Poor school music tuition - what should I do?

[antsinmypants]

DD has played piano since she was 6 and went to a primary school which excelled in music - she was also in the very good school choir there. She's now in year 9 in a secondary school where the head of music has been on long-term sickness absence for over a year. The substitute teacher seems hopeless - unlike most classes, it's not streamed, so there are a handful of kids like my daughter, who can already read music and play instruments, while the remainder have little previous knowledge and she says some are very disruptive..talking and preventing the others working. She tells me that the substitute teacher cannot control the disruptive elements and is often absent and then they have no work set and are just supervised by another non-music teacher. When the substitute music teacher is there, DD and her musical friends are sent off to another room to compose and play music themselves which they are then supposed to record and be assessed on - but they've had no assessment or recording of these pieces for some time. She has studied one composer; but has no book I can look at - everything is either on the school computer or worksheets which she says aren't kept. She would like to do GCSE music, but she and I are both worried that if this continues, she'll lose interest because she isn't being pushed or even being taught what she needs to learn now. She is continuing with the piano privately (doing grade 3 soon and studying theory). I'm not the only parent with concerns - only a handful of children are doing GCSE currently because of the poor provision in what is otherwise an excellent school and I've been talking to another mum who has already written to the school but who gave up and pulled her daughter out of GCSE. I'm going to see the headteacher, but could do with advice from other MNers about what DD should be having now and what I should ask for. Thanks. (Posted this on 'secondary' on Fri with no responses)

I went to a school that was in "special Measures" whilst I was doing my A levels and the music provision was much as you describe at this school. Up to year 9 lessons were a farce.
As I had instrument lesson , was able to read music and had private therory of music lesson for RSM therory exams I coped with it. I did GCSE music at this school and passed grade B.

Only a handful of my year did music and infact they only ran the group by getting sufficient numbers after too many elected to do PE and they were forced to choose music instead! Not the best group. However, the rough element soon stopped attending when i got a bit harder than switching on a keyboard to bang it for an hour! I was tought in a small group of musically minded - wouldn't go as far as talented! people and we all passed ranging from A* to G. I wouldn't worry about it not being streamed - its sort of self selecting really, if you have no ablilty you are less likely to choose to do the GCSE.

I would say have a word with the school abought your concerns.

I don't know how popular music is as a GCSE option but if they don't have a sufficient number they might not run it at all.

Would you consider for her to do music GCSE at a local FE college if the schools position does not improve?

hope that ramble helps!

Hi, I too went to a school that was rubbish for music (admittedly many years ago now) but the thing that really made a big difference for me was the extra curricular stuff - playing in bands and orchestras outside school. By lower 6th (that does date me doesn't it) I was out almost every evening playing with some ensemble or another and Saturday morning as well. The school was so useless - there were 4 of us who did CSE Music (I wasn't allowed to do O level) but I did go on to take A level (at local college) then Music at University. So much for school!!!
Does your local authority have any kind of provision, or a Saturday morning music centre scheme? Or is there a local amateur choir to sing with? Playing / singing with other people really encourages children to work harder at it, and it's so much more enjoyable.
If it turns out she's really keen on music, perhaps a different instrument, such as a clarinet or a cornet? This would expand the number of ensembles she can play with (local amateur ones as well as Council run schemes) though of course singing is as flexible as it comes! (And doesn't cost anything )
It sounds like you're doing the right thing though by starting with the headteacher, as your DD is not the only one missing out on an education in this. Good luck with it.

Message withdrawn

snorkle thats true - its roughly that mix - the third is aural/oral skills. ie name the instrument playing in this bit of the tape - really not too hard at all.

Thanks everyone. She is learning another instrument and does have the opportunity to play with others. I have A'level music myself so can help her. She wants to go into medicine, so will really need very high GCSE grades in whatever subjects she chooses, and cannot really afford to be with a poor teacher (all the others seem superb)...it annoys me to think that the time she's sitting in a class now is being wasted - and I'd like it to change before my other child, who is also musical, starts there next September.