This site is designed to tell you all about what happens through the Swindon Borough Council's Music Service.  The site outlines music tuition opportunities, either at school or through the Music Service's Central Music School (out of school opportunities).  In addition, there is information about Swindon Young Musicians, Instrument Hire and Assisted Purchase scheme, as well as a whole host of gossip on everything that we do!  The site also offers information for schools and Approved Teachers of the Local Authority.

 Friends AGM

The Friends of SYM will be holding their AGM on 19th July 2010 at the music centre starting at 7.30pm.  For more information visit the Friends of SYM page under Swindon Young Musicians 

Music School 

This January the Music Service launched a new Music School. Primarily aimed at those pupils who have shown an interest in continuing to learn an instrument as a follow-on from the Wider Opportunities project. The Music School is also open to any child or young person who is looking for instrumental lessons out of school hours. Those who choose to attend the Music School will be offered a musical experience that is new and up-to-date.  By this we mean that each child will learn alongside their peers in group tuition until such time they require more specialist tuition. In addition, each child will receive an instrument (on loan from the local Authority) to learn on. Having spent time on their new instrument they will also have the opportunity to attend a band or ensemble to build on team work and help develop confidence.

Central Government has set a target for each Music Service to aim to achieve at least 50% of those involved with the Wider Opportunities project to carry on beyond the first years experience.  Our survey shows that all pupils who experience this programme wish to continue in some way.  The Music School is just one of a series of measures to attempt to achieve this aim.

The Music School will offer both value for money and a holistic approach to learning music in the 21st century.  For as little as £3.30 per lesson, your child could be receiving lessons and using an instrument supplied by the Music Service within the overall cost.

For more information contact the office on 01793 487802 or e-mail Lucy on lucy@swindonmusicservice.org.

Charanga

Swindon Music Service Launches its ELearning Platform in Partnership with Charanga.

Charanga provides an eLearning platform for both students and teachers (Classroom teachers; Approved Instrumental and Vocal Teachers) access to the following:

INSPIRA - This is an area designed as a complete year of wider opportunities lessons and provides you with lesson plans and resources including songs, games and examples of the instrument you are teaching being used in a commercial setting.  INSPIRA is also non-music notation based to ensure that some children and young people are not immediately put-off by the need to learn yet another 'language' to start to progress.

CORE CURRICULUM - This section is where you can find wider opportunities resources, instrumental and vocal resources and also Key stage 1, 2, 3 & 4 as well as Foundation stage resources.

EXPLORE - From here you can search the whole site, again split into instrumental subcategories.

MY WORKPLACE - This is where all of your stored lessons can be found.  Whenever you create a new lesson, it is stored here for you to download or delete at your convenience.

This site can also be accessed by your pupils to enable them to practice at home and for you to record if they have used it as well.I commend this eLearning resource to you and urge you to sign-up to this free year trial offered to you by the Music service.

http://www.swindonmusicserviceonline.org/index.php

Approved Teacher Scheme

Through the Music Service, Swindon Borough Council is offering an Approved Instrumental / Vocal Music Teacher Scheme for those teaching in Swindon Schools.

The scheme offers many benefits for teachers and students through a range of opportunities. For more information click here. To download an application form click here.

Song Competition 2009

This years annual song writing competition has been launched. If on the 30th January 2010 you are between 13 and 19 years of age, you can write your own song, in your own style with your own lyrics. Down load an application form here.

The winning song will be recorded by Bees Knees Records and will feature on Swindon 105.5 FM. The closing date is the 13th February 2010.

Don't worry if you are not going to be the right age on the 30th January, you can still enter the competition by writing your own words to Blondies 'The Tide is High' or Mark Morrisons ' Return of the Mack'. You can get the beats on CD for both these recordings by contacting the Music Service on 01793 487802. For an application form for this part of the competition click here.

Good luck to one and all!