There is a wealth of information available to support the teaching of music and supporting progression. Here is a selection of some key websites and resources which we hope you will find useful
COVID-19 Music Guidance and Research
Useful guidance and research around teaching music or musical activities during the pandemic
Music Mark - Music Unlocked - three live documents which will be reviewed as often as more research comes to light: a short, simple guide for schools (primarily aimed at helping head teachers and governors understand that musical learning can and must be part of the curriculum as pupils return to school), a more detailed guide for music providers (which school music teachers may also find useful), and a ‘literature review’.
Freiberg Institue for Musicians - Risk assessment of Coronavirus infection in the field of music - findings of research into the risks of singing and playing instruments with recommendations on how to reduce identified risks
Association of British Choral Director - Where have all the singers gone - Research into the impact of COVID-19 on choral singing.
MIA - Musical Instrument Hygiene - links to guidance on how to clean instruments effectively.
Music Mark - Instrument Maintenance Guides - to help parents/students maintain their instruments
Websites
- BBC Ten Pieces - Primary - Resources developed by the BBC to engage students with classical music.
- BBC Ten Pieces - Secondary - Resources developed to engage secondary students.
- Sing Up - Extensive bank of resources to develop singing in your school. Schools participating in Hub projects such as Songfest receive free Sing Up membership.
- MusicHub Forum - A closed online forum for school Music Coordinators to share best practice and resources.
- Ofsted – Music Specific Information - This page pulls together all recent music specific Ofsted guidance and case studies of good practice.
- Drake Music - National organisation which supports and promotes access to music for disabled people with specialist programmes of work, resources and training.
- Inspire Music - Inspire Music is designed to be a peer-learning resource that presents real-life examples of practice that is working well, as measured by positive impact on children and young people. Includes useful case studies and films.
- Youth Music Network - Has extensive resources and funding information.
Resources
Supporting Home Learning
- Sing Up Home Schooling Area - A number of resources for various different aged students to help support music education and learning at home.
- BBC Bring the Noise
- Twinkl - Has resources for multiple age groups and subjects. Can get access to resources for free using the code UKTWINKLHELPS
More Home Learning resources can be found on our Musical Learning at Home page
Advocacy and Research
- The Importance of Music - The National Plan for Music Education 2012-2020.
- Music Education: State of the Nation - Report of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education 2019.
- Retuning our ambition for music learning- 2019 report by The Music Commission.
- Music Education - A Guide for Governors - Produced by Music Mark in conjunction with the National Governors' Association and ACE.
- How Music helps us learn - A short film produced by Churchill Music to raise awareness of the benefits of music on children's learning.
- The Power of Music - Commissioned by the Music Education Council (MEC) and published by the International Music Education Research Centre (iMerc), 'The Power of Music' brings together the vast amount of quality research evidence that has built up over recent years. It provides the basis for the argument that every child and young person should have access to quality music making opportunities and supports calls for schools to ensure that all pupils receive a thorough, broad and high quality music education.
- New study demonstrates link between music and statistical learning - Published by Macquarie University in Clinical Neurophysiology in May 2017, has found that children who have some form of musical instrument training also have enhanced statistical learning ability.
- ABRSM Making Music Report - This report offers insights into the teaching, learning and playing of instruments in the UK today. It shows that there is plenty to celebrate when it comes to music education: an increasing number of people are making music; more people are learning an instrument; new technologies are encouraging greater engagement; and government interventions (designed to encourage more children to engage in musical activity) have had a positive effect. But while there’s plenty to celebrate, this report also shows that there is still much that can be improved upon if the music education sector and policy makers work together.
Curriculum and Teaching
Primary Music Toolkit - Online toolkit for Primary Schools created by Dr Alison Daubney
TriBorough Music Hub - Curriculum Guidance. Created by the Tri Borough Music Hub in London, this document contains information about:
- The new Ofsted Inspection Framework – Sep 2019.
- Writing a School Music Policy.
- Using the Self Evaluation Tool for Music in Schools.
It covers all phases from Early Years to Post-16 with specific SEND content.
- ISM National Curriculum Guidance - Guidance on the new National Curriculum for Primary and Secondary schools plus the ISM Assessment and Progression Framework (updated for 2019).
- National Curriculum in England: Music programmes of study - Statutory programmes of study with attainment targets for Key Stages 1-3.
- New Music Curriculum - Secondary - The National Curriculum Expert Subject Advisory Group (ESAG) for Music has developed materials and guidance to support all primary and secondary schools in England in understanding and implementing the new National Curriculum and to provide a basis for their own curriculum planning.
- Primary Music ITT - Guidance and resources to support anyone involved with the training of primary teachers to teach music.
- Successfully implementing the new primary music curriculum - Guidance produced by Music Mark.
- A framework for progression - A framework to help teachers plan for musical progress.
- The Philharmonia Guide to Orchestral Instruments - Detailed descriptions, with supporting videos, of the instruments which make up an orchestra.
- Musical Bridges - Resources and ideas to support musical transition from primary to secondary school.
- Composing with iPads - links to useful apps for the classroom from Transformative Music
- English Folk Dance and Song Society - free downloadable resources to explore English folk music
Inclusion and SEND
- An inclusive approach to the core and extension roles - This guidance has been designed to support Music Education Hubs to develop inclusive practice in their work and ensure that all children - regardless of their background or circumstances - can access, engage with, and make progress through creative music-making opportunities.
- The Short Guide to Accessible Music Education - A short guide compiled by Drake Music which signposts to useful organisations and resources.
- AMIE Inclusion Resources - A selection of resources to review provision, quality and plan for a more inclusion musical offer. On the Youth Music network website.
- How to make music activities accessible for deaf children and young people - This resource provides clear guidance and information to ensure that professionals can design and deliver music activities in which deaf children and young people can fully participate.
- The Power of Equality 2 - Final evaluation of Youth Music’s Musical Inclusion programme 2012-2015.
- A Quality Framework for use in music making with young people in SEN/D settings - Youth Music have adapted their 'Do, Review, Improve' to support and develop deliver in SEN/D settings.
- Good Vibrations Toolkit - Drawn from experience of facilitating inclusive music, soundLINCS has developed the Good Vibrations music toolkit for adults working with deaf and hearing impaired children and young people
General and Music Related Safeguarding Guidance and Resources
- Music Mark - Online Music Teaching and Safeguarding - Music Mark have collated information on how music education providers should adapt their provision to teach safely online and highlights some key safeguarding considerations for this new way of teaching.
- Keeping children safe in education - 2019 update.
- Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Safeguarding Partnership - Contact details in the event of concerns.
- NSPCC website - Includes resources, guidance and online training.
- ISM Guidance for Teachers - ISM have produced a guidance document for peripatetic music teachers with advice on safeguarding, fees, insurance and contract.
- Musicians Union have also produced guidance for music teachers with everything from pay rates, contract advice to H&S information - Music Education - Advice for Musicians.
- Safeguarding training - Music Mark - online safeguarding training for music groups and private tutors.
- ABRSM have worked with the MU to create a music specific online course for music teachers - child protection in music education.
