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Encore Enterprises

Newsletter to Schools and Colleges

April 2023

Welcome to the Summer edition of the Encore newsletter. This is such a busy term for schools and colleges, and many will be preparing for the variety of exams coming up between now and July. A huge well done to all teachers in preparing our young people for their music GCSEs and A Levels – we wish them all the best of luck. We hope all the primary summer concerts and end of year productions go well and look forward to hearing your news. Please do share any photos of your musical events with us and we will put them in the next newsletter!

Why Music at KS4?

As many of you will be aware, numbers of pupils taking music at GCSE, A Level and Degree level are declining, and it is our responsibility to try to keep these numbers healthy. This will support our pupils with their dreams, their passion, and the future of our music industry in the UK. I have included a link below to a short video which can be played to all pupils from KS2 upwards (but it’s aimed at KS3) to encourage them to understand why music is such a great subject to take for GCSE.

 

Click here to view it on the Music Mark website or click here to view it on Vimeo.

**New Wider Opportunities offer**

The new school’s information booklet is now out and has been sent to all schools and colleges. You will see that we have renamed our whole class instrumental programme from ‘Wider Opportunities’ to ‘Tune-In’. This programme has a new offer of shorter, ten-week projects, which can be mixed and matched with our 32 or 38 week projects, so please do think about how this could fit into your school timetable to support the musical opportunities for your children.

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CPD for the summer term

For more information about any of the CPD opportunities below, just click on them to be taken to their webpage.

 

EYFS – Our EYFS leader, Wendy Wilson Goddard, has been supporting our reception teachers in schools with singing activities throughout their day. The new course will have already started by the time you read this newsletter, but please do register your interest for the next course in September.

 

25/04/23 – Samba workshop for teachers

 

21/05/23 – Mark De-Lisser singing day

 

24/05/23 – Primary Network Meeting (free to attend – online via Zoom)

 

25/05/23 – Secondary Network Meeting (free to attend – online via Zoom)

 

08/06/23 – Resource: ABRSM Classroom 200 (free to attend – online via Zoom)

 

12/06/23 – Using Charanga with confidence

 

13/06/23 – Composing in KS3 and 4 Twilight (online via Zoom)

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Curriculum support

Encore Music Service are official partners with Charanga and Music Express, which many schools subscribe to, to help deliver their music curriculum. For schools who subscribe to Sing Up, there are now schemes of work for KS1 and KS2, and amazing resources for KS3 and 4. Support can be provided for schools who would like demonstration lessons, team teaching or twilight training for any of these schemes. Please contact Sue Walker for more information. suew@encore-enterprises.com

Singing projects

Jo Lowry, our singing for wellbeing leader, has had great success with this year’s singing projects, having recently completed the first Rise-Up pilot project, working with Year 6 and Year 7 pupils to support their mental health and wellbeing. Jo has also worked with a variety of teachers through CPD zoom sessions and observing practice in the classroom, looking at how to boost confidence and self-esteem in our young singers. Please do get in touch with Jo if you would like any help or support in your school.

A project to support our Service Pupil Premium children (STARS) is also taking place with several schools around the county. Pupils have been receiving one-hour workshops, looking at music and songs to support and express their unique challenges. 

Jo will be running an online zoom for primary schools on Monday 15th May at 2:15pm-2:45pm, celebrating National Children’s Day 2023. This free event is called ‘Stand Up and Sing’ and celebrates all the great work that is going on nationwide to support child and family wellbeing. Please click here for more details.

 

On Saturday 17th June 2023, there will be a celebration of all the singing projects which have taken place this year at the Holy Trinity Church, Hereford. This is an opportunity for all pupils and community members to perform together in a massed event – it should be an incredible evening full of joyful singing! Please do email jlowry@encore-enterprises.com if you would like to be involved in this.

HPA Fest

The HPA Fest was a resounding success this year, culminating in a wonderful selection of high-quality performances at the Gala Concert on Wednesday 29th March 2023. We are so grateful to our sponsors, who enable us to keep this amazing event running each year: Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors, Burghill Valley Golf Club, The Loft Cinema, The Hereford Music Shop and Wye Valley Rotary. There were opportunities for performance in dance, speech and drama and music, with individuals and groups being invited to perform. There are competitive and non-competitive sections, so there really is something for everyone. Details of next year’s HPA Fest will be available in the Autumn term 2023.

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10 things schools should know about music

Music Mark has started a campaign called ’10 Things’ which summarises the 10 key benefits of music, to encourage more schools to have more musical activities in their school. They have put together this booklet, which can be found here, explaining why music should be a central part of every school.

Dates For Your Diary

Encore Youth Music Concerts

Herefordshire Youth Orchestra Concert

Tuesday 2nd May - 7:30pm - 9:30pm

​The Courtyard, Hereford

 

Livewire Gig

Saturday 6th May - 3:45pm - 5:00pm

​The Loft Cinema, Hereford

Encore Youth Music - Bands Concert

Monday 8th May - 7:00pm - 8:30pm

​The Courtyard, Hereford

 

Encore Youth Music - Strings and Starters Concert

Tuesday 9th May 7:00pm - 8:30pm

​The Courtyard, Hereford

Singing for Wellbeing Concert

Saturday 17th June 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Holy Trinity Church, Hereford

 

School Network Meetings

Next Primary Music Network meeting – Wednesday 24th May 2023

Next Secondary Music Network meeting – Thursday 25th May 2023

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