Bridgend County Borough Council

Bridgend Youth Music

Have you ever wanted to play a musical instrument as well as your favourite musical star? Through specialist tuition and working together in ensembles from the beginning stages to advanced standards, the Bridgend Youth Music Team helps to develop the playing skills and musicianship of pupils in Bridgend County Borough schools, regardless of financial means.

Funding is provided centrally and in line with Bridgend County Borough Council’s policy on entitlement and access – no charge is made to parents or guardians of pupils.

The existing scheme of tuition is currently able to provide an opportunity to approximately 2,200 children in county borough schools. Guidance is given as to appropriate instruments regarding size, stature, embouchure etc.

Care is taken with particular health issues such as hygiene with wind instruments and safety care with electrical equipment. Instruments are loaned to pupils in the early stages of learning through a signed agreement with parents.

Pupils receive lessons of approximately 30 minutes, dependant on general timetable arrangements. Pupils are withdrawn from normal lessons on a rota basis and are taught in small groups, often organised by ability level.

Those receiving instrumental and vocal tuition will be expected to undertake home practice. Teachers will set work to be studied and practiced which will be monitored closely.

Pupil progress and attendance is regularly recorded and reports are sent to parents at least once a year. Pupils are entered for examination by ABRSM or similar as appropriate and solos and ensembles are rehearsed and prepared in readiness for GCSE, AS and A2 examinations.

Comprehensive schools

All comprehensive schools receive tuition in woodwind, brass, guitar, percussion, upper strings and lower strings.

Primary and junior schools

All primary and junior schools receive the services of a violin teacher for 1.5 - 3 hours each week, depending on size and uptake. From September 2012, 27 primary schools will receive the services of a woodwind teacher for an average of one hour each per week and 30 will receive the services of a brass teacher for an average of one hour each per week.

Welsh medium primary schools

All four Welsh medium primary schools receive harp tuition for half a day per week.

Special schools

Both special schools receive tuition in guitar and percussion for half a day per week.

Residential courses

Residential courses are arranged for all pupils to attend when appropriate.

Youth ensembles

For more information about our youth ensembles please click here

Loan, repair and maintenance of instruments

For more information about the loan, repair and maintenance of instruments please click here

Tutors

For more information about our Instrumental Music Team please click here

Aims

• To develop the playing/vocal skills and musicianship of individual pupils, regardless of financial means through specialist tuition in schools.
  
• To support schools in the preparation of practical performance material for external examination and National Curriculum requirements.
  
• To provide experience of working together in ensembles, from the beginning stages to advanced standards of performance in school and at county level.
  
• To support schools in involving pupils in extra-curricular activities.
• To provide opportunities for pupils to enhance their general life skills by experiencing the application, concentration and co-operation involved in such team activities.

Quality assurance

• The work of Bridgend Youth Music and its teachers will be monitored on a regular basis.
  
• Pupil progress and standards of achievement will be monitored with reference to records submitted by teachers twice each year.
  
• Quality of teaching will be monitored as part of performance management procedures.
  
• A questionnaire will be sent to all schools on an annual basis to obtain feedback on the quality of the Music Team.

Mission statement

The Bridgend Youth Music Team aims to provide tuition at all levels, on all musical instruments and voice. All teachers are well-qualified and are experienced specialists in their field, having trained in a variety of musical institutions. They are all accomplished performers and are actively involved in and committed to music making.

Contact us

Jeff Ryan, music co-ordinator

Tel: 01656 642658, Mob: 07961 192408
Email: arts@bridgend.gov.uk