Author: Abbie McCarthy

In October 2023, Orchestra ONE's Project 32, "Underwater Worlds," took participants on an immersive musical journey exploring oceanic themes.

We were thrilled in September 2023 when Theo Oakley, an 11-year-old student at our music lab in Folkestone, won the Remarkable Achievement Award at the prestigious Wards Childrens Awards. Theo, born blind due to Norrie Disease, was recognised for his exceptional skills in music.

Being a Music Lead is a job unlike any other, no matter your background, how experienced you are or what you play. Whether you’re wrangling whole classes, setting up extracurriculars or championing your subject with SLT, there’s a unique set of joys and challenges that come with the role.

In the coastal town of Whitstable on Kent’s North coast, St Alphege CE Infant School and Sunbeams Nursery stands as a beacon of creativity and artistic excellence. This remarkable institution has not only achieved Artsmark Platinum status but also proudly bears the Music Mark School recognition, setting a precedent for arts and music education.

The transition for pupils as they move from primary to secondary education can be tough. Especially when it comes to music education, the difference in the environment can be stark and at worst can impact on students’ progression and desire to continue engaging with music. However, that doesn’t have to be the case! We were delighted to speak with Emily Renshaw-Kidd, Director of Music at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, about the school and how she approaches the transition period and supports a thriving music education environment in and out of school.

Every year Kent Music offers all schools in Kent the chance to access Funded Opportunities to support music education. From memberships to ensemble leaders and WCIT, there are lots of options for schools. One unique opportunity which Kent Music provide is Bespoke Support, an opportunity to work with a member of the Kent Music team to drive the development of music in your school.

Singing is one of the most enjoyable and accessible forms of music-making for children and young people. Not only is it a lot of fun, but it also provides a host of benefits that can positively impact their development and well-being.

This month we chatted to Emma Higgins, music lead at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Northfleet. Emma was subject to an Ofsted deep dive in music this year. We took the opportunity to quiz her about her experience in order to inform and guide us when carrying out Music Health Checks. Some schools have requested these in order to ensure they are fully prepared should they receive ‘The Call’.

Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Maidstone have been embracing QR code technology to share their musical performances. Lead Teacher for Music, Georgina Kershaw tells us how they create a QR ‘buzz’.