Nearly 10,000 instrumental and vocal lessons have been taught online by Enfield Music Service who had to rapidly adapt their teaching in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 1,000 pupils received up to 10 lessons online during the summer school term and the Service also ran eight of its Saturday Music Centre Ensembles, with a combination of weekly videos to follow from home and live rehearsals with tutors.
Enfield Music Service, which receives public funding from Arts Council England, had never taught lessons or run rehearsals online before, so it was a real challenge for all.
Cllr Rick Jewell, who represents the Council on Enfield’s Music Education Hub Board and is the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “All the staff and tutors have worked incredibly hard to keep providing lessons and activities for children and young people across the borough. This included children eligible for free school meals and looked after children who were still supported during widespread school closures. Enfield Music Service responded quickly and professionally to make sure all these young people and children could continue to get access to music.
“As we all know, music not only enhances children’s educational abilities. It is also incredibly important for emotional and mental wellbeing. Enfield has a wealth of talent and I am proud to say we have been able to continue to support our young musicians and vocalists during a very difficult period.”
On top of the lessons, Enfield Music Service ran its annual piano competition online and had its best ever response for entries. They also funded daily online body percussion sessions, exclusively for Enfield pupils during May and June and collated general music resources for school pupils via the Schools Hub.
Next term, almost all ensemble activities – 18 in all including bands, orchestras, the Music Club, Saturday Singers and theory classes – will continue to run online. Some individual lessons will be able to resume in person from September and some of the wider school provisions, such as whole class instrumental lessons, will also be restarting.
To find out more, you can follow Enfield Music Service on Facebook @EnfieldMusicService or on Twitter @EnfieldEMS. Lessons and group activities can be booked online via the Music Store. FAQs, including information on group sessions can be found here .