News
Hertfordshire Music Service is appointed Hub Lead Organisation for Hertfordshire
We are delighted that Hertfordshire Music Service has been appointed by Arts Council England to lead the Hertfordshire Music Hub from September 2024, as part of an ambitious national programme to provide high-quality music education for all children and young people.
We will deliver high quality music education accessible to all children and young people in Hertfordshire through diverse partnerships, like yourselves, between educational, creative and community organisations, in our local communities.
Our appointment is part of a major investment in a new generation of the nationwide network of Music Hubs. This investment will help to deliver the Government’s National Plan for Music Education and give all children and young people the opportunity to develop their musical interests as far as they wish, including helping them to begin careers in the music industry.
Please help to share the great news by liking, commenting and sharing the social media posts we have planned (@hertsmusic).
If you would like to know more please visit our website - Hertfordshire Music Hub Lead Organisation.
Deadline has passed for requesting funded music services in 2024-25
If you are still finalising plans for music next year, please check for messages from your Regional Manager. We have now set the DfE grant funding budget for 2024-25 based on demand, however if there are paid for music activities you require, you can continue to request these throughout the year. We’ve seen an increase in demand for First Access and other activities, so we look forward to confirming all arrangements over the next few weeks.
DfE asks schools to publish their School Music Plan online by September 2024
The DfE is asking schools to publish a summary of their music development plan on their website before the start of the 2024 to 2025 academic year. Schools should then update the summary before the start of each new academic year.
HMS are here to help you and we have recently launched a new toolkit for schools with a step-by-step process that anyone in the school can pick-up and use. Building a high quality music education includes practical resources to accompany the process to ensure a high-quality music education is embedded in your school. The audit toolkit (step 7) will support the identification of strengths and future development areas in the quality of music provision at your school based on the requirements of the NPME.
It does not matter if the person using the toolkit is a music specialist or has never delivered a music plan, all the information is straightforward to follow, and support is available from HMS. Please contact your Regional Manager for further details.
Herts Schools’ Gala: Sunday 23 March 2025
We look forward to sharing more updates for our flagship event soon and thank you to all the secondary schools who applied for this opportunity. Applications for primary, middle, and special schools will be sent out in the Autumn term 2024. For more info click here.
GCSE Music entries up 8.3%, provisional data shows
Music Teacher Magazine has reported that the number of pupils sitting GCSE Music this summer has risen 8.3% on last year, according to provisional entry data. A-Level Music entries also increased, up 1.3% from summer 2023.
The provisional data, published by the exams regulator Ofqual, shows the number of entries for GCSEs and A Levels to be awarded in the summer 2024 exam series. Full article here.
School support and CPD
Final Call! HfL and HMS Music Education Conference: 03 July 2024, 9.30am – 4.00pm
This one-day face-to-face event is aimed at music leaders and teachers of music from across the primary and secondary age range. Bringing together colleagues who maybe newer and/or less experienced with more experienced and specialist teachers, to create a community and shared musical experience. HMS have partnered with HfL Education to make this event available to as many teachers as possible, drawing on our shared expertise to ensure this is a valuable, inspiring and impactful day.
For more details and to sign up – click here!
All levels of musical experience welcome – this day is designed to be inclusive, and aims to build confidence, develop knowledge and be an enjoyable experience for all who attend.
The cost of the day has been significantly subsidised by Hertfordshire Music Service to allow as many schools as possible to take up this offer. Tickets cost £40 per delegate, with HMS funding £150 per delegate towards the usual £190 per person cost. We hope that this will enable maximum participation in this fantastic day, enabling schools to support their music subject leader and/or teachers of music to attend.
During the day, participants will hear from and work with experts in the field of music education. You will take part in and learn warmups and musical group activities to use in your classes straight away, building towards a shared musical performance, supported by a team of Herts Music Service teachers. You will consider how and when music learning happens best, in order to enable students within your setting to both enjoy and progress in their music learning.
Music support networks available
To support your school, HMS is hosting a series of networks to bring teachers from similar schools together. Click on the relevant options below to join colleagues in learning new skills and finding solutions to challenges – all fully funded!
Register your interest to become part of the Hertfordshire SEND School Music Network
Register your interest to become part of the Hertfordshire Primary School Music Network
Register your interest to become part of the Hertfordshire Secondary School Music Network
HMS Online Training Sessions: 02 July 2024, 4.00pm – 5.30pm
The online training programme is for all staff involved in the planning and delivering of the primary music curriculum.
Next session: Inclusion and SEND - Tuesday 2nd July 2024, 4.00pm – 5.30pm – online.
