Instrumental Teaching
The majority of Staffordshire schools organise instrumental tuition through Staffordshire Performing Arts (SPA). Over 12,000 young people currently learn a musical instrument with SPA's highly skilled instrumental teachers.
SPA aims to help all its pupils achieve their maximum potential. Tuition is aimed at providing pupils with technical and musical skills and knowledge to enable them to participate in a rich variety of music making activities including ensemble playing with other instruments.
Tuition is available on all woodwind, brass, and string instruments, as well as keyboard, guitar, percussion and voice. Pupils usually receive weekly tuition in small groups. However, in order to provide wider opportunities, whole primary school classes can also learn an instrument and the curriculum through SPA's Key to Music (K2M) programme. Please click here for further information on K2M for Primary Schools.
Instrumental Lessons
The majority of pupils will receive weekly tuition in small groups at their school. Lessons in secondary schools can be rotated to minimise disruption to the general curriculum. Each school has its own charging policy for lessons and parents will be informed by the school if a charge is to be levied.
Progress and Assessment
The instrumental teacher will normally issue a written report through the school during the summer term and arrange parent consultation evenings. Parents can also contact the instrumental teacher through the school to discuss their child's progress.
Regular practice is essential if good progress is to be maintained and parental support is vital to this. It can be a great help if parents listen and offer praise to their children.
Examinations
From time to time, the instrumental teacher may suggest that the pupil is entered for a grade examination such as those offered by the Associated Board, Trinity College or the Guildhall School of Music. Examinations give pupils something positive to aim for and can help to improve motivation. Examination and accompanist's fees are the responsibility of the parent.
Further details on examination boards, such as exam requirements and syllabus downloads, can be found by clicking on our links page.
Group Music Making
Ensemble activities are an essential part of instrumental learning and pupils will be expected to take part in them when a certain standard has been achieved. The instrumental teacher can advise on ensembles organised in school and at the local
Performing Arts Centre.
Further Information
Information regarding the loan and purchase of instruments can be found be clicking on the link on the left.
Schools wanting to arrange or alter their current instrumental teaching should click on SLA (Service Level Agreements).
The Staff link provides information for existing and prospective instrumental teachers of Staffordshire Performing Arts.
Last Modified:
13/11/2008 11:11:11
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