THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND PROJECT
The middle school band project combines a four-year immersive ensemble curriculum with weekly 2to1 or 1to1 instrumental lessons on a big band, wind band or string instrument. A deliberately authentic approach to learning, making and knowing music together, combined with tailored, technical tuition sustained over time, make it a unique and powerful education model for young musicians. Most important of all, the project is inclusive of everyone.
What's The Middle School Band Project Journey?
Years One & Two
Students begin the project at the start of Y5 (aged 9) by taking part in a short set of taster sessions co-led by the core music team, and an expert team of 12 instrumental teachers. Following these immersive workshops, they each vote for up to three preferred instruments to study for a minimum of two years as part of the programme. From here, the music team allocate an instrument to each child and they are organised into their ensembles (see above for instrument distribution across the ensembles). The ensemble types are specifically chosen to offer an authentic experience of being a professional participant in one of these set-ups and to allow for a broad range of music making experiences.
Students begin the project at the start of Y5 (aged 9) by taking part in a short set of taster sessions co-led by the core music team, and an expert team of 12 instrumental teachers. Following these immersive workshops, they each vote for up to three preferred instruments to study for a minimum of two years as part of the programme. From here, the music team allocate an instrument to each child and they are organised into their ensembles (see above for instrument distribution across the ensembles). The ensemble types are specifically chosen to offer an authentic experience of being a professional participant in one of these set-ups and to allow for a broad range of music making experiences.
During the first two years of the project, students receive a combination of 1to1 or 2to1 weekly instrumental lessons (30mins per week) with an expert teacher, and an 80-100minute weekly curriculum ensemble lesson, in which they explore both the technical and creative facets that one experiences as an ensemble musician. A typical ensemble lesson will involve warm-up exercises for the body and/or instrument, including sound painting (explore this pedagogy here- http://www.soundpainting.com/soundpainting/), sectional rehearsals with their instrumental teacher and specific instrument section (ie, trumpets or brass section), and whole ensemble, conductor led rehearsals, in which they play alongside their teachers from week 1 of the project. The process is designed to reflect a professional rehearsal set-up, with the necessary scaffolds and supports in place to help students learn well and create music with confidence.
The pieces, styles and projects students explore in these lessons, which range from film music and famous classical works, to improvised blues, jazz and pop arrangements, culminate in three distinct community based performance moments across the year: The Festival of Light Concert Series, The Tea Party Recital, and The Band Project Gala Concert. Each concert has a different feel and purpose, celebrating the students in their class bands, as part of a united symphony orchestra, as soloists and as small ensemble musicians, depending on the occasion and focus for the term.
The pieces, styles and projects students explore in these lessons, which range from film music and famous classical works, to improvised blues, jazz and pop arrangements, culminate in three distinct community based performance moments across the year: The Festival of Light Concert Series, The Tea Party Recital, and The Band Project Gala Concert. Each concert has a different feel and purpose, celebrating the students in their class bands, as part of a united symphony orchestra, as soloists and as small ensemble musicians, depending on the occasion and focus for the term.
Year 3
In Y7, students can opt into the band project scholarship programme, which runs in addition to 100minutes per week of more typical curriculum music (although this time is also designed to engage students in rich, authentic and purposeful projects). As part of this, they continue to receive weekly instrumental lessons (making a financial contribution where possible) with their expert teacher, and a two hour weekly curriculum project experience, in which they develop further the skills previously worked on in Y5/6. During this year, students are encouraged to take accredited exams, if that is a motivating path for them as individual musicians, and to be role models and ambassadors for the project. Projects for the Y7 scholars have included crafting an 8minute 'Homecoming' band sequence inspired by Beyonce's 2019 Coachella performance, and a collaborative composition of a symphonic fairytale for full orchestra, re-imagining the music for Peter & The Wolf, originally written by Segei Prokofiev. Explore some excerpts here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-ZSKVf_G2GxSwTieoEWmdT3lqMsKuLFb/view?usp=sharing
In Y7, students can opt into the band project scholarship programme, which runs in addition to 100minutes per week of more typical curriculum music (although this time is also designed to engage students in rich, authentic and purposeful projects). As part of this, they continue to receive weekly instrumental lessons (making a financial contribution where possible) with their expert teacher, and a two hour weekly curriculum project experience, in which they develop further the skills previously worked on in Y5/6. During this year, students are encouraged to take accredited exams, if that is a motivating path for them as individual musicians, and to be role models and ambassadors for the project. Projects for the Y7 scholars have included crafting an 8minute 'Homecoming' band sequence inspired by Beyonce's 2019 Coachella performance, and a collaborative composition of a symphonic fairytale for full orchestra, re-imagining the music for Peter & The Wolf, originally written by Segei Prokofiev. Explore some excerpts here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-ZSKVf_G2GxSwTieoEWmdT3lqMsKuLFb/view?usp=sharing
Year 4
In Y8, we review our scholarship programme participants, and welcome new additions who have joined us in Y7 and made exceptional progress in general music lessons. Students now participating in their fourth year of the band project are classified as senior music scholars, and expected to uphold the highest standards of conduct, both as ensemble and individual musicians, and as ambassadors for music and the band project. The creative experience continues, with students developing further, not only within projects, but through extra- curricular ensembles, which they are expected to be a part of as part of their scholarship role. Year 8 band project scholars also have a special role in supporting students in the band project lower down the school, through modelling good practice habits, making peer support videos on their instrument, and playing alongside younger musicians in concerts.
Beyond Y8 we aim to expand the programme into the Secondary phase of the school, so watch this space!...
In Y8, we review our scholarship programme participants, and welcome new additions who have joined us in Y7 and made exceptional progress in general music lessons. Students now participating in their fourth year of the band project are classified as senior music scholars, and expected to uphold the highest standards of conduct, both as ensemble and individual musicians, and as ambassadors for music and the band project. The creative experience continues, with students developing further, not only within projects, but through extra- curricular ensembles, which they are expected to be a part of as part of their scholarship role. Year 8 band project scholars also have a special role in supporting students in the band project lower down the school, through modelling good practice habits, making peer support videos on their instrument, and playing alongside younger musicians in concerts.
Beyond Y8 we aim to expand the programme into the Secondary phase of the school, so watch this space!...