Totally Music: 2024 – 2025
The new ‘Totally Music’ offer for academic year 2024 – 2025 is now available. To find out more and place your order visit the dedicated Totally Music Web Page.
Instrumental Festivals 2025
Booking is now open: Find out more …..
Partners for your school
The Music Service aims to support schools through its work with our partners. The following partners can help in the following ways:
1.
MK Music Service
Through its ‘Totally Music’ programme the Music Service provides strategic support to schools that wish to develop and audit their music education.
The MK Music Service offer
- Curriculum Projects delivered by MK Music Service teachers for Reception – Year 6
- developing school singing strategies
- opportunities for large-scale performances.
2.
Music Co-op
The Music Co-op is a key partner of the Music Service and has around 65 instrumental teachers as members teaching a range of instruments. Schools can find out more about this contacting them directly at mkmusiccoop@gmail.com or telephone 01908 699052.
To inspire your students, we have produced some videos demonstrating different instrument groups:
Brass Instruments
Woodwind Instruments
String Instruments
Guitar
3.
Music Mark
Our Vision – On behalf of our membership, we lobby for and support high-quality music education for all children and young people.
Music Mark is a membership organisation, subject association and charity. Our membership consists of Music Education Services and Hubs, their teaching and support teams; schools; individuals; NYMOS; HE/FE bodies; Hub and Corporate Partners.
On behalf of our members, partners and the wider sector, Music Mark lobbies for, and champions, a government supported, high-quality, music education provision for all school aged children and young people which addresses diversity, equity and inclusion at its core.
Schools may wish to celebrate their music education provision for pupils by applying for membership of Music Mark.
Music Mark membership is awarded to schools that demonstrate a high-quality music provision for pupils. Schools can apply to the Music Service for Music Mark membership and if their provision satisfies a set of criteria Music Mark membership is awarded.
The MK Music Service has awarded Music Mark membership to 6 schools, Congratulations to:
Ousedale School
Shenley Brook End School
New Bradwell
The Premier Academy
Great Linford Primary
Bushfield School
Music Mark schools have met the following criteria:
- evidence of a willingness to engage in development conversations related to improving music provision
- recognition of the value of music education as part of a broad and balanced curriculum
- a strategy for music in place which provides for all children
What is the National Plan for Music Education
Inclusion
Dfe National Plan for Music Education
Core roles for a Music Service in partnership with schools
a) Ensure that every child aged 5-18 has the oppportunity to learn a musical instrument through weekly whole-class ensemble teaching programmes for a minimum of a term.
b) Provide opportunities to play in ensembles and to perform from an early age.
c) Ensure that clear progression routes are available and affordable to all young people.
d) Develop a singing strategy to ensure that every pupil sings regularly and that choirs and other vocal ensembles are available in the area.
Extension Roles
a) Offer CPD to school staff, particularly in supporting schools to deliver music in the curriculum.
b) Provide an instrument loan service, with discounts or free provision to those on low incomes.
c) Provide access to large scale and/or high quality music experiences for pupils, working with professional musicians and/or venues. This may include undertaking work to publicise the opportunities available to schools, parents and students.
The MK Music Service can help – contact us for more information.
More Information | Whats on?
Instruments for Schools
Milton Keynes Music Service, part of BLMK Music Hub, is offering schools the opportunity to refresh their school percussion instrument supply.
This is funded through a Capital Grant awarded to Hubs by the DfE.
Initially schools already engaging with the Hub will be given priority, but all schools should get the chance to acquire some instruments by the end of the Capital Grant period.
If you think your school is eligible, please browse through the instruments on offer using the link below, then access the application form to answer a few short questions and identify the pack of instruments you would be interested in for your school.
Develop your Music Curriculum
Naxos Music Library - Free Resource
The library offers a really useful resource called the Naxos Music Library and Naxos Music Box. Both can be accessed for free with a valid library card https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/libraries/elibrary#Naxos
You can also access it online.
https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/libraries/about-libraries/join-the-library#Online
Demonstration Videos
Below are links to a series of videos we have put together which show children some of the instruments they could learn. We hope that these will be a useful teaching resource for teachers in years 1-6 as well as a way of promoting the playing of an instrument.
Brass Instruments
Woodwind Instruments
String Instruments
Guitar
Visit the Resources for schools page for links to worksheets to accompany the videos.
An interesting article from the Guardian Newspaper
How to improve the school results: not extra maths but music, loads of it…
Read about how a school in Bradford transformed their SATs results with music.
Underground Music Project
Underground Tuesday encourages young people to come together and make music with a view to increasing their musical skills and also nurturing their personal and social development. Sessions are led by the young people’s own musical interest and are run by a Youth Worker in partnership with tutors from the MK Music Service.
Open to young people aged 13-19 with an interest in music (referral needed).
Young people can use their own instruments. If they don’t already own an instrument a loan can be organised.
Changing Tracks
MK Music Service is working alongside Changing Tracks – a programme of peer support and learning for and with Music Services wanting to improve equality, diversity and inclusion.
We are working hard to improve equality, inclusion and diversity. We have drawn up a strategy together with other Music Services in the eastern region, which maps out our aims over the next four years.
