Licensed Music Teachers
What is a Licensed Music Teacher?
In Kent there has always been a mixture of instrumental teachers from and private music teachers. Schools therefore have a choice between Kent Music Teachers, private teachers or a combination of both.
In view of child protection and quality assurance issues, the LEA established a Licensed Music Teacher Scheme. This has been in existence for many years and was restructured approximately ten years ago. Teachers wishing to undertake tuition in Kent schools apply to the LEA for licensed teacher status, giving two referees, details of qualification and experience. A police check is an integral part of the process. Applicants may be inspected teaching prior to being awarded a three year licence. If awarded a licence, the teacher is then free to market services to schools and their details may be given by the LEA in response to enquiries for instrumental tuition for schools. Licensed Music Teachers wear a badge that states the date of expiry of their LMT status.
Would you like to apply to become a Licensed Music Teacher or renew your application?
What are the Professional Standards Expected of a Licensed Music Teacher?
What Makes Good or Outstanding Wider Opportunities Teaching?
The following criteria and exemplification have been developed by HMI undertaking music inspections to support the judgement that music provision is good or outstanding.
What are pupils actually doing and learning in sessions?
In most cases, Wider Opportunities programmes are delivered in National Curriculum time and incorporated the curriculum requirements. Therefore, while the focus of sessions is on instrumental learning, there is a rich context of other activities which ensure that pupils also acquire broader musical skills and understanding.
Most instrumental sessions, whether in whole classes or in smaller groups, begin with vocal and physical warm-ups. These ensure that pupils are physically prepared to hold and play instruments without strain; they also linked with work in previous sessions to consolidate skills and understanding.
New work is introduced in each session and linked carefully with what has already been achieved. This may have been a new note or rhythm pattern; developing technical aspects of playing (for example bowing, tongueing, or phrasing); or it may have been an aspect of notation which was introduced for the first time.
In some sessions, the team of staff perform to the pupils, so that a new style or aspect of technique can be introduced as a listening and appraising activity. Inother sessions, individuals or pairs of pupils may have been asked to prepare a piece in advance for performance. It is made clear to pupils from the outset what they are intended to learn each session – and how best they could use time between sessions for follow-up practice and activities.
Evaluation of Instrumental Lessons
Over the following months the LEA will be monitoring the work of instrumental teachers in Primary and Secondary Schools in Kent. It is the requirement of the DCSF that the Kent LEA evaluates the use of Standards Fund 1.11 in our schools.
If any of your lessons are monitored, it will be helpful for you to know that the observer (LEA Adviser) will evaluate the quality of teaching and learning using these criteria.
Music Medals
The first group of Kent Licensed Music Teachers have now received their accreditation as Teacher Assessors for Music Medals
Music Medals are a new suite of assessments and supporting publications that focus on the needs of group instrumental teachers and their pupils. Tailor-made for group-taught musicians from the earliest stages of learning, Music Medals aim to encourage and motivate young people to fulfil their potential in their chosen instrument by recognising and rewarding their achievements.
Levels and Assessment
There are five progressive levels of Medal assessment: Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The Copper Medal is approachable for most pupils during their first year of study, while each subsequent Medal has been positioned broadly as an annual target.
Step-by-step, each Medal assessment covers the following core activities of group teaching:
- playing with others (Ensemble)
- playing solo (Solo)
- musicianship skills (Option)
Read more from the Music Medals Website
New for Keyboard
The long wait is over as the Music Medals for Keyboard are launched.
The Syllabus Repertoire Lists are now available and a special FAQ section has been added to the website which will answer any general questions you may have.
Keyboards Together
These five books, one for each Medal level, contain arrangements and original pieces in two, three and four parts and are perfect for classroom use as well as for smaller groups.
The books include a wide range of styles rock, Latin, country, jazz, pop and dance music and all pieces can be selected for the Music Medals Ensemble section. More....
Keyboard Options Practice Books
The options tests for keyboard have been designed to support musicianship activities that are relevant to the instrument and these are described in full on the Music Medals website. A Keyboard Options Practice Book has also been published which contains full descriptions of the tests together with lots of practice material. More....