Partner and upskill

The value of partnership for your orchestra

Schools

Most schools start their Open Orchestra with the support of a Music Hub or Arts Organisation. 

Having the support of a Music Leader from a Music Hub or Arts Organisation to deliver your sessions will give you confidence, and plenty of creative music-making ideas. The Music Leader will learn a lot from you too!

You have all the knowledge about your students and how to support them in the orchestra. Together you’ll get the orchestra up and running.

Music Hubs

 Supporting an Open Orchestra is the perfect way to support your special schools and deliver the National Plan for Music Education. 

It’s a bespoke programme which trains your staff and opens up musical opportunity in the school. It’s all about working inclusively and building partnerships that last.

Your biggest commitment is providing a Music Leader to support the orchestra. They can share their musical know how with the school staff but also gain knowledge from them about how orchestra participants learn and access music. Your staff can apply what they learn through delivering Open Orchestras to other areas of their work.

Picture of a smiling young musician playing keyboard with a teacher by his side
Three young musicians discovering and playing the Clarion.

Arts Organisations

Open Orchestras is the perfect fit for organisations who want to take their inclusion work further.

Co-delivering an Open Orchestra will take your practitioners’ skills to the next level. You’ll be building an orchestra made up of musicians with a wide range of interests and abilities – but all with the goal of performing together.

You will learn how to incorporate electronic instruments like Clarion into your sessions and how to combine them with more traditional instruments like guitars and drums.

What orchestra leaders and teachers say

“It felt good that there is clearly a strong and dedicated team available to us in the event of any questions or problems. I felt it also gave me a greater understanding of the bigger picture, and just how different Open Orchestra and music teaching in general can be from one school to the next.”

Orchestra Leader, Linwood Open Orchestra

“The programme has created new opportunities for many and opened so many doors to the musical possibilities available, particularly with regards to music technology. It is enabling our pupils to explore, and inspiring them to achieve.”

Orchestra Leader, Chadsgrove Open Orchestra

“Our students throughout the age range have found Open Orchestras inspirational, and many have managed to play quite challenging instruments such as saxophone and flute. Progress has been enormous – and not just musically. Our children have grown in confidence, and love having such a different set of experiences.” 

Head Teacher, Garratt Park Primary School Open Orchestra

“Open Orchestra is so beneficial to all of our pupils. They really look forward to it and it has improved their communication skills, ability to work as a team and ability to listen to others. It is heart-warming to see the students come out of their shell and have fun playing music.”

Orchestra Leader, Westfield Arts College Open Orchestra

“Open Orchestra was mentioned in our recent Ofsted report as something the students are excited to participate in. Whatever happens musically at the Orchestra session, we always have a lot of fun.”

Orchestra Leader, Mountjoy School Open Orchestra

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