sufficient progress and/or their attitude affects the progress or

behaviour of other students, then membership of the Music Centre may be withdrawn.

• Parents are expected to stay onsite where the child is 7 years of age or younger. There is a coffee shop run by

the Centre User Group which parents are invited to use whilst they wait.

• Parents are expected to collect their child at the end of their last timetabled session. If a pupil is not picked

up on time then the Music Service reserves the right to invoice a parent to cover extra staffing costs. The

current fee is £16 per each half hour or part thereof. If parents cannot be contacted within 30 minutes of

the end of a student's last session then the Bedford Children Social Care Emergency Team will be

contacted.

• The rules at Music Centre are quite simple… Be Ready – Be Safe – Be Respectful.

• Be Ready:

• That students bring the correct instrument/s and equipment with them. This may include a music

stand, a folder for their music and any accessories.

• Out of respect for their conductor and other ensemble members that they turn up to sessions on

time.

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• That they do the necessary practice in between Music Centre sessions so that they contribute

to the improvement of not only themselves but to other students and the groups to which they

belong

• That their behaviour in sessions supports good learning for everyone and enables the teacher to

teach effectively.

• Be Respectful:

• That students listen to their conductor/teacher.

• That they turn up on time.

• They practise in between Music Centre sessions.

• That behaviour is good so that others can learn and enjoy Music Centre.

• They are polite to others and to members of staff.

• Helping set up and/or pack up a session.

• Be Safe:

• That students move around Music Centre safely and with due care and consideration for

themselves and for others.

• That they keep to the identified areas in between sessions so that adults are able to supervise

them.

• That they report anything they see that is suspicious or potentially harmful to a member of staff.

Supervision

Please note that students are only under the supervision of Music Centre staff whilst in the group or ensemble. At

all other times, when not in a music session they are expected to sit quietly downstairs near the Coffee Shop or

the Quiet Area outside (the settees)

Students can bring homework, books to read, hand-held computer games etc. If students are not able to sit

quietly or cause a nuisance they will be given a reminder and, if behaviour does not improve, then parents will be

informed and may be asked to supervise their children in between sessions. In extreme circumstances where a

student’s behaviour causes disruption to Music Centre or annoyance to staff or other members of the Centre then

a child’s membership may be cancelled

A copy of our Behaviour Policy is available upon request in writing to music@bedford.gov.uk

• The ‘User Group’ runs a tuck shop each Saturday

and help is always required, even occasional. It sells

sweets and healthy alternatives. Please ask for the

current price list in order to know what money to

send in with your child.

• Membership of Music Centre is available as

FULL, PART-TIME and/or LEARN to

PLAY

• FULL is as many groups as can be fitted in

within the time

• PART-TIME up to 2 different groups

• LEARN to PLAY is a 1 year programme for

complete beginners

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• Remissions of up to 50% are available,

including a 10% sibling reduction

• For current fees and application form please see

our website www.bedford.gov.uk/music

Current Fees

Payments will be collected by direct debit, with payments being made the first day of the month between

October-July. No payments will be taken from accounts in August and September. If joining mid-year then

payments will start for the month in which membership starts.

We offer 30 sessions per school year within term time. Refunds are not offered if a student misses a session for

any reason.

Children that qualify for Pupil Premium (PP) are eligible for a 50% concession on membership. Please indicate

on the form if this is the case and we will confirm with Bedford Borough Council.

Look after Children (LAC) are entitled to free membership. Please indicate on the form if this is the case and we

will confirm with Bedford Borough Council.

Discounts are given only on FULL membership where a parent has more than one child attending Music Centre.

1st Child = No discount (unless qualifies for one of the above – PP or LAC

2nd and subsequent children = 10% discount for each child

Group Cost (10 monthly payments)

Early Years (1st Steps or Next Steps in Music) £7.73

Learn to Play £10.50

Full Time Membership (Unlimited Groups) £22.90

Part-Time Membership (Up to 2 Groups) £13.60

Saturday Morning Music Centre

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Notes

Music for Bedford Borough

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Saturday Morning Music Centre

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01234 718088

Music for Bedford Borough

Bedford Borough Council

Castle Newnham School

Polhill Avenue

Bedford MK41 9DT

music@bedford.gov.uk

www.bedford.gov.uk

Finding out more