Award scheme
County music awards
The West Sussex Music Service currently provides group lessons
in schools on all orchestral and band instruments. This includes
strings, woodwind, brass and
percussion instruments. There are also group
lessons for the voice (singing), keyboard and
guitar.
The County Music Awards Scheme offers individual lessons with
specialist teachers at a subsidised rate. The current scheme
for the remission (refund) of fees also applies.
The awards scheme is intended for highly committed pupils of
special musical ability who have made rapid progress in lessons.
The scheme is managed by Adam Barker, Lead Teacher for Advanced
Study and Ensembles, who is also responsible for overseeing the
general progress and musical development of the students.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible to hold an award, a pupil must normally be
attending a West Sussex local education authority maintained
school.
It will also be possible to consider continuing an award for
students who have been in receipt of an award in Year 11 and have
moved at age 16 to a sixth form college or a further education
college in West Sussex. Or, in the case of West Sussex
residents, to a maintained sixth form, sixth form college or
further education college in a neighbouring authority.
However, in such cases, tuition will be provided in a West Sussex
establishment.
No pupil learning privately with another teacher will be
provided with lessons on the same instrument under the county
scheme.
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Lessons
Award lessons are normally 30 minutes long and there are 30
lessons in each school year.
Lessons are available on all orchestral and band instruments as
well as voice, guitar, recorder, piano and keyboard.
Additional activities such as aural, musicianship, theory,
choral singing and chamber music will be programmed as an important
part of the course wherever possible. These usually take place at
an area music centre.
Teachers
Where the current teacher of an award holder is Music Service
staff member that teacher will normally continue to teach the pupil
if they are willing to do so.
Where a pupil has been learning privately there is no guarantee
that the private teacher would continue to teach the pupil – this
will only be decided after consultation.
Any change of teacher may subsequently be requested by the
parent, pupil or teacher, but only after talking with the current
teacher. No pupil who wishes to continue learning the same
instrument privately with another teacher will be eligible for an
award.
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Pupils
Award holders (pupils) are expected to be committed musicians
with the determination to achieve high levels of personal
performance. To enhance their musical development, pupils are
required to participate in appropriate area and county level
ensemble activities.
Award holders will also be expected to perform a solo in a
suitable concert, normally at least once a year. They are also
required to support the musical life of their school, usually by
participating in an appropriate ensemble.
Assessing and reporting progress
Progress is monitored continuously and reported to parents
twice each academic year. Parents are encouraged to be fully
involved in the musical development of their child, with frequent
contact between teacher and parent.
All award pupils are assessed annually. Details of the
assessment procedure are sent to parents early in the summer
term. After the assessment pupils are informed of their placement
within a county-level ensemble.
Where a pupil is failing to progress at a reasonable rate the
parent is consulted and targets set for improvement within a
defined period. This is usually no longer than 1 term. If these
targets are not achieved the situation will be reviewed
in order to decide the best way forward. In some circumstances it
may be more suitable for the pupil to return to tuition in a group
lesson in school.
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Selection
Auditions are held each year - normally during the second half
of the spring term. The audition takes place before a panel of at
least 2 senior teachers. The auditions last about 10 minutes,
during which the pupil is asked to play 1 prepared piece.
This can be with or without accompaniment.
They may also be given other tests of musical ability, such as
aural tests, scales, arpeggios and sight-reading.
The teachers base their judgment on:
- the length of time the pupil has been learning the
instrument;
- accuracy and fluency of performance;
- technique and control of instrument or voice;
- intonation and quality of tone;
- musical understanding and communication;
- sight-reading of unfamiliar music;
- aural perception; and
- commitment to the instrument and music in general.
Unsuccessful applicants may apply for audition again after a
year.
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Progress in lessons
Different instruments allow pupils to progress at different
rates. However, applicants should have been making rapid progress
in their lessons. They will normally be expected to have been
learning for a minimum of two years and to have reached Programme
of Study Stage 3 or a standard equivalent to about Grade 3.
Pupils who have been learning for a longer period will be
expected to have reached a correspondingly higher level. Pupils who
have been learning for a shorter time may be considered for
audition on the special recommendation of their teacher.
Parents are advised to discuss with the
instrumental teacher the suitability of the award scheme for their
child. Please note that not all applicants will necessarily be
auditioned.
How to apply
To apply for a county music award please complete
the downloadable form on this page, where you can also find our
regulations and conditions.
Find out more
For more information, please speak to the teacher or contact
Nicola Gray.
Email: nicola.gray@westsussex.gov.uk
Phone: 01243 642361
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