Programme
South West Music School offers a new learning experience individually tailored to your specific musical needs. You will learn and develop in your own planned time therefore enabling you to continue to participate, as much as possible, in your current musical life.
This will be achieved by a 2-stage programme:
1. FEEDER SCHEME
The first year of your time with South West Music School will be as part of the Feeder Scheme. This is a year-long programme of 6 workshop days spread across the year and the region covering topics such as improvisation, performance practise, listening & rhythm and performance health. At each of these sessions there will also be South West Music School mentors available for "drop in" sessions for parents.
Three of these workshops will tie in with the main scheme residentials giving the students an opportunity to meet the students on the main programme and hear the final performances at each weekend.
During the year, Feeder Scheme Students will be assessed and monitored on their musical development, contribution and engagement. Numbers selected onto the Main Scheme are determined by the number of students graduating or moving to other specialist music providers at the end of the learning year and through an audition.
I just wanted to thank everyone involved in organising another fantastic Feeder Scheme session. Our son thoroughly enjoyed the whole day and came out asking when the next one was! We, as parents, also found our session with the mentor extremely useful and inspiring. - Feeder Parent
Any students unsuccessful in obtaining a place on the Main Scheme will need to re-audition to secure a place on the Feeder Scheme for the following year.
2. MAIN SCHEME
2.1. Mentoring
Each successful candidate will be assigned a mentor. This will be a musician / arts professional currently working in the business with knowledge of your specific area of expertise.
Your mentor will work through your musical knowledge and experience and explore your strengths and areas of development. From this you and your mentor will create and agree a personal Individual Learning Plan (ILP). Your ILP will clearly set out your objectives and goals for the year ahead.
You will also receive mentoring sessions during the year to update on progress and work on specific topics
South West Music School has helped me realise the things I have to do myself to progress as a musician. - SWMS student
2.2. Individual Tuition and Development
From the outcomes of your ILP your programme of tuition and development will be planned and delivered around your current commitments. This could be anything from the need for more frequent lessons to the need to develop a new instrument or skill (e.g. composition/song writing). This is additional to any musical tuition that you currently receive as we do not pay for existing provision.
I'm a totally different player to what I was a year ago. South West Music School has given me invaluable advice and tuition and I have improved immeasurably. - SWMS student
2.3. Residential
Three times a year there will be residentials to bring all the South West Music School participants together. These will be 3 or 4 days of focused learning looking at specific areas of musical development ranging from Performance and Practice to How to manage yourself in the music business. The themes for the residentials will also be influenced by the findings from your ILP.
Our programme runs from September - August, please see our diary page for key dates.
Our son always returned from a residential full of inspiration and totally fulfilled musically. - SWMS parent
During residentials I have seen many (of the other students) progress, both professionally and socially and (they) are much more confident in performance. - SWMS student
Fees
The fee for attending South West Music School programme for 2008/09 was £3,510 per year. (2009/10 figures tbc). This includes all your mentoring, individual tuition, development and residential learning. There will be no additional costs for core activity. These fees can be paid annually, three times a year or monthly by arrangement.
There may be costs involved for additional opportunities that may occur during the programme but these can be participated in at your own discretion.
Financial assistance may be available through the DCSF Music and Dance National Grants Scheme. Application forms for this will be issued (if appropriate) to successful applicants only. These grants are based on relevant income and are means tested.
It is proposed that the amount of grant and the parents' residual liability to make a contribution (depending on the extent of their "relevant income") for academic year 2009/10 will be as set out in the following table:
| Relevant income | Amount of grant | Amount of parental contribution |
|---|---|---|
| up to £28,793 | £3,510 | nil |
| £28,794 to £32,632 | £3,159 | £351 |
| £32,633 to £36,471 | £2,808 | £702 |
| £36,472 to £40,311 | £2,457 | £1,053 |
| £40,312 to £44,150 | £2,106 | £1,404 |
| £44,151 to £47,989 | £1,755 | £1,755 |
| £47,990 to £51,829 | £1,404 | £2,106 |
| £51,830 to £55,668 | £1,053 | £2,457 |
| £55,669 to £59,507 | £702 | £2,808 |
| £59,508 to £63,344 | £351 | £3,159 |
| over £63,344 | nil | £3,510 |
The fee for attending South West Music School Feeder Scheme 2009/10 was £200. This covers the workshop days through the year and there will be no additional costs for any feeder activity. These fees can be paid annually, three times a year or monthly by arrangement. There is also a means tested bursary scheme that can be applied for, supported by the DCSF. More details on application.
For full information please visit www.dcsf.gov.uk/mds