Wider Opportunities Scheme

"Every child between the age of 8 and 11 should, if they wish, have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument". DfES"

 

Sheffield Music Service is working to achieve this vision through the national strategy known as Wider Opportunities in Music.

 

Wider Opportunities in Music provides the chance for a group of approximately thirty Yr 4/5's to learn a musical instrument for one academic year completely free of charge. The musical instrument remains in the school throughout this period.

 

Whole group tuition and rehearsals take place over 33 weeks for 1 hour per week.

 

Each session is delivered by a Wider Opportunities in Music co-ordinator, supported by a specialist teacher from the music service and a member of staff from within the school.

 

Specially prepared material develops the group to a performance standard during the course of the year.

 

With each session covering both technical and rudimentary musical aspects, a solid foundation is encouraged for future progress.

 

The scheme is designed not only to reach those pupils involved directly but also to enrich the musical activity of the school as a whole.

 

At the end of the academic year each child is given the opportunity to continue with lessons. These take on the same format and costs as those lessons already delivered by Sheffield Music Service.

 

 

The scheme began in September 2005 with only one coordinator delivering sessions to 17 Sheffield Primary Schools.

 

After a very successful first year we have now been able to employ four more coordinators targeting a further fifty three primary schools in Sheffield.

 

To date the total number of children being taught through the scheme is 1,900.

 

Instruments range from the string, brass and woodwind families, to percussion, guitars and choirs. In Autumn 2007, African music was introduced.

 

Schools that have taken part in the scheme are very positive and have seen  many enthusiastic pupils making excellent progress in both curriculum and instrumental lessons. 

 

If you would like to be involved in the Wider Opportunities in Music scheme or would like further information you can contact:

 

Gillian Job

Wider Opportunity Project Officer

Email:kylie85@hotmail.com

 

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