Sarah Share
Anna Wolloff
Specialist Schools and Provision
Welcome to the Leicestershire Music Specialist Schools/Provision page
There are numerous ways that we can support Headteachers, Music co-ordinators, SENDcos and teachers of music.
If you would like any support, have any questions or want to find out more about what we can do for your Specialist setting, please contact us!
Sarah Share – Lead for Schools
Anna Wolloff – Music Leader for Specialist Schools, Schools' Relationship Manager
Our vision for Specialist Settings
- To give all pupils in Specialist settings access to musical activities & live performances
- All pupils to have access to a high quality music curriculum in school
- To offer extra curricular musical opportunities for children with additional needs
Leicestershire Music (LM) works closely with our Hub partners to offer high quality music-making experiences to pupils with additional needs. We engage and inspire our pupils - enabling them to reach their full potential in music.
The specialist team at Leicestershire Music pride themselves on developing a fully inclusive musical pathway for all young people with additional needs. From choirs and ensembles to bespoke CIL, CPD and curriculum offers, we have specialist resources and experienced practitioners who deliver and support schools to develop a meaningful and rounded music curriculum in all provisions.
Our SEND Scheme of Work was a finalist in the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence and is currently available free to in-area schools.
Specialist Music Network meetings bring us together once a term to share local and national updates, CPD and best practice from the incredible expertise we already have in our settings. To book your place, click here.
For enquiries, bookings or information email LMSEND@leics.gov.uk or anna.wolloff@leics.gov.uk
K is a teenage wheelchair user with limited motor control who communicates using gesture and an AAC switch-controlled device. He joined Open Orchestra with Leicestershire Music at Ash Field Academy three years ago. With accessible iPad tools, he developed ensemble skills, improved fine motor control, and discovered a passion for organ and keyboard sounds in particular. His confidence has soared, and he now plays in an advanced group with a range of instrumentalists. His teacher says: "K's smile says it all—he's thriving thanks to Open Orchestra's inclusive and expert approach. He even has a stage name now he is so well known for his love of music: The Soul Man!"
For Schools
More Opportunities & Resources:
Specialist Schools Song Album - Where the River Flows, free to in-area schools
SINGclusive Saturday Choir
SINGclusive Choir - Saturdays, Free!
Making music through songs - suitable for all needs aged 5-25!
Rehearsals take place online, fortnightly 11:00am-12:00pm, with a live session every half term at the very-accessible Cosmopolitan Arts, Friday Street LE1 3BW.
Co-directed by Anna Wolloff & Grace Davey - we warm-up, play, sing, sign, vocalise, compose, listen, wiggle and dance along to a range of songs over the year, with opportunities for recorded and live performance annually. Online sessions provide a safe way-in for pupils to begin socialising and familiarising themselves with the routine and faces in the sessions, and live-meet ups are welcoming and accessible for all families and needs and always include biscuits and chat afterwards!
For more information and to register, click here or email anna.wolloff@leics.gov.uk
Specialist Youtube sessions - Jam-Along with Carrie & Mowkee
Why not Jam-Along with Carrie & Mowkee - Fun Music to join in with.
A weekly 8-lesson Specialist Provision resource for use at school or at home using the improvise approach. You can join in however you feel is right for you. You might want to sing, use body percussion, your voice, an app or use items from around your home.
Just have fun making music alongside Carrie & Mowkee. Perhaps you can persuade someone else to join in making music with you?
PDF's to accompany each video are available using links posted in the descriptions on Youtube.
Please click here to access the Youtube Playlist containing all 8 weeks
Soundbeam & Skoog Hire
Soundbeams track small movements in space (the "beams") and switch triggers to partake in whole-piece musical ensembles and exploration. Introduce students to different genres, quality instrument-sounds and develop improvisation, composition and arranging skills. Soundbeam 6 demonstration
"The sound beam has been a valuable resource in enabling students of all ages and abilities to access a vibrant and varied curriculum, not just within music, without barriers to their learning."
Mark Wilson, teacher at Dorothy Goodman
Soundbeam hire
Leicestershire Music currently has 4 Soundbeam 6 available to be used in Leicestershire Schools.
Soundbeam Loan
One term: £150
One Year: £400
To book email LMSEND@leics.gov.uk/ anna.wolloff@leics.gov.uk
TEACHING RESOURCE FOR SOUNDBEAM
'Teaching Music with Soundbeam' is a completely new set of seven modules, designed to enable non-specialist teachers and others to deliver inclusive and easy-to-follow classroom activities using any version of Soundbeam. The resource is authored by David Ashworth, one of the UK's leading experts in the field of music and SEN.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56d802d962cd9424aa8b5eb7/t/644a4aed6be9dc4237f7d15c/1682590448377/Teaching+Music+With+Soundbeam_Compendium.pdf
Please click here to read a Soundbeam Project Report.
Skoog
Skoog makes instrumental playing fun and easy to get started. You can play Skoog with any part of the body; hands, elbows, feet – which makes it incredibly accessible. Skoog works with iPad, so you can play, jam and create music using the Skoog app or existing apps like GarageBand.
Cost - £50 to Hire a set for one academic year.
For more information on Skoog, please visit https://skoogmusic.com/
Video: https://youtu.be/2pzshgTiZD4
Developing Quality Award for Schools
Artsmark
Artsmark is the creative quality standard for schools, accredited by Arts Council England. It provides a clear framework for teachers to plan, develop and evaluate arts, culture and creativity across the curriculum.
Leicester-Shire Music Education Hub is an Artsmark partner organisation, and can support schools in applications for silver, gold or platinum status. Most schools in the city are already engaging with music hub activities, so chances are you already have some excellent evidence for meeting Artsmark criteria.
Whole Class Ensemble Tuition, VocalEase, Music Tuition Centres, signposting young people to the central ensembles, attending CPD and taking part in our large scale performances are ways in which schools can offer children musical opportunities that support schools in their Artsmark application.
The LSMS Music Quality Mark gives Headteachers and Music coordinators opportunity to reflect on the current music provision, gain support matched to schools needs and celebrate with a bronze, silver or gold Quality Mark, all free of charge with trained Music Consultant.
Get in touch with us for help and advice about using music hub initiatives as part of your Artsmark application. For more information about Artsmark, click here or contact The Mighty Creatives for support with the application process.
The Short Guide to Accessible Music Education
The Short Guide to Accessible Music Education is the only guide of its kind in the UK. Compiled by Emma Lines (Drake Music Scotland) and Jonathan Westrup (Drake Music). Through partnership with the Music Education Council ASN/SEND Working Group, the aim of the document is to provide a one-stop-shop signposting to organisations, initiatives, research documents and more around the subject of accessible music education.
Please click here to access The Short Guide to Accessible Music Education
Teaching Music with Garageband for iPad
