Launching App Skills Books
Reflecting on the launch of our App Skills books and evaluating their impact on music making through Youth Music Quality Framework.
We're delighted to announce the launch of our new App Skills Books — five iBooks packed full of video guides to help in delivering Music/Mobile Tech composition projects and music technology lessons. The books are free and can be downloaded from our resources page. They make a great compliment to the other free resources we have made available already.
The App Skills Books have been developed over the past six months. Based on project delivery from the Autumn term, they have been reviews and improved based on participant and setting staff feedback during the first five weeks of Spring term. As we launch these books, we wanted to share a little bit about the difference we've seen them make to the quality of music making taking place in Music/Mobile Tech sessions.
From the Youth Music Quality Framework:
E3: There are appropriate and sufficient materials and equipment to support the session
One clear, and immediate improvement that we've seen from making use of the App Skills books this term is that they have markedly improved the quality of the resources available to participants and setting staff in the sessions.
E4: The duration of contact time and depth of engagement are sufficient and appropriate to achieve the intended outcomes
With music leaders spending less time delivering skills training, we've also seen more time spent discussing musical understanding with participants. We've also seen setting staff able to more confidently assist in skills training, able to more actively engage in the sessions, learning alongside the young musicians taking part.
Y1: Music-making is placed within the wider context of the young musician’s life, with recognition of the young musician’s existing musical identity
S2: The musical process (and what is expected of young musicians) is clearly explained and demystified
S4: Young musicians are supported to progress their musical skills, and other skills through music
Y4: Feedback on young musician’s practice is given, with next steps for improvement made clear (though not necessarily through spoken instruction). Where possible the pathway for improvement is identified by the young musician and their peers
The improvement we've seen in these three areas is interlinked. With video guides available to participants, they are able to be more self-motivated and independent in the way they learn new skills; they can move at their own pace, building on their own musical experiences and existing skills; and they can identify pathways for improvement and development.
We've been so excited to use our new App Skills books this term, and we hope you will enjoy using them too.