CPD Opportunities
As part of our work in supporting schools to deliver a broad and inspiring music curriculum the Milton Keynes Music Service is running 3 sessions of free CPD this year.
Autumn term 2024 – MU1G (free of charge)
Shaping Progression within the Model Music Curriculum
During this session colleagues will:
• Examine the relationship between the intention and impact of musical activities.
• Explore the interdependent pillars of progression- technical, constructive and expressive.
• View and take part in activities that high-light how progression can be built into a musical curriculum.
Spring term 2025 – MU1G (free of charge) Music Deep Dives and Navigating the Personal Development Section of an Ofsted Inspection
During this meeting colleagues will be assisted in beginning to prepare for an Ofsted Deep Dive in Music. We will also discuss the Personal Development section of the Ofsted inspection and what should be in place musically for schools for schools to receive a favourable judgement.
Summer term 2025 – MU1G (free of charge) Listening – Linking Repertoire and Curriculum
Although listening to repertoire has always been an important part of the National Curriculum, the publication of the Model Music Curriculum has emphasised this further. At this meeting we will look at how listening activities can enhance your music provision; how links can be made with other subject areas and available resources.
Attendance is free for primary school teachers
Dates and venues will be confirmed at a later date.
Instrumental Festivals 2025
Instrumental Festivals – 4th and 5th March 2025
4th March
String Festival (9.15am to 12.30pm) and Guitar Festival (1.30pm to 3.00pm)
5th March
Woodwind and Brass Festival (9.15am to 12.30pm)
These events will take place at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone
More information and how to book:
https://miltonkeynesmusicservice.com/instrumental-festivals-2025/
Primary Music Festival 2025
KS1 – Morning Festival – Wednesday 18 June 2025: 10am to 11.15am
KS1 – Afternoon Festival – Wednesday 18 June 2025: 1.15pm to 2.30pm
KS2 – Afternoon Festival – Tuesday 17 June 2025: 1.15pm to 2.30pm
At The Ridgeway Centre, Wolverton Mill, MK12 5TH
More information and how to book will be available here nearer the time.
Primary Schools’ Music Festival – Milton Keynes Music Education Hub (miltonkeynesmusichub.co.uk)
Places for this popular event will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Instrumental Jamboree 2025
The Ridgeway Centre, Wolverton Mill, MK12 5TH
17 June 2025 – 9.30am to 11.00am
A performance opportunity for Year 4 students who take part in our year-long music projects in MK schools and have been put forward by their Music Faculty Instrumental teacher to take part.
Places for this popular event will be by invitation and allocated on a first come first served basis.
Free singing event - virtual video Primary Music Festival 2021
The countdown is on! The finished video is available from 23rd June 2021 at 2pm! Use this link to watch the MK Primary Music Festival 2021!
Network meetings
Check here for Network meeting dates
| SEN Meetings 3.45pm to 5pm |
7 Oct 24 / 3 Mar 25 / 12 May 25 |
| Subject Leader Meetings 3.45pm to 5pm |
24 Sept 24 / 22 Jan 25 / 14 May 25 |
| Secondary Heads of Music 2pm to 4pm |
3 Oct 24 / 16 Jan 25 |
Events for schools
4 & 5 Mar 25 – Instrumental Festivals
22/23/24 April 25 – Roadshows in schools
8 May 25 – Infant Celebration Concert
17 June 25 – Instrument Jamboree
17/18 June 25 – Primary Music Festivals
Instrumental Festivals 2024
Booking is now closed and no further entries will be accepted
Primary Schools’ Instrumental Festivals 2024
Primary Schools’ Singing Festivals 2024
Booking is now closed and no further entries will be accepted
Festival Information
Showcasing MK Schools
- Women’s Euro 2022 MK Music Service recently partnered with the Royal Philharmonic Orchesra to offer students in MK schools the chance to help create a new anthem for Milton Keynes!
The workshops were very well received … “Yesterday was an absolute privilege! The musicians were incredible and our Y5 children were in absolute rapture listening to their instrumental introductions and taking part in the composition. Thank you so much for allowing us to take part in this opportunity.” ….”Just wanted to pass on our thanks for yesterday’s workshop. The students have been talking about it every time I’ve seen them and they thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was so valuable for them to get some compositional tips from a ‘real life professional’ and inspirational for them to meet and listen to the musicians. Thanks again!”Following on from the workshops …. MK’s very own anthem ‘Our Time is Now’ has been written with the Royal Philharmonic, composer Charlotte Harding, MK Music Service and local communities. A joyous tune, celebrating all that is special about MK, including our infamous concrete cows, the code breakers and yes – our new city status! Pupils from Cold Harbour School will be performing the new anthem alongside The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, MK Brass, MK Youth Choir and MK Community Choir at the Fan Party, Station Square on Wenesday 27th July 2022.
- Two Mile Ash School kept the music going during lockdown and recorded a virtual choir performance of ‘Stronger Together’ involving staff and families in an effort to bring people together.Two Mile Ash School – Stronger Together
Get in touch
Milton Keynes Music Service
Community Learning MK
Contact us by Email: music@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Opening hours: M-T: 9am - 5pm | F: 9am-4.30pm