Session details:
- Sounds of Intent in the Early Years framework.
- Understanding musical development in children. A basis for music planning and assessment.
- Music in multi-sensory environments. Creating a themed environment for children to engage in music.
- Patterns, motifs and whole songs (ref: Sounds of Intent levels). Interacting with the child at different musical levels.
- Small groups – developing social interaction through group music. Soft skills: turn-taking, waiting, listening to others, playing music in a pair or group, playing to others and building confidence, developing friendship through participating in the group.
- Taking a lead from the child. Incorporating elements of intensive interaction in musical interaction with the teacher.
Sign up link: https://surveys.hertfordshire.gov.uk/s/CED5A1/
Events and opportunities
Soundabout Inclusive Choir: Sign up now to join us in person on 13 July 2024
HMS has partnered with Soundabout Inclusive Choirs who are a music charity that support young people to take part in an inclusive, contemporary style choir.
The choir is open to anyone from Year 5, 6 and secondary age through to 25 and sessions focus on giving a voice to those with SEN and complex needs.
Sessions take place twice a month online with an end of term get together at Mid Herts Centre for Music and Arts. Sign up here: Registration - Hertfordshire Music Service.
County Youth Music Groups: Represent your school on the national stage!
Celebrate your talented young musicians by encouraging them to represent your school in one of our County Youth Music Groups! There are currently opportunities to join ahead of the summer and an exciting programme in 2024-25 including the Herts Schools’ Gala! Click here for more information.
The County Youth Music team look forward to a fantastic ‘Summer of Music from the Screen’ packed with courses, events, and performances! Music for the upcoming County Youth Music courses are all focused around film, video game, and TV music, some of which have been suggested by the young people in the ensembles. A great opportunity for our young people to explore new music, styles, and composers!
The summer series starts with the County Youth Choirs end of term performance on Wednesday 17 July, and is followed by the County Youth Wind Sinfonia course (29 + 30 July), Hertfordshire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra course (8 – 11 August), County Youth Orchestra course (19 – 23 August), and the County Youth Brass Band course (29 – 31 August).
As we look towards the 2024/25 academic year, we are pleased to announce that our official County Youth Music season brochure is imminent, and details on how young people can get involved are now live on our refreshed County Youth Music webpage: www.hertsmusicservice.org.uk/countyyouthmusic
Local updates
We manage our relationship with schools through a team of six Regional Managers. Each ‘region’ has a Regional Manager who is supported by a team of teaching specialists and support staff to understand local needs and create relevant events and opportunities for your students to participate in musical activities.
You can find the contact details for your Regional Manager here by clicking on ‘Contacts for schools – Regional Managers’.
Find out about recent events and future opportunities in your area by selecting the region your school is in.
North Herts and Stevenage
Priory Picnic – 30 June. Gates open at 3.30pm - ends 8.30pm
The Priory School, Hitchin SG5 2UR
A great opportunity to hear combined ensembles form all four centres in the regions alongside performances from pupils from Hitchin Boys school, Hitchin Girls school and The Priory School.
Tickets available via www.wegottickets.com/event/624039/
Farewell to Robert Day. 10th July 6:30pm Stevenage Music centre
A celebration evening for the retirement of one of our longest standing teachers. Come along to hear past and present pupils of Robert showcasing their skill learnt under his expert tutelage.
Entry is free.
End of term concerts
- Stevenage Music centre - 29 June - 10.30am
- NHMS concert – Stevenage Music Centre - 6 July - 10.45am
- Baldock Music Centre – Knight Templar School - 6 July - 10.00am
- Royston Music Centre – Icknield Walk First School - 6 July - 10.30am
Dacorum
Dacorum Festival
The start of July brings us the second annual Dacorum Festival – two weeks packed full of workshops, concerts, and musical experiences for all ages. For information and tickets to all events, please go to: Dacorum Music Festival (hertsmusicservice.org.uk)
EYFS events
Early Years Wind in the Willows
Wednesday 3 July 2024, 2pm and 3pm
Venue: Natural History Museum at Tring
Sing and Sign Picnic
Wednesday 10th July 2024 12:15-1:00pm
Venue: Leverstock Green School
KS2 events
Crash the Castle!
Saturday 6 July, 10am and 12:45pm
Venue: Berkhamsted Castle
Ukulele Sing
Tuesday 9th July 3:45pm and 4:20pm
Venue: Great Gaddesden Church
Concerts
Concert by Candlelight
Tuesday 2 July, 7pm
Venue: Hastoe Hall
Rock the Ruins!
