#CanDoMusic: Teaching music during coronavirus (COVID-19)

This page has been created to support school music teachers and signpost them to practical resources so that children and teachers #CanDoMusic in school.

Find out how to get involved.

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General coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance

Keeping school music safe during COVID-19 Webinar panel discussing the different measures that schools and music teachers have made to try and combat the spread of infection during COVID-19
Writing a risk assessment An introduction to writing a risk assessment as a music professional
Advice for speaking to young people about Coronavirus (Covid-19) A document providing advice on how to communicate with young people about the current pandemic
MTA Summary of Government Guidance (August 2020) for Music and Performing