Support for Hub Partners post-Covid

During these challenging times, we have been working to consider how we can continue to support not only our school members, but also our community of music educators and freelance practitioners.

With schools now open and our colleagues navigating a very different educational landscape, we are committed to ensuring that music continues and that we continue to extend our support to the professionals that make the BCP Music Education Hub what it is.

Since the start of the pandemic, SoundStorm as lead partner of the Music Education Hub has wherever possible, responded in ways that has prioritised the support of our freelance community. What is however clear, is that tuition can still take place through online platforms and as a community of practice, we can respond and innovate and in doing so offer continued support to our schools and students.

Autumn Term

The return to schools has been welcomed by many but is not without concern. As a Hub partner, you will have been issued with an Individual Risk Assessment that you must complete before accepting any placement from us this term. It is important to note that schools will also be undertaking their own assessments which will guide exactly what we can and cannot do. At this early stage in the academic year, many have already postponed any inputs until October half-term however some, are cautiously welcoming us back, albeit with caveats.

Future-proofing our work

We are keen to enable our freelance community to confidently take their tuition online – many of you are already there. In addition, we are also looking at how Music Hub funding may, in the medium term, be diverted into developing a range of digital resources, live stream offers and a range of other remote inputs that can still support learning and the school music curriculum.

Supporting online practice

SoundStorm does not operate a peripatetic service. We are however keen to support you to promote your online private tuition offer, and enable you to protect this source of income. We have been collecting information from each of you and will compile this on a dedicated page that we will circulate to schools who may be looking for Hub endorsed practitioners. You will need to complete this form and return it to the email address listed at the bottom of the form.

Developing alternative digital provision

The response online from the music community, both locally and nationally has been impressive but at times, equally a little overwhelming. For the time being, Arts Council England have relaxed the Hub’s conditions of funding and given us some scope to explore new ways of working including the development of digital content. During Lockdown many of you developed a range of tuition videos and other digital resources. 

As custodians of public funds, we are still committed to quality assuring these new offers; new videos and learning materials will be branded centrally by the Hub. The content, format and style will also be discussed in advance to ensure we maintain the standards that SoundStorm and the BCP Hub are known for. We also appreciate that many of our practitioners continue to face very different challenges regarding technology, developing content and having the skills to confidently take on this new challenge.

Some initial steps you can take to prepare

• Choose a suitable space in your home for recording. Natural light with additional room lighting will improve the quality of your videos. South-facing rooms have worked well during the recent, sunny weather.
• Where possible, ensure the backdrop is neutral – remove personal effects to minimise any distractions.
• Consider scripting your lessons more than normal to aid fluency in front of the camera.
• Update any computers, tablets or other devices you may be considering using.
• Check your Internet bandwidth – the quality of live tuition and your ability to effectively upload recordings will be significantly impacted by this.

We suggest that the format for lessons will generally not exceed 15-20 minutes. Lessons might follow your normal structure but with reduced content.

Covid 19 Music Hub Partners Support Programme 

We have made available individual grants for our community of freelance practitioners aimed at supporting you to develop skills that will further your practice and that will enhance the work you do for the Music Education Hub for the benefit our community. This could include but is not limited to

• Online courses
• License fees for online platforms/resources
• Support with technology, including software or hardware purchases

Awards are discretionary and will where possible be paid directly to the supplier. Alternatively, if paid directly to you, we will need to have a copy of a receipt of purchase and will request an update regarding your progress.