The Perth & Kinross Instrumental Music Service (IMS) is very excited about returning to engage with pupils and is looking forward to re-establishing the wonderful music-making provisions and opportunities for our young musicians.
IMS staff were requested not to return to school at the very start of the new session to allow schools to organise the return of pupils in this new environment and to allow the IMS staff to receive training in order to deliver instrumental music to pupils in all future circumstances.
The amount of school contact has changed from one per week to one per day which will allow tutors greater opportunities of face to face engagement with pupils. IMS staff are presently completing their live online lesson training through Microsoft Teams. Tutors will be organising their timetables on the basis of visiting one school per day and will strive to deliver, where appropriate, face to face lessons to pupils. If this is not possible, in the interim, pupils will receive live online lessons at school supported by many of the digital learning methods and skills received earlier this year.
As I am sure you are aware the challenge of setting this up in all schools is vast. We are currently liaising with Head Teachers and Principal Teachers to discuss how learning will be best delivered in each school.
Please note there will be no playing of brass, wind instruments or singing by instructors or pupils until further government guidance is received. Pupils in this category will still receive prepared lessons to work on and will still meet face to face with tutors to discuss the lessons and future preparations. The relevant staff have been working very closely together to offer the best provision for pupils under these restrictions.
Perth & Kinross Instrumental Music Service has always strived to deliver top quality music provision provided by highly skilled staff using the best teaching techniques and methods of delivery available.
During the Covid pandemic Perth & Kinross Instrumental Music Service will continue to deliver top quality music provision using the best teaching techniques and methods of delivery available within the safety constraints and measures necessary in the present situation and circumstances. We will continue to review our provision in the light of government advice to allow us to maximise the personal interaction between IMS staff and their pupils in this evolving landscape.
Staff will be returning to schools to set up their timetables and confirm the best teaching areas week beginning 31 August. In the course of the week they will make contact with pupils and explain any new procedures.
Any pupils who have now left school and are still in possession of a Perth & Kinross instrument should return it to their school for the attention of their instructor. Please can you give the instrument and case a wipe with a suitable cleaner before handing over to school reception.
Details regarding formal applications for IMS lessons will be issued in due course.
All our staff, including our Admin Team, are currently still working from home and as yet do not have telephone access. Please accept our sincere apologies if you have tried to contacting us by telephone during the duration of the pandemic. We hope to return to the office as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact us on Musicservice@pkc.gov.uk where will we respond to you as soon as we can.
Kind Regards
Allan Young
Music Co-ordinator
Instrumental Music Service Update
