From 'Scene and Heard' Magazine
Geraldine Gaunt has been Music Adviser for Wakefield’s local authority for 16 years. She describes how Wakefield Music Services is promoting access to music for thousands of young people in the district.
When I first became Wakefield’s Music Adviser I inherited a highly successful music service. However since then, the landscape of music education has changed beyond belief and music services have been charged to respond to these changes. I suppose that many of you who are reading this article will think that the main part of our work is to teach small groups of talented children how to play an instrument. A rather elitist service, that only exists for the chosen few? This couldn’t be further from the truth! We teach nearly 3,000 children in small groups every week, and try to provide an instrument for the initial stages of learning. The instrumental part of the music service is managed by Val Jennings, who does a wonderful job in ensuring that the service we offer is accessible to all those who want to learn to play an instrument.
One of the major shifts in emphasis over the last decade or so has been the broadening of our work to ensure that we reach far more young people than we did before. The most exciting of these developments has been the Wider Opportunities programme, which has enabled us to reach an additional 3,000 primary children each week. Wider Opportunities evolved following the government’s Wider Entitlement pledge that ‘…over time, all pupils in primary schools who wish to, will have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument’. These weekly lessons are led by one of our highly talented instrumental teachers, and involve a whole class learning an instrument together. Children who would never normally be involved in learning an instrument are eagerly demonstrating their new found skills on African drumming, ukuleles, guitar, samba, singing and many more! The feedback from schools and children has been overwhelmingly positive. The classroom teacher has an important role and is involved at all stages: planning, supporting the lessons, learning alongside the pupils, leading part of the session and running follow up activities between the lessons.
As well as offering small group tuition and Wider Opportunities programmes in schools, we also run six Saturday morning Music Centres. They provide a wonderful opportunity for children to work alongside others from a variety of schools, with carefully structured groups that cater for beginners, through to the more advanced players. Music is about playing and working together and feeling the buzz from achieving something really worthwhile. Music Centres are the real ‘icing on the cake’ for teachers and children alike. Wakefield Music Services also run a number of highly successful premier groups for the real high flyers. These include Wakefield Youth Orchestra, Wakefield Youth Choir, Saxation, Fiddle and Flute, Wakefield Youth Percussion Ensemble, Wakefield Youth Brass Band and Wakefield Youth Jazz Orchestra. The groups perform regularly and demonstrate the incredibly high standards that many of our young players are able to reach, under the expert tuition and guidance from the music service staff.
I have always loved teaching and have never wanted to stray too far away from working directly with young people. As co-director of Wakefield Youth Choir, I am able to work with a group of highly motivated and talented young teenagers. Every week at the rehearsal, I witness the joy of making music together, as we share the power of voice and harmony. It is my weekly fix of ‘something’ that feeds my innermost soul and the best bit is that this ‘something’ is shared by the rest of the choir. You can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices! I know of nothing else in the world that is as satisfying or rewarding. Another important part of our work is in supporting curriculum music in schools. Many classroom teachers are daunted by the prospect of teaching music to their class, and over the years we have produced many support materials to help. My colleague Phil Needham, Advisory Teacher for Music, and I, have just finished our latest resource ‘Funky Feet’, which is a collection of songs and activities with a funky CD for teachers to use. The money that is generated from our publications allows us to buy much needed instruments and resources for the service. Each year in July, we run a music workshop which is held at the Theatre Royal Wakefield. A group of children from ten primary schools meet up on the Monday, and by Tuesday evening put on a musical performance to a packed audience. Last year, Phil and I decided to write our own musical called ‘Sing to the Top’, which is a highly amusing musical about a school called ‘Pasture Best Primary.’ It took many long evenings to compose the songs and write the script, but we were delighted with the first performance that took place last year. There is something quite unique about hearing something performed that you have created and is certainly one of the many highlights of my job. We’re both looking forward to another magical performance this year on 13th July!
I don’t think we should ever underestimate the benefits of what a good music service can provide to young people. Just read what some of them have to say about us:
“The Music Service in Wakefield is outstanding. All the staff do a great job making sure that playing instruments and making music is an enjoyable experience. I wouldn’t have achieved and completed the things I have done without them. Music is a huge part of my life.” – Zoe Dunphy, aged 18
“Music Services have helped me progress in my musical ability. I am a member of Wakefield Youth Orchestra and it makes it easier to understand what it would be like to play in a large orchestra like the London Symphony Orchestra. It improves your listening and intonation skills.” – Joshua Ward, aged 13
"Wakefield Music Services are the best! I play piano, violin and viola and attend Wakefield Youth Choir and Senior Strings. They are really helping me to improve in music.” – Emily-Grace Clifton, aged 14
In October 2009, the music service underwent a four day inspection, and we were delighted to be judged an outstanding provider. However, we know there is still much to be done, in order that we can continue to serve the musical needs of the young people in Wakefield. In the late 1990s, the government introduced the music standards fund as part of its attempt to save music education in this country. Although we rely on parental subscriptions to generate income to support the service, our work is heavily subsidised by the music fund which is paid to all music services in the country. These are uncertain times as we wait to hear about future funding in the autumn spending review. I firmly believe that we need to remain resolute, and continue to demonstrate the positive impact that music services across the country have on young people, schools and their local communities.
In this article I have only been able to highlight some of the important work that we do as a music service; we do much, much more. However, none of what we do could be achieved without a strong, determined and talented workforce. I am committed to leading a team of teachers who share my belief that music education and musical activity can play a huge part in the well being of young people. Many of the skills that music promotes significantly contribute to develop confident, empowered, motivated, creative and well rounded young people. We all understand the massive responsibility we have to ensure that our work continues. Six thousand young people are relying on us!