Saturday 6 July, 3pm
Venue: Berkhamsted Castle
Showstoppers
The Wizard of Oz
Thursday 11th July, 7pm
Venue: Dacorum Music School
Acoustic Night
Friday 12th July, 7pm
Venue: Fishery Warf Café, Hemel Hempstead
St Albans and Harpenden
Herts Music Service in the St Albans and Harpenden region are hosting a fantastic lunch time concert on Tuesday 9th July at St Albans Cathderal 1.00pm-2.00pm The concert is free to all and we welcome as many schools as possible to come and join us.
The concert is a fantastic opportunity to hear some of our very own HMS professional teachers who embrace a portfolio career with teaching and performing locally, nationally and internationally. The concert forms part of our enrichment programme in line with the National Plan for Music Education’s ‘Music beyond the Classroom and Live Music and Performance’ strategies.
Please e-mail the St Albans and Harpenden Regional Manager for more details. nyree.obrien@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
Partner updates and resources
We work with a wide range of partners to bring a diverse range of musical opportunities to Hertfordshire schools. This includes both national and local partners to ensure that local needs are met whilst ensuring opportunities across the country and beyond are available to students at your school.
Useful resources, publications and organisations
As part of the HMS curriculum music toolkit, we have collated a range of resources and links to publications and organisations that could help your school become more musical. Click here to view the resources.
Students and families can apply for funding for music with Young Sounds UK
You can apply if:
- Your child is aged between 5 – 17 years old
- Your child is an instrumentalist, composer, producer, singer or song-writer.
- Your family are on a lower income.
- You're eligible if the total income of any parents/carers in your home is less than £30,000 a year.
- You may be eligible if it's between £30,000 - £40,000 a year.
- It's unlikely you'll be eligible if it's above £40,000 a year.
Click here for more information!
National Children’s Orchestra: Auditions now open until 31 July 2024
The National Children’s Orchestra is interested to hear from all young musicians with promise, whatever their background, schooling or circumstances.
We are particularly keen to increase applications from young musicians who are currently underrepresented in our membership, including Black children, disabled children, children attending state schools and children from lower income families.
If we can support you by providing this information in an alternative format or by giving you additional information relevant to you and your child personally, please let us know by emailing auditions@nco.org.uk.
Please click here for more information.
New resources from #CanDoMusic website available
#CanDoMusic has two strands:
- Sharing inspiring stories and best practice from classroom teachers, school leaders and other music educators.
- Signposting to existing practical resources that teachers might use to ensure music is part of the solution in every school. We use the social media hashtag #CanDoMusic to highlight both the sharing and signposting strands of our work. We celebrate and share all of our combined efforts to keep music at the heart of learning for all children and young people.
For further details, please visit https://candomusic.org/
Music Mark: Schools programme access available via HMS
By engaging with HMS in a music review process, you can unlock fully funded access to the Music Mark schools programme. Click here for more details.
BBC Ten Pieces marks 10th anniversary with works by women composers
For more information, please visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ten-pieces where you’ll find details of how students at various school phases and settings can get involved.
Pictures sourced and used from Unsplash - Beautiful Free Images & Pictures | Unsplash.
Previous newsletters
Spring term 2024 newsletter
News
Book your music services for 2024-25 now! Deadline 29 March 2024
The HMS Services to Schools brochure is live and online. Simply complete the online request form to request music provision for next year and confirm existing services too. If you have any queries, please contact your Regional Manager who will be happy to help.
New HMS toolkit launched: Building a high quality music education
We are delighted to announce the launch of the new toolkit for schools with a step-by-step process that anyone in the school can pick-up and use. Building a high quality music education includes practical resources to accompany the process to ensure a high-quality music education is embedded in your school.
It does not matter if the person using the toolkit is a music specialist or has never delivered a music plan, all the information is straightforward to follow, and support is available from HMS.
HMS agree new partnership with HfL Education
We are delighted to have secured an exciting partnership agreement with HfL Education. In addition to the Hertfordshire Music Conference on 3rd July 2024 we are running together, look out for HMS staff delivering training sessions throughout the year as part of the HfL Big Staff Meet series.
Save the date for the Herts Schools’ Gala 2025
Save the Date! HMS are pleased to announce the next #HertsSchoolsGala at the Royal Albert Hall will take place on Sunday 23 March 2025. Save the date for our special 30th anniversary celebration of this flagship event! For more info click here.
HMS waits for results of new Music Hub bidding process…
Arts Council England have been managing a bidding process for changes to the size and scale of Music Hubs across England. There are currently over 100 Music Hub areas and the DfE are combining many of these into fewer, larger Hubs. The good news is that Hertfordshire is one of the five Hub areas that remain unchanged, however we still had to bid to remain the Hub Lead Organisation.
