Classroom Instrumental Learning

In line with a change of language and priority in the new National Plan for Music Education, Classroom Instrumental Learning (CIL) is the new name for whole class instrumental learning, or the Musicianship Programme as we referred to it in Dorset.

This is not included in the core membership and is charged at an additional cost depending on what level of support your school requires.

The aim of this programme is to:

• Inspire pupils and teachers to see themselves as musicians

• Develop enjoyment and skills in instrumental learning

• Create a culture of music within school

• Provide opportunities for pupils to develop their music making skills

We want to empower teachers to make choices about their CIL and as such, are offering 4 different programmes this year. To help you decide which programme of CIL is best for your school. We have created a decision-making tree to ensure you are getting the correct support for your school.

We want to support school budgets and create capacity by giving schools the choice of whether they need to hire instruments and/ or need a teacher to support with delivery of the programme.

Furthermore, pupils who complete any of our 4 CIL programmes can access free instrument hire for a year through our Next Steps scheme.

The above prices are based on one class per school.

Costs for additional classes with in-person support from a musician are:

  • 2 classes: £795 (no charge for instruments)
  • 3 classes: £945 (no charge for instruments)

Once you have worked out what your needs are, see the Classroom Instrumental Learning infographic below to see what is involved in your selected programme.

Teacher Led – by class teacher or Music Subject Lead

Delivering the programme yourself will still give you access to an online forum of support where you will receive group mentoring in providing this programme to your pupils, but you will not have a musician in your school delivering with you.

The benefits of this programme are:

  • Developing your own skills and teach with increased confidence by spending more time developing your practice with the support of experienced colleagues and peers through regular online forums to reflect on development and gain advice.
  • Take ownership of your school music provision – make more connections with the school’s curriculum and co-curricular offer – think strategically about the connections between CIL and the whole school plans for music (and the SMDP!)
  • Identify and be supported to use the Charanga resource bank, and other supportive resources
  • Develop sustainable provision in school and become less dependent on visiting external experts – or identify new ways of working with delivery partners. ‘Next steps’ or progression activities beyond the classroom will expand the opportunities available to pupils

Visiting Musician Model

If you choose to have a Visiting Musician in school with you, then the programme will look different with a greater emphasis on team teaching to support and upskill teachers in school

This model is at an additional cost – a more realistic cost for visiting professionals of £500 for a 10-week delivery programme.

The benefits of this programme are:

  • A greater emphasis on team teaching and sustainable skills development in school
  • Support staff in their own professional development and enable them to get to ‘the next level’ of confidence in delivery
  • Enable class teachers and Music Subject Leaders to deliver instrumental learning in future years and create a sustainable programme for your school.

We want to support individual schools and teachers in a way that is bespoke and focused on specifically meeting your development needs and to take you to ‘your next level’ in terms of confidence to deliver music in school.

Some may be starting from scratch, others will have targeted objectives they want to work on – all will be discussed and planned with the individuals. We will work with you to design your programme and support you to increase your confidence to deliver instrumental and musical learning at a level that works for you and your pupils. The programme will be devised and planned together to create a sustainable programme for your school.

See the structure of sessions infographic below for an outline suggested structure for the Visiting Musician model. This is only a suggested structure and will be adapted depending on the staff skills and confidence at the start of the programme.

To purchase Classroom Instrumental Learning, please visit our Nexus page.

Next Steps – after Classroom Instrumental Learning

Free instrument loan offer

We want every child to be able to experience the joy of music and are offering a free instrument loan for children who have completed a programme of Classroom Instrumental Learning this year. As part of our ‘Next Steps’ programme, we can offer a free instrument loan for one year to pupils who are learning with a music teacher or attending a music club in the school setting – this could be during or out of school hours.

You are welcome to run a club yourselves or you could use your existing music teachers to access this offer – we encourage you to speak with them to see if they would like to deliver a demonstration or talk to your class about what it’s like to learn to play their instrument.

We want children to follow their own musical paths so giving a choice of instrument will set children on their journey of music and hopefully create a lifelong love of music. If you don’t currently have any music tuition happening in school, then do get in touch with us to see which local teachers we could put you in contact with.

What do I need to do now?

  • Speak to your staff and visiting music tutors about this free instrument offer for children who have completed Classroom Instrumental Learning.
  • Ask your staff if they could run a music club.
  • Ask your music tutors if they have capacity for more pupils and if they would like to do a demonstration about what they can offer to generate interest
  • Work with the tutor to send home a letter to parents with lesson information and ask for sign up via return slip
  • Liaise with the tutor about how many pupils they have gained for next term and how much time they will need
  • Ask if the music tutor would like to complete the instrument request form or complete this yourself if not – (you will need to complete a separate form for each instrument type).
  • Instruments will then be delivered to the school for the relevant pupils on a one-year free loan agreement.

To access this offer, we ask your Music Subject Lead, Headteacher or tuition provider to complete this ‘Next Steps’ Instrument loan request form.

Please note…

Your school must request the instrument(s) within one term of the ‘Classroom Instrumental Learning’ programme coming to an end.

The instrument(s) requested for the Next Steps initiative don’t have to be the same instrument the pupils are learning during the 10-week, whole-class Classroom Instrumental Learning programme. 

Whilst the instruments can go home between lessons, the person who completed the hire request remains ultimately responsible for them.

Safeguarding and DBS checks of private tutors is the responsibility of each school. If you would like any advice or guidance, or need help engaging instrumental tutors please contact us at dorsetmusicservice@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Pupils who have already hired an instrument for tuition will not be entitled to a refund in order to access the free offer.

Musical Next Steps – other pathways

We know that instrumental lessons aren’t the only pathway for pupils to follow when they want to take their ‘next steps’ on their musical journeys. We are working with schools and partners on a range of initiatives including virtual music technology clubs, inclusive and beginner groups in locality areas and supporting schools to develop their own ‘Next Steps’ provision.

Please contact us at dorsetmusicservice@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or make sure you attend your Locality Area Music Network meeting to find out how we can support you and your pupils.

For more information about Classroom Instrumental Learning and Next Steps, please contact us: