In Harmony Telford and Stoke on Trent
In Harmony is a social development programme that aims to inspire and develop active, sustainable and cohesive communities using the power and disciplines of community-based orchestral music-making and learning.
In Harmony
In 2012, Arts Council England awarded funding to six organisations (Liverpool Philharmonic, Opera North, Sage Gateshead, Nottingham Music Service, Telford & Wrekin Music and Lambeth Council/Southbank) to run In Harmony projects in some of the most deprived areas of England.
In Harmony is based on the Venezuelan programme El Sistema – which produced the world famous Simon Bolivar Orchestra and is credited with steering young people away from involvement in drugs and crime, and uniting whole communities around the young people’s orchestral playing. The El Sistema programme asserts that playing in an orchestra develops a sense of loyalty and commitment, responsibility, self-esteem, confidence, teamwork and leadership.
In Harmony projects use the power of music-making to enthuse and motivate ‘at-risk’ children, families and communities so that:
- children improve their skills, attainment and ‘life-chances’
- families improve their well-being
- Communities improve their cohesion and mutual respect.
The In Harmony programmes funded jointly by the Department for Education and Arts Council England.
In Harmony Telford & Stoke on Trent
In Harmony Telford Stoke from In Harmony - Telford & Stoke on Vimeo.
Our programme delivery partners are:– Telford & Wrekin Music, Stoke City Music Service, CBSO, Manchester Camerata, Arts Connect West Midlands (Arts Council Regional Bridge organisation).
Our partner schools – Stoke on Trent: Heron Cross Primary School Telford: - Old Park Primary School and Phoenix Academy.
A joint delivery team of music service teachers, professional orchestral musicians and classroom school teachers which plans delivers and assesses pupil progress together supported by an online lesson planning tool which can be used in the classroom, on mobile devices and at home.
Bringing together on a daily basis in the classroom shared teaching approaches from music service teachers, professional orchestral musicians and classroom teachers into one joint delivery team working together in the classroom using reflective learning journals as they go to gather learning and reflections of our delivery team which will feed into their future planning as a delivery team.
Our In Harmony programme works with children, parents, young carers from early years into secondary school in Stoke on Trent and Telford. Last year over 350 pupils gained an Arts Award qualification and we have built in Children’s University to help recognise and celebrate our young people’s achievements.
Our delivery includes In Harmony breakfast clubs, lunchtime clubs, after school clubs, in school music provision, young people as peer mentors, KS2/KS3 summer schools, parent music lessons, concert visits, performance and recording opportunities such as performing at Southbank Centre, Bridgwater Hall with Nicola Benedetti, Symphony Hall and the Pan American Games in Toronto in July 2015. An apprenticeship programme, in partnership with the Birmingham Conservatoire, supporting students gain experience through 6 month work placements on the programme and mentoring support.
- 30% of our pupils have additional physical, mental and / or communication needs
- 45% of our pupils are on free school meals.
So far we have levered partnership investment from schools, Police Commissioner funding, local council, EU Culture funding, lottery funding, trust / foundation funding and commercial sponsorship.
Cosmic Dances, CBSO In Harmony Programme from In Harmony - Telford & Stoke on Vimeo.
In Harmony national findings so far...
The In Harmony National Evaluation Report by National Foundation for Education Research is telling us so far that:-
“In Harmony appears to be enhancing pupils’ social and emotional wellbeing and encouraging positive attitudes and dispositions towards learning. In terms of pupils’ wellbeing, case-study school staff, children parents and delivery teams all highlighted enhancements that they attributed to children’s involvement in In Harmony. These included developments in children’s self-esteem, self- confidence, self-belief, and sense of pride and achievement. Interviewees commented that In Harmony provided new opportunities for children to achieve, irrespective of academic ability.”
“As well as social and emotional growth, pupils were also reported to be developing positive attitudes and dispositions towards learning, in both in In Harmony provision and in other lessons at school. Several teachers, In Harmony providers and parents identified children’s enhanced enthusiasm for learning, being eager to participate, trying a lot harder, listening well, and being more prepared to get on with their work. Many of the pupils we interviewed noted enhancements to their learning.”
“In terms of the outcome indicators that this evaluation is investigating, the case studies suggest that In Harmony is making progress towards the following: enhancing children’s musical enjoyment and musical skills; enhancing children’s social and emotional wellbeing and improving their attitudes to learning; enhancing parents’ pride and confidence that their children can succeed; and enhancing teachers’ expectations of their pupils.”
Old Park Primary, Telford, School OFSTED Report Comments
"Pupils who are eligible for support through the pupil premium also make at least as good progress as others. The school uses the money to fund projects with a focus on improving attendance and developing learning skills. For example, daily nurture group sessions increase pupils’ willingness to come to school and pupils develop skills, co-ordination and concentration through music in brass ensemble sessions."
You can follow In Harmony Telford and Stoke on Trent on twitter.
https://twitter.com/inharmonyts
In Harmony BBC Midlands Today from In Harmony - Telford & Stoke on Vimeo.