Programmes and Projects
In-school
As part of the SLA, schools have access to a range of programmes and projects brought directly to your school. Explore the options below.
Music Education Islington works with a large range of peripatetic tutors, teaching all ages of individual students, small groups or whole class, covering the following areas:
- Musicianship (Jolly Music)
- Singing (including school singing assembly)
- Bowed string instruments (violin, viola, cello)
- Plucked string instruments (ukulele, guitar)
- Woodwind and brass instruments (trumpet, clarinet, flute, recorder)
- Mixed ensemble
- (Body) Percussion
- Music to support a recovery curriculum (focussing on elements such as group composition, song-writing/singing, body percussion)
Charanga is a world-leading music teaching and learning platform with a vast library of resources, songs, instrumental courses and creative apps. Teaching units cover a wide range of topics and each student can have their own account set up to create and complete projects.
Cost: All MEI schools have free access to the online music school Charanga. All teachers can attend training throughout the year.
Charanga’s VIP Studio is an easily accessible online studio that helps students with song writing, creating beats, producing & mixing, as well as releasing and promoting their music. Each student can have their own log-in.
Compared to all other online music production platforms, VIP Studio is the most GDPR secure option. It is embedded in lots of educational units and so it will be the most useful for teachers and students. Students can have their own account, accessible from all mobile devices, so that they can create music wherever and whenever they would like to.
Cost: All MEI schools can request free access to VIP Studios. All teachers can attend training throughout the year.
The Jolly Music scheme offers a well-planned music curriculum, teaching musical skills to children through singing, games and rhymes. The approach places singing at the very heart, engaging inner hearing and developing musical ability, with the outlook that the voice is the ideal instrument, because we all have one and it is free! Jolly Music can be delivered by class teachers, using the material published by JollyLearning (always start with the ‘Beginners’ book)
For tutors who are new to singing with and to their class, our mentoring scheme helps to develop teacher confidence and get the best start to the programme. A Jolly Music mentor will work with two of your school’s teachers over the period of one term to support their individual needs.
Our West African Drumming workshop is led by Mohamed Gueye, who has life-long experience playing the Sabar and Djembe drum and is highly sought after for his explosive 7 performances and patient teaching. Passed down to him by his ancestors, Mohamed has a detailed understanding of Sabar rhythms and the history of Senegalese culture.
At the heart of African Drumming is pure and simple fun. It is energising, inspirational and is accessible to all ages and abilities. Students will join in collective music-making, learn the professional techniques of West African Djembe drumming in a fun and supportive environment. Learning traditional rhythms, and the history behind it, students will work together using a mixture of polyrhythms, breaks and song to be able to play a whole piece by the end of the sessions.
Instruments will be made available for the duration of the course. Schools will be responsible for the save storage of these instruments at their school throughout the 10 weeks.
Costs detailed in the SLA document.
Music therapy is a psychological therapy using established music interventions to support people of all ages with their psychological, emotional, cognitive, physical communicative and social needs. Music therapy supports children with:
- Communication/learning disorders in individual or group lessons.
- Special needs/emotional needs in special or mainstream schools.
Sessions are offered through Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s Music Therapy department with highly skilled therapists and instrumental teachers.
Structure: 10 weeks per term
Cost: Daily rate of £350 (half days possible)
Setting up new music therapy provision will take at least 6 weeks, with the school being part of the recruitment process of the most suitable therapist for the setting.
We are a passionate and exciting after school community led by inspirational instrumental teachers. With an emphasis on fun we offer a friendly and supportive environment to nurture pupils’ musicianship skills and sign post progression opportunities.
By becoming a MEI Music Centre School, all children will be able to attend the Music Centre, not only those whose parents and carers can facilitate the commute and costs. There are a range of benefits of being an MEI Music Centre School including:
- Free additional music tuition for children on Pupil Premium who show musical interest and potential
- Reduced cost to access all activities at MEI Music Centres for fee paying students (£65 per term reduced from £130) All courses are free for FSM students.
- Regular CPD for teachers and TAs
- Invitation to attend appropriate concerts and participate in events at Guildhall School of Music and Drama & The Barbican, either free of charge or for reduced fees.
More information about our centres here.
Held at your school, this 60 min course offers children the experience and joy of making music through a range of fun activities, games and songs. They will learn to feel a strong sense of pulse, moving to music, pitching notes and hearing the music in their heads. As well as musical skills, the child will also develop listening skills, social interaction, coordination, and memory and language skills. This engaging, playful and supportive learning environment allows each child to express themselves in a creative and safe space, helping them to grow as a person and as a musician.
Minimum number of participants: 15
Please get in touch with us at musiceducation.islington@gsmd.ac.uk for more information.
