Herefordshire Music Service staged its second annual School Music Conference last week at the Three Counties Hotel. The event, saw over 40 delegates from Herefordshire schools enjoy a varied day of high quality workshops from local, regional and national organisations. As part of their developing partnership with Worcestershire Youth Music, a number of delegates from Worcestershire schools also attended.
The conference began with a singing warm up for all delegates led by local vocal expert Jenni Axtell. Professor Martin Fautley from Birmingham City University then gave an inspiring keynote speech on ‘assessment in the music curriculum.’ A wide range of workshops followed including composing music with iPads and practical music making workshops to support High Schools with their Year 10/11 music examination courses. National music education specialist John Kelleher from Music Mark also led a number of workshops.
The conference was significantly subsidised by Herefordshire Music Service using its Department for Education Music Grant, supported by the Herefordshire Music Education Hub Board.
Cliff Woollard (Head of Herefordshire Music Service) hailed the conference as a ‘great success’ and said ‘it offers the opportunity for those leading and delivering music in our schools to come together, network and receive high quality training to take back into their schools for the benefit of our young people.’
Christina Timms from Arts Council England who attended the conference said ‘The Herefordshire School Music Conference was a great opportunity for music teachers in primary and secondary schools to learn from each other, and share practical ideas for music in the classroom.’