National Plan for Music Education and Samba

Following the publication of the National Plan for Music Education, county music services and other organisations are busy preparing bids to apply to be Music Hubs.

What’s this got to do with Samba I hear you ask?

Well, if you deliver workshops in schools then the answer is LOTS. Let me explain. Hubs will replace music services from September 2012

Here are the core roles of hubs

1. Ensure that every child aged five to 18 has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument (other than voice) through whole-class ensemble teaching programmes for ideally a year (but for a minimum of a term) of weekly tuition on the same instrument.

2. Provide opportunities to play in ensembles and to perform from an early stage.

3. Ensure that clear progression routes are available and affordable to all young people.

4. Develop a singing strategy to ensure that every pupil is singing regularly and that choirs and other vocal ensembles are available in the area.

And here are the extension roles.

1. Offer Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to school staff, particularly in supporting schools to deliver music in the curriculum.

2. Provide an instrument loan service, with discounts or free provision for those on low incomes. 3. Provide access to large scale and/or high quality music experiences for pupils, working with professional musicians and/or venues. This may include undertaking work to publicise the opportunities available to schools, parents/carers and students.

Let’s take the first two core roles. If you substitute the word ensemble with bateria or bloco…… Hopefully I have your attention now.

Right, so what can we do about it?

I would advise that you make sure that you contact your local music service and school and make them aware of how your Samba workshops (or even better your Samba Syllabus) relates to the core and extension roles of the Music plan.

For instance you might like to explain how you offer training for music teachers to deliver Samba or how young people can progress to other blocos in the county, region or nationally (encontros). Samba can certainly provide opportunities for large scale/high quality music experiences.\

One of the concerns of music services is the quality of delivery in workshops by outside providers. If you have no formal qualifications, training or quality systems to show them then you might like to let them know that you are committed to using the Music Education Code of Practice.

Music Services and other organisations bidding will be looking to show that they know of all music opportunities in their county and who is delivering what workshops and training.

This is such a good opportunity for even more young people to experience Samba. so let them know that you exist, what you have to offer and how it helps them achieve the roles of the plan.

I hope this is useful.

Paul Weston

Sambista and

Director

MusicLeader East of England