This year’s concert will be held on the 1^st July, and marks a triumphant comeback for the bi-annual event, which has become a cherished highlight in Leeds’ cultural calendar. Designed to showcase the talent and hard work of children from both primary and secondary schools, the evening will be a true testament to the power of music in bringing people together. You can see the highlights to the 2023 concert here.

A Stage for Young Talent

The concert offers pupils a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on the iconic Leeds Arena stage. From choral pieces and orchestral arrangements to energetic instrumental ensembles, the programme will highlight the diversity and creativity of music education in Leeds.

Over 80 Schools United by Music

With participation from more than 80 schools, the concert is a unique demonstration of unity and collaboration. A teacher involved in the previous concert shared: “This concert is about so much more than just the music. It’s about confidence, teamwork, and creating memories that these children will carry with them for a lifetime. Seeing them perform at such a prestigious venue is nothing short of magical.”

Community at its Heart

The Celebration Concert isn’t just about the performers – it’s also a chance for families, friends, and the wider Leeds community to come together and support young people. The City of Leeds Youth music groups will be returning along with ArtForms Music Centres.

Sarah Crowley, event coordinator for ArtForms said “We are thrilled to bring the Celebration Concert back to the Leeds Arena, and this year’s event is bigger than ever. Music has an incredible ability to bring people together, and we’re so proud to see how this concert reflects the spirit and talent of our city’s young people.”

Tickets for the event are expected to sell quickly, so be sure to secure yours when they come on sale soon via the ArtForms website and Leeds arena website, to witness this unforgettable celebration of music, community, and the next generation of talent.

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact wymh.artforms@leeds.gov.uk.

From September 2024 the West Yorkshire Music Hub replaces LMEP.

Although this funding goes some way to supporting extra music provision, we recognise that for some schools budgets are still very tight and more funding is needed to help deliver quality musical experiences. With this in mind, we have conducted a funding review to direct schools to find external funding streams. This is now on our website Funding Review (artformsleeds.co.uk)

We hope you find this information useful and feel encouraged to apply for further resources to enhance you music opportunities in school.

Please check the links to each website for further details of eligibility and how to apply, checking for any changes that may be made after publication of this report. West Yorkshire Music Hub cannot accept responsibility for any errors or changes made to the funds further to publication of this report.

Sarah Truscott – Assistant Head, ArtForms (WYMH)

Friday 17th May
9:00-3:00
Pudsey Civic Hall

Music Connect is our programme of curriculum support for music leaders in all Leeds schools.  The termly Music Leaders Network is an important part of Music Connect, bringing music leaders together from primary schools across Leeds to share experiences and discuss the latest developments in music education.

Since the start of the pandemic our network meetings moved online, increasing attendance due to the convenience of accessing a twilight session from school or home.  However, we really value face to face events for Music Leaders to truly network which is why we have created the new conference.

This year the conference will include –

An Ofsted Deep Dive panel discussion sharing experiences from Joe Barton, CEO of the LEODIS trust and an Ofsted inspector, Yvonna Georghiou, Music Lead at Otley St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and Annie Bradbury, Music Lead at Cockburn Haigh Road Academy.

There will also be workshops from –

• Sue Nicholls – A Fresh Look at Composition for key stages 1&2.  Sue is a vastly experienced music teacher who works nationwide as a music education consultant delivering workshops, seminars, keynotes and CPD as well as being published author for Collins (Music Express) and OUP.
• Sing Up – Sharon Durrant from https://www.singup.org will explore the new Sing Up curriculum and provide Music Leaders with free access to resources that can be shared with the non-specialist Music teachers in their school.
• Musical Futures – Fran Hannan from www.musicalfuturesonline.org will lead an interactive session on the chair drumming resources from their free resource library which attendees can use with both their classes and share with colleagues.

Music Connect receives funding from LMEP which enables ArtForms to offer the programme to Leeds Schools and Academies at no charge.

Sign up here – Primary Music Leaders Conference.

For more information please email Sam.Mercer@leeds.gov.uk

Sam Mercer – Music Curriculum Support Manager, ArtForms

The process can include a look at:

• Planning
• Resources
• Staff CPD
• Inclusion and SEND support
• Assessment
• Live music and visiting artists
• Non-curricular music
• Performances and events
• Documentation
• OFSTED preparation

We are able to offer support and advice or sometimes just a second pair of eyes to look over it all! If you would like to book in a review meeting at your school, please send an email to educ.artforms@leeds.gov.uk.

Lee Muncaster, Senior Curriculum Leader, ArtForms

On Friday 22^nd March Music Connect, led by ArtForms, will host our seventh annual Little Sing for Key Stage 1.  This is an immersive Musical Experience for children where they are the performers as well as the audience.

This year we have a countryside/woodland theme where children will meet the animals that are to be found in the British countryside through lots of Key Stage 1 appropriate, songs and activities.  There will be a band made up of our brilliant ArtForms Music teachers who present the activities and lead and accompany the songs.

