06/10/2010

Music Motivator – An Open Programme project case study Youth Music support for an Open Programme project run by Drake Music at Barrs Court Special School shows how our funding is helping to embed provision for future generations: The Music Motivator project has created activities and resources with the intention that they be can be delivered by the teachers (i.e. non-music specialists) at Barrs Court Special School where the project is taking place. The idea being that ongoing music-making provision will be provided beyond the life of the project.

Music leaders are working with a number of teachers in the school who have benefited in many ways from their support. The local music leaders were trained with the intention that once the project is over, the school can call on their knowledge and expertise if required.  Assistive technology has also been used in the project. Usually, Drake Music would use more sophisticated technologies, but for this project the technologies needed to be accessible to the teachers.

To this end, some easy-to-use technology was developed, e.g. a PowerPoint presentation that is programmed with different rhythms and then activated by touch. The teachers started to lead the sessions from a very early stage in the project. Teachers have commented that the project is, ‘giving me the confidence to teach music’ and ‘opening up the possibilities of using different programmes and techniques.’ Pupils have responded positively to the work with a noticeable increase in focus during the sessions and a clear enjoyment in being able to create their own music.

All music activities featured in the project are linked to the curriculum, and lesson plans and schemes of work have now been completed for three units at key stage three, and four units at key stage four, with further funding secured to develop more resources. This is part of the ‘sustained local support’ the project is aiming to achieve with resources being made freely available for others to use.