Band

Musitrax Band (Wind or Strings) is a development of SoundStart which provides an opportunity for schools and music services as well as class teachers and instrumental tutors to work together to provide a rich musical experience for whole classes of children. It has been carefully designed to fulfil the Government’s pledge to offer every child the chance to learn an instrument. The project has a proud track record, and has been adopted by many LA music services in the United Kingdom.

The positive benefits for the children, teachers, schools and music services are incalculable and well documented. The support of the school, class teacher or teaching assistant is vital for its success. The better prepared the pupils are musically, the greater will be the standards achieved.

Musitrax Band:
• is a new way of teaching music to whole classes
• combines the National Curriculum with instrumental tuition on band or string instruments
• is taught by team of 2-3 Instrumental Specialists and the Class Teacher
• takes one hour per week in school time, with opportunities for extra practice
• provides a one-year complete musical experience for Year 4
• ensures a balance of instrumentation
• provides intensive Professional Development for both Instrumental and Class teachers
• puts the ensemble experience at the heart of learning music
• caters for a variety of learning styles, incorporating composition, improvisation, memorisation, written work, allowing most pupils to succeed at some level
• motivates pupils through peer support and performing
• allows some pupils to reach the highest levels

Children like Musitrax Band because
• they can make music together
• they perform in public, in and out of school
• they learn with their friends
• they are not a minority

Schools like Musitrax Band because
• it gives music a high status in the school
• it is cost effective
• it results in improved pupil behaviour, attendance and achievement
• it provides a ready-made ensemble to perform at school concerts
• through staff training, it improves the quality of music provision in the National Curriculum
• it has proved to be fully replicable and sustainable in the long term

After Musitrax Band
Lambeth Music Service, together with the school will develop a plan for pupils who wish to continue learning and present it to parents during the Musitrax Band year. This will include a policy for funding continuing pupils, and providing instruments, music and ensemble opportunities for pupils to continue in small group/individual tuition. Children who have achieved basic musical skills by Year 5 will be able to make effective choices about whether to study an instrument.
A programme of group tuition, local and borough-wide ensembles, instrument loans and purchase schemes will support them. This will include many genres and types of ensemble, including vocal groups, rock bands, wind bands, percussion ensembles, string ensembles and orchestras.