The children always love the session of singing, playing instruments and moving as do the adults who attend.

Here’s what some of the schools had to say about last year’s Little Sing which was called Jump Into The Jungle –

‘Thank you so much for the Little Sing last week. The children got back on the coach singing ‘Jump into the Jungle’ and we sang two of the songs to start my class music session on Tuesday. The work that had gone into it from your side was phenomenal, so please say thank you to everyone involved from us at Five Lanes!’

Kids could all join in at their own level – it wasn’t about getting it perfect.  A good fun and free feel, made making music fun – so important!  Kirkstall Valley

‘It was engaging for the children and the costumes and props were fantastic. A good mix of sitting down and standing up and moving about so that the children didn’t get restless.’  Harehills Primary

Book your tickets here –

10:00-11:00 – https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/artforms-music-service/t-krllpen

Or

1:00-2:00 – https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/artforms-music-service/t-nozzvmg

Maximum ticket allocation is one full KS1 year group per school.

For more information please email sam.mercer@leeds.gov.uk

Music Champion School status is awarded to any schools in Leeds who have made a significant impact on their pupils’ lives through their music offer and who have an outstanding commitment to music education. Recipients of the award receive a Music Mark membership (the strategic lead organisation in the UK for Music Education), a framed certificate, a large outdoor banner and a digital Music Champion logo to include on all school publicity. Champion Schools also have access to other music events and workshops provided by our partners during the year. This year, we will be inviting successful schools to accept the award at one of our Youth Music Summer Festival events in the city. The award will be reviewed every 3 years from the date you receive the status to maintain consistency across all Music Champion Schools.

There are currently 36 Music Champion Schools in Leeds including 26 Primary schools, 8 Secondary schools and two Special schools. Last year we were pleased to welcome Corpus Christi Primary, Farsley Springbank Primary, Highfield Primary, Low Road Primary, Stanningley Primary and Windmill Primary.

Some comments from Music Champion school colleagues:

‘Achieving Music Champion Status shows just how much we value music in our school’

‘It has been a joy to watch the school grow in musical stature over the years and develop our music offer to all children’

‘The Arts are much valued in our school and music plays a huge part in it maintaining a high profile.’

‘Music has always been at the heart of our school, creating a strong community’

If you would like more information about becoming a Champion Music School, please contact LMEP.ArtForms@leeds.gov.uk .

All nominations for this year’s award should be submitted by Thursday 25^th May 2023.

The children will be taking part in lots of musical challenges as they become part of an explorer’s story.  They will be chanting, singing, playing percussion and exploring new instruments and their sounds.

Children will explore the inter-related dimensions of music through fun musical challenges and also play their own part in a big performance called The Little Sing.

Event Details:

DATE: Friday 26th March 2021
TIME: 1.30pm
LOCATION: Online
HOW TO REGISTER:

Please contact Sam Mercer via this email address:  Sam.Mercer@leeds.gov.uk

Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/IY5LJhcp87w

Primary Music Leaders Network 2, Monday 3rd February 2020, 2.30-4.30pm
Book via Leeds for Learning

During this session we will be focusing on developing long term plans (please bring an example to share if you have one), launching the Singing Challenge 2020 and resources in Early Years to support early literacy.

KS1 Little Sing: A Journey Into Space, Monday 16th March 2020,
Session 1 10.00 – 11.15am, Session 2 1.15 – 2.30pm
Book via email to Paula Brookes at paula.brookes@leeds.gov.uk.

An immersive Musical Experience for KS1 children, bring a class of children to enjoy our session of singing and moving – and it’s a great CPD session for staff too!  Limited spaces available – please act quickly if you’d like to come!

Fabulous Phonics, Monday 23rd March 2020, 4.15-5.45pm
Book via Leeds for Learning

This workshop is an essential guide to using music and singing to develop phonics and literacy in Early Years and Key Stage 1.

Primary Music Leaders Network 3, Monday 8th June 2020, 2.30-4.30pm
Book via Leeds for Learning

During this session we will be looking at teaching composition in KS2.

Big Samba, Thursday 16th July 2020 and Monday 22^nd July 10.00-6.30pm
Book via email to Paula Brookes at paula.brookes@leeds.gov.uk.

Following on from the success of our previous Samba projects, we’d like to invite you to bring a class of Y5/6 children to take part in Leeds Big Samba 2020. This project will consist of a CPD session for teachers, a workshop for children in school, a rehearsal at Pudsey Civic Hall and a performance at Leeds First Direct Arena on Monday 22^nd July 2020. Please note that the performance date is after the end of term. This is an experience not to be missed – places are limited. Contact Paula Brookes for further information.

Music Connect receives funding from LMEP, the Leeds Music Education Partnership (of which ArtForms is the lead partner), which enables us to offer our training sessions to Leeds Schools and Academies at no charge.
Schools are entitled to send up to two delegates to any Music Connect training session. All training sessions are subject to change and will be regularly updated.