We find out the results of our bid in April 2024 and, if successful, will be able to continue to deliver the DfE funded activities we currently provide including First Access, financial support to students, music centre ensembles and fully subsidised access to resources including Sing Up, Charanga and other services.
Fingers crossed!
School support and CPD
New school music toolkit and Support Networks available
We are delighted to announce the launch of the new toolkit for schools with a step-by-step process that anyone in the school can pick-up and use. Building a high quality music education includes practical resources to accompany the process to ensure a high-quality music education is embedded in your school.
It does not matter if the person using the toolkit is a music specialist or has never delivered a music plan, all the information is straightforward to follow.
To support your school, HMS is hosting a series of networks to bring teachers from similar schools together. Click on the relevant options below to join colleagues in learning new skills and finding solutions to challenges – all fully funded!
Register your interest to become part of the Hertfordshire SEND School Music Network
Register your interest to become part of the Hertfordshire Primary School Music Network
Register your interest to become part of the Hertfordshire Secondary School Music Network
New resources from #CanDoMusic website available
The #CanDoMusic website builds on the #CandoMusic campaign and is run by the three national music subject associations: the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM), the Music Teachers’ Association (MTA) and the UK Association for Music Education – Music Mark.
#CanDoMusic has two strands:
-
Sharing inspiring stories and best practice from classroom teachers, school leaders and other music educators.
-
Signposting to existing practical resources that teachers might use to ensure music is part of the solution in every school. We use the social media hashtag #CanDoMusic to highlight both the sharing and signposting strands of our work. We celebrate and share all of our combined efforts to keep music at the heart of learning for all children and young people.
For further details, please visit https://candomusic.org/
HMS Online Training Sessions: 2 July 2024, 4.00pm – 5.30pm
The online training programme is for all staff involved in the planning and delivering of the primary music curriculum.
The sessions are:
-
fun, interactive, practical sessions to upskill teachers in delivering the music national curriculum
-
practical resources, activities and ideas to take away and use immediately
-
up to date knowledge and advice on the latest requirements from Ofsted
-
the opportunity to network with other likeminded teachers
Next session: Inclusion and SEND - Tuesday 2nd July 2024, 4:00pm – 5:30pm – online
Sign up link: https://surveys.hertfordshire.gov.uk/s/CED5A1/
HfL and HMS Music Education Conference: 3 July 2024, 09.30am – 4.00pm
This one-day face-to-face event is aimed at music leaders and teachers of music from across the primary and secondary age range. Bringing together colleagues who maybe newer and/or less experienced with more experienced and specialist teachers, to create a community and shared musical experience. HMS have partnered with HfL Education to make this event available to as many teachers as possible, drawing on our shared expertise to ensure this is a valuable, inspiring and impactful day.
For more details and to sign up – click here!
All levels of musical experience welcome – this day is designed to be inclusive, and aims to build confidence, develop knowledge and be an enjoyable experience for all who attend.
The cost of the day has been significantly subsidised by Hertfordshire Music Service to allow as many schools as possible to take up this offer. Tickets cost £40 per delegate, with HMS funding £150 per delegate towards the usual £190 per person cost. We hope that this will enable maximum participation in this fantastic day, enabling schools to support their music subject leader and/or teachers of music to attend.
During the day, participants will hear from and work with experts in the field of music education. You will take part in and learn warmups and musical group activities to use in your classes straight away, building towards a shared musical performance, supported by a team of Herts Music Service teachers. You will consider how and when music learning happens best, in order to enable students within your setting to both enjoy and progress in their music learning.
Events and opportunities
Gala Work Experience opportunity: Deadline 22 March 2024
We’re delighted to share a brand new opportunity for young people aged 15 - 21 to help behind the scenes in planning the Hertfordshire Schools’ Gala 2025!
Successful candidates will attend regular meetings to collaborate on thoughts and ideas for planning aspects of the Gala, including staging, programming, lighting, sound and more.
You don’t need any experience, just lots of enthusiasm and an interest in music and live events.
We encourage applications from young people with ethnically diverse backgrounds, the LGBTQIA+ community and the disabled community.
Depending on your skill set, there is also the opportunity to have a role on the day of the Gala, in addition to a complimentary ticket to watch the performances, if you're not performing in the event.
To apply, please complete the online application form available here.
Have Your Say about music education in Hertfordshire: Deadline 19 April 2024
Have Your Say about music education in Hertfordshire and win a free music workshop for your school! Surveys are open now and close on Fri 19 April 2024. Click here for more details.
The details of the different surveys for school staff, parents/carers and young people have been shared with all schools by email – please check your admin or office inbox for this message.
