Yamaha Education News
Wow, it's music next!
Yamaha supports FMS's whole-class instrumental teaching research
The Federation of Music Services' impact evaluation of the Wider Opportunities programme - a groundbreaking programme of whole-class primary school instrumental and vocal teaching - was published on 29 January 2010
Yamaha's annual support for the Federation of Music Services (FMS) contributed in 2009 directly to an impact evaluation of Wider Opportunities (WO) - the free one-year whole-class vocal and instrumental teaching scheme for primary school children aged seven to 11. The report, 'Wow, it's music next', describes a scheme which is of world-class quality, and also suggests areas for further development.
It found that children who learn an instrument as part of WO are more confident and have higher self-esteem. They look forward to music lessons and want to do well.
Between 2006 and 2011, this groundbreaking programme will have introduced more than two million children to the magic and discipline of making music. Skilled tutors from local music services, or community musicians specialising in education work, team up with primary class teachers and teaching assistants to teach the pupils the instrument every week for a year, often with the class teacher joining in and learning to play too. WO's success is in broadening access to lessons, giving every child an opportunity to play an instrument, regardless of their parents' income or interest in music at home. The research, led by Professor Anne Bamford and Paul Glinkowski of the University of the Arts, released on 29 January 2010, shows that as well as the added benefits of developing children academically and socially, it is a powerful springboard for new talent too.
The research to measure the impact of WO was undertaken on behalf of the FMS with support from Yamaha Music UK Ltd, Awards for Young Musicians and the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF). There are more than 6500 schools in WO and 1389 participated in the research study. Its key findings are as follows:
- WO is overwhelmingly popular with children - 97% of the primary head teachers and staff surveyed said pupils looked forward to lessons and enjoyed playing and performing
- 92% of schools said the WO programme has had a very positive effect on children's confidence and self-esteem
- Learning an instrument with all your friends in class has been shown to be as effective as small group tuition for children of this age and ability (particularly years 4 and 5)
- Strings, woodwind, brass, percussion and singing have been the most popular instruments and activities
- WO works as a disciplined introduction to learning an instrument, identifying talent and as a joyful experience to benefit whole-child development
- Primary school teachers with little or no experience of music tuition have welcomed the opportunity to develop their skills
- WO music education for children with Special Educational Needs has been outstanding and is exemplary of best international practice
The survey also revealed that 75 percent of schools believe the benefits of WO are so great that they have chosen to invest their own funds, buying in extra programmes over and above those offered free by their local music service. Schools cited many other benefits too including: enhanced cultural understanding and social development by pupils; a more positive attitude to learning and improved motivation in other subjects; improved team-working skills; in some cases music provided a calming experience; improved concentration; music had an empowering effect on some of the participating children; positive impact on absenteeism.
Additional findings included:
- Better progression pathways for music learning in pupils' later years, particularly when entering secondary school
- Improved teacher development
- More pupil instrument choice and appreciation of music opportunities
- The need for continued financial and resource commitment to schools and Music Services to meet the rapid growth in demand for WO music provisions.
FMS chief executive, John Witchell, says the research will be help music services develop the WO programme to bring even more benefits to children and schools: "Wider Opportunities has been an extraordinary success! We are now looking at the best ways to support pupils so that they can build on their newly learned skills and progress easily. We also want to support and encourage more class teachers to exploit the many benefits that learning and teaching with Wider Opportunities brings."
Click here to download the executive summary of the research. Click here to go to the FMS website, where you can find the full document.
(ends - source: FMS)
(posted: March 2010)