The Glorious 17th

Seven weeks of directionless tedium behind us, we returned all a-tingle to a double serving of in-service days – buy one get one free. On Thursday the full complement of instrumental instructors assembled in the Brunton Hall where, together with our coordinator, Peter Antonelli and our head of department, Margaret O’Connor we discussed:

• Youth Music Initiative (YMI) including the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS) programme – now entering its second year. This began last session with six groups of singers in P3. Using the Kodaly method - learning singing through games - each group worked towards a presentation at the end of the session. The idea is to continue the existing six groups into P4 while initiating six new groups of P3 children. This project is staffed by a mixture of instrumental instructors and classroom music teachers. Both YMI and NYCoS programme within East Lothian currently fall within the remit of Pat Holden (former PT Music at NBHS and now PT of Primary Music Specialists).
• A Curriculum For Excellence – which specifies the expressive arts as one area in which to help pupils become successful learners; confident individuals; responsible citizens and effective contributors.
• Child Protection – small discussion groups convening to discuss awareness and good practice.
• Showcase Concert – discussing the merits of a residential weekend as opposed to several Friday afternoon rehearsals. The idea of a short-life working group to look into the logistics of a residential weekend was suggested and volunteers stepped up.
• East Lothian Council Instrumental Service Handbook – a guide for Pupils, Parents, PTs of Music, primary and secondary Head Teachers and, last but not least, Instructors.

Friday was designated a day to work in school, preparing musically and administratively for the forthcoming weeks – apparently there’s to be an increase in activity on Monday.