At HMS, we are always looking to increase the quality, relevance and accessibility of music education in Hertfordshire as well as improving our own services to your school and pupils. Simply share the surveys with parents and carers and your school music subject lead. Once a response is received, your school will be entered into the prize draw for a fantastic music workshop – for free!
In the summer, HMS will publish the anonymised results and outline the impact your responses will have on the delivery of our services.
Hertfordshire Music Service values the feedback of all residents and stakeholders so if you require this survey in a different format or language, please reach out to us by emailing music.communications@hertfordshire.gov.uk and we will offer any help we can.
County Youth Music Groups: Represent your school on the national stage!
Celebrate your talented young musicians by encouraging them to represent your school in one of our County Youth Music Groups! There are currently opportunities to join ahead of the summer and an exciting programme in 2024-25 including the Herts Schools’ Gala! Click here for more information.
County Youth Training Choir
A fantastic opportunity to learn new music, make new friends, enjoy singing, and work with our enthusiastic conductor James Slimings! For young people in Years 5-8.
To get involved, visit http://hertsmusicservice.org.uk/HMSCYMG or email countymusicenquiries@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Hertfordshire Schools Symphony Orchestra & County Youth Orchestra
Opportunities available for upper strings, oboes and bassoons in particular, but all instruments welcome.
Our County Youth Music Groups are looking for violin & viola players to get involved with HSSO and CYO to represent their county!
To find out more, visit http://hertsmusicservice.org.uk/HMSCYMG or email countymusicenquiries@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Local updates
We manage our relationship with schools through a team of six Regional Managers. Each ‘region’ has a Regional Manager who is supported by a team of teaching specialists and support staff to understand local needs and create relevant events and opportunities for your students to participate in musical activities.
You can find the contact details for your Regional Manager here by clicking on ‘Contacts for schools – Regional Managers’.
Find out about recent events and future opportunities in your area by selecting the region your school is in.
North Herts and Stevenage
Information to be shared in the summer term issue.
East Herts and Broxbourne
Information to be shared in the summer term issue.
Welwyn, Hatfield and Hertsmere
Information to be shared in the summer term issue.
Watford and Three Rivers
Information to be shared in the summer term issue.
Dacorum
Information to be shared in the summer term issue.
St Albans
Information to be shared in the summer term issue.
Partner updates and resources
We work with a wide range of partners to bring a diverse range of musical opportunities to Hertfordshire schools. This includes both national and local partners to ensure that local needs are met whilst ensuring opportunities across the country and beyond are available to students at your school.
Applications now open for National Youth Orchestra 2025
Each year, 160 teenagers from different backgrounds across the UK come together through their love of music, ready to push their limits, discover new skills and play their part as changemakers for their generation. Applications are welcomed from musicians aged 13-18 years old who play an orchestral instrument at an advanced level, equivalent to Grade 8, but with no need for formal graded exams. First round auditions and final round assessment days are FREE, with travel and accommodation bursaries for those who need them.
Find out more here.
Music Mark: Schools programme access available via HMS
By engaging with HMS in a music review process, you can unlock fully funded access to the Music Mark schools programme. Click here for more details.
Music Teachers Association: Conference 2024, 17-19 May in Caversham
The Music Teachers’ Conference is a widely respected annual gathering of professionals in music education with a comprehensive and diverse programme lead by some of the best speakers in the UK. Hosted by a member school, the 2024 conference is at Queen Anne’s School, Caversham.
The Conference brings together 250 delegates benefitting from over 30 CPD sessions. The programme includes sessions for Early Years, Primary and Secondary as well as a wide range of subjects, pannellists and practical workshops.
For full details and prices, please visit https://www.musicteachers.org/conference/
National Open Youth Orchestra Ensembles: Apply by 24 March 2024
NOYO Ensembles create an inclusive environment in which brilliant 11-25 year-old disabled and non-disabled musicians can develop their skills at an advanced level, without the barriers that can make progress difficult for young disabled musicians. Playing with a really diverse group of musicians, improvising, being creative with music and making friends… It’s all part of the experience.
To find out more, please visit https://noyo.org.uk/apply/
BBC Ten Pieces marks 10th anniversary with works by women composers
For more information, please visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ten-pieces where you’ll find details of how students at various school phases and settings can get involved.
New music resources
Local amateur musician Rilla Paterson has offered schools access to some of her own compositions you may wish to use in your school. Please visit https://rillapaterson.com/ for more information about prices and to hear samples of her work.
Pictures sourced and used from Unsplash - Beautiful Free Images & Pictures | Unsplash.