Beyond the Beat
📄Beyond the Beat Service Specification
‘What I love about Beyond the Beat is that it gives children who would normally never get the chance, to play an instrument. The icing on the cake was last week’s concert and I’m sure the event will stay with those children for a long time. For children like Ellie who already play an instrument or two she was able to see how her skills could develop as she gets older.
I thought the performance last week was fantastic, it is clear how hard you have all worked; children and teachers!’
– Chair of Governors
What is Beyond the Beat?
Beyond the Beat is a fantastic provision proven to successfully engage children with learning and fostering enjoyment of playing traditional instruments (strings, brass and woodwind).
In addition to all children learning in a weekly small group instrumental lesson, everyone plays in a ‘band’ session each week, encouraging a love of playing together.
Unlike our Listen 2 Me or Class provisions, Beyond the Beat pupils are allocated an instrument which they are able to take home each week, to promote independent learning through practice during each week.
Who is it for?
Beyond the Beat whole class tuition is best suited to Year 4 or Year 5, with continuation models leading into Year 5 and 6. There are two models available – please see below for details.
What does HMS provide?
- A specialist teacher for each instrument family
- Full resources, including repertoire/tuition books
- Video and audio to support the learning
- Full sets of instruments supplied, which pupils are able to take home and practise during the week – at no extra cost.
How long does it last?
Model A –
Funded by the school, the whole class learns for the Autumn term, receiving a 30-minute lesson per week (1 hour total with the class split in half), and a 40-minute ensemble session. This culminates in an end of term concert where pupils are able to showcase their talents to their parents and carers, often alongside a live HMS band, or a band from linked secondary schools.
At the end of the Autumn term, pupils are given the opportunity to continue on their instruments, receiving a 20-minute lesson and a 40-minute ensemble session per week. This is then charged directly to parents with very little administration needed by the school.
Model B –
Funded by the school, an hour of class tuition is provided each week, usually split into two smaller groups of 30 minutes each, running for the whole year. Ensemble sessions are integrated throughout each term (usually every 3-4 weeks) to give pupils the opportunity to play all together. Pupils are supported with performance opportunities to parents or peers in an assembly to show off their learning.
How much does it cost?
Model A – (school funded) – £1,350 per class (Autumn term only), including 1 x hour tuition, a 40-minute ensemble session per class, all resources and instruments.
Direct to parent continuation cost – £38.50 per month (1 x 20 min lesson, plus 1 x 40 min ensemble session per week)
Model B – £2,028 per class (whole year), including 1 hour of provision each week, all resources and instruments.
For further information, please contact:
Greg Walker – Progression and Musical Development Lead – greg.walker@hants.gov.uk
‘When Andy came to the governing body a couple of years ago with the Beyond the Beat proposal, we all thought it sounded amazing and wanted to be involved. It has been great to be able to see the project first hand as a parent.
‘I wish you could have seen the joy on the children’s faces when they all brought their instruments out of the school that first day in September. To see a group of boys rushing out of school to sit on the field and show off their instruments was amazing. That evening I had a trombonist, clarinettist and a trumpeter in my house!’
– Chair of Governors
FAQs
Is it just one instrument family?
Each class learns a different instrument family from either brass, woodwind or strings. Schools are given a choice of which instruments they would like to request in order of preference, however this does depend on the availability of the specialist teachers and also instrument set availability.
Do the children decide what they learn?
Within each instrument family, our teachers will guide pupils onto the most suitable instrument for them, whilst also taking their preference into account. For example, clarinet players require fully formed front teeth, and trombonists may require slightly longer arms!
Do pupils have to pay extra to take their instrument home?
No! All instruments are provided as part of the Beyond the Beat provision – and the added bonus of being able to take them home is fantastic!
What happens if an instrument is broken etc?
Pupils sign a HMS loan agreement form before they are allowed to take their instruments home. Where damage is deemed to be non-fault, or wear and tear, HMS will replace this instrument. Where damage is found to be a result of lack of care or diligence, then HMS will pass on repair costs to parents.