RGS String Schemes
The RGS String Schemes run at three Guildford primary schools - Sandfield, St Thomas of Canterbury and Boxgrove. They provide tuition and instruments to enable whole year groups to learn either the violin or 'cello for a year. The schemes are externally funded by charitable donations. The RGS devised, leads and administers the schemes.
In addition to the weekly tuition, there are termly concerts for each school.
To advance the schemes the RGS runs the 'Strictly Strings' orchestra to enable graduates of the scheme to continue playing. This orchestra also generates funds which are used to support those who wish to continue to learn a string instrument buy cannot afford to do so.
The Schemes were included in the Schools Together Group 'All together now' publication.
The Scheme at Sandfield Primary School is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Investec International Music Festival (IIMF). c.30 Y4 pupils take part in the scheme each year.
The Scheme at St Thomas of Canterbury is generously sponsored by the Southern Pro Musica Orchestra. c.60 Y4 pupils take part each year.
The Scheme at Boxgrove is generously sponsored by the Community Foundation for Surrey (CFS) and the Investec International Music Festival (IIFM). c.90 Y4 pupils take part each year.
The Strictly Strings Orchestra is generously sponsored by the Mila Charity. c40 pupils in Y5&6 from all String Scheme schools attend each year.
Aims
The RGS String Scheme aims to:
1. Provide weekly tuition in playing the violin or cello for every pupil in a year group for a year. The tuition is comprised of 10 lessons per term which equates to 30 lessons per year.
2. Provide performance platforms during the year, both at the primary school and at public performances.
3. Facilitate orchestras and links to the Surrey Music Hub to enable pupils to continue their learning.
4. Financially support those who wish to continue but are unable to afford to do so.
Background
Overview
The RGS String Schemes started over 10 years ago but continues to evolve and grow. The Schemes are masterminded by the RGS Head of Strings - Mr Dale Chambers.
Introduction
The RGS String Scheme arose from an anxiety that fewer boys applying to our school were learning string instruments. As a strong string section forms the backbone of all ‘traditional’ music making that the School’s music department is proud to present, there was general support for ‘something to be done’.
Starting point
Initially, RGS approached its associated, but separately managed prep school, and after nearly six months of negotiation we set up a ‘string scheme’ in year 4. The scheme was compulsory for all pupils and was taught in curriculum time with lesson and instrument provision provided free of charge. It was hoped that after this introduction many boys would carry on learning in years 5 and 6 but this would be at their own cost. The scheme, led by Walija Chew, who is a ‘cello tutor at the RGS, flourished and continues to run nearly ten years later. (The music for the scheme was written specially for it by Walija who was a young student in London at the genesis of the Tower Hamlet’s project, led by Sheila Nelson. Sheila invited Walija to adapt the violin music for this scheme for ‘cello.)
Growth
About a year later, amongst the climate at the RGS of a general encouragement of staff pursuing individual outreach projects, Dale Chambers, the Head of Strings, approached a local primary school with the idea of setting up a similar scheme. It should be admitted at this point that Dale’s own children attended the primary school which certainly helped to establish the relationship and made contact and access much simpler. Frankly, the primary Headteacher met the idea with total disbelief that the funding could be found and that the RGS would be able to provide the staff with the necessary skills to deliver it. In response to this, Dale taught a Dalcroze/Kodaly course to the year 4s for a term, free of charge, to gain trust and also to allow time to source funds.
Finance
Finding the money was more challenging. Dale set about writing to local companies (estate agents, lawyer’s firms etc. and to the RGS parent base of musical children). Additionally, he approached commercial sponsors through his connections with the European String Teacher’s Association. There were two elements: raising money for tuition costs and also sourcing the instruments. With strong support from the Headmaster and Governors, the RGS management agreed that the project should go ahead and that, in addition, the RGS would act as guarantor against any losses not covered by fund raising.
By the end of the first year, the following had been sourced:
· instruments were loaned free of charge by a local music shop. They were then bought by the scheme at around 50% of retail at the end of the first year;
· RGS parents donated a total of £500pa with the promise of 10-year funding;
· a trust fund donated £5000;
· the local music hub paid half of the tuition costs and counted the tuition ‘on its books’;
· Allianz gave a significant discount for insurance;
· Strutt & Parker estate agency gave £2000;
· the RGS paid the balance (around £2000).
Subsequent years were financially enhanced by a grant from SPM, a professional orchestra, which had in turn been awarded a contract by Guildford Borough Council to deliver, amongst other things, education outreach to children in the borough. Amazingly, the bottom line is that the RGS from the second year onward did not have to contribute financially in cash terms to the String Scheme, though, of course, the hidden cost is Dale’s time: all of the administration for the scheme is essentially paid for by the RGS via his salary.
Further Growth
After four years of successful delivery, the scheme was extended to another local primary school6, this time through a partnership with the Investec International Music Festival. Starting in a new school, without an established link brought its challenges. Each school has its own particular culture and different understandings about the time and space required to deliver the programme were real issues. Embedding routines and gentle (and, at times, not-so gentle) pressure were required to ensure that over time there was a growth of understanding. The end result is that the scheme is now well established, in its third iteration and generating pupils who wish to continue learning.
Then a year later, IIMF suggested that if the scheme could be extended to a third school it would apply to the CFS for a grant for a four-year project; the grant was awarded to cover instrument purchase and tuition costs for four years from 2018 onwards. This third school is a three-form intake school and roughly doubled the size of the scheme.
Current situation
The String Scheme now teaches 180 children in year 4 in three maintained primary schools per week in addition to continuing at the prep school. Currently, a further 40 children attend string orchestra rehearsals as they continue with their studies in years 5 and 6 and we anticipate this will grow to approximately 90 children, as the new scheme matures. In total, The String Scheme will be teaching 270 children per week throughout the academic year for a period of four years.
Following the one off capital cost of the instrument purchase of £30,000, the annual running costs are roughly: tuition - £15,000; instrument maintenance - £1,500; music printing - £150.
Of those who have completed the scheme, between 15 and 20% of pupils have decided to continue with their studies. The lessons are generally arranged through the Surrey Music Hub and instruments are generally ‘sold’ to the pupils at around £40 on the proviso that they are bought back at the end of the pupil’s use. This ensures a steady flow of half and three-quarter sized instruments cheaply available to pupils which is important as, in our experience, often the biggest barrier to continuing with lessons is not the cost of the lessons but the inertia on behalf of parents who are uncertain about which instrument to choose.
Children on the scheme give two concerts a year, one at their school and one at the RGS, and those who continue with their studies give three concerts a year, one of which is on stage at G Live10 as part of the SPM Family Concert, playing side by side with the professional orchestra.
Resources
RGS lead member of staff - Head of Strings.
Use of School music rehearsal room for Strictly Strings Orchestra once a week.
Non-teaching support staff administrative help of one day per week.
Transport costs for concerts once a year.
Scheme is self-funding other than these staff and transport costs. Funding is by charitable donations.
Pupil Involvement
RGS boys occasionally help with concerts. There are otherwise not involved in this scheme.
Frequency
Ongoing weekly lessons.
Will continue as long as external funding is available.