Happy New Year from all in the Music Department. 2012 sees another European tour, with members of the department travelling to Italy for a tour to Florence and Venice on March 21st, as well as plenty to whet the appetite back in Derbyshire and beyond.
The key to good quality music is good quality teaching and I must pay tribute to my instrumental staff, whose teaching and enthusiasm are second to none. Over the past few years, academic lessons have moved from 40 minutes to 35 minutes and are currently 30 minutes long. Having followed this same trend with instrumental lessons, we were in danger are two disappointing and negative consequences: (a) one-third less instrumental teaching, therefore an enforced pay cut for the instrumental team, and (b) one-third less instrumental teaching, therefore an enforced drop in time to prepare for ABRSM exams and develop the musical skills of the pupils.
To stop this, last term saw 40 minute instrumental lessons (20 mins for Pre-Prep) against a 30-minute academic timetable. There were a few confusions (although admittedly not many) but we felt it worth trying a different tack for the coming term.
Each child will now be timetabled for a 30 minute instrumental lesson each week (still 20 mins for Pre-Prep) and this will fit exactly within the academic timetable. In addition, each of the instrumental teachers will then have a handful of flexible slots (the number dependent upon their teaching allocation) in order to give some pupils an extra half-hour slot. Overall, the average instrumental teaching time per week will be in the region of 35-40 minutes, yet there is flexibility in the system to work around school trips, illness etc. In addition, it tessellates perfectly with the academic timetable.
It will take a while to settle, but I will be asking colleagues, pupils and parents for any feedback so we can move this tricky situation forward in the best way so that it both alleviates disruption as much as possible, but also encourages high-quality output from the music department.
Do get in touch if you have any comments.
Finally, please click below for this term's instrumental timetables, which will be updated as changes are made.
Many thanks - and have a lovely start to 2012.
Jon Weller
Director of Performing Arts
Click here for Mrs Cottam's timetable (piano/guitar) - updated Thu 5 Jan
Click here for Mrs Dinnigan's timetable (guitar) - updated Thu 5 Jan
Click here for Mrs Dobbin's timetable (violin/piano) - updated Mon 9 Jan
Click here for Mrs Dumpleton's timetable (recorder/cello/Double Bass/theory)
Click here for Mrs Hill's timetable (oboe) - added Mon 9 Jan
Click here for Mrs Howland's timetable (singing) - updated Mon 9 Jan
Click here for the LAMDA timetable - updated Thu 12 Jan
Click here for Mr Marple's timetable (piano)
Click here for Mr Percival's timetable (brass)
Click here for Mr Rawson's timetable (drumkit)
Click here for Mrs Strudwick's timetable (flute/piano)
Click here for Mrs Walker's timetable (clarinet/saxophone) - updated Wed 4 Jan
Posted on
Mon, January 9, 2012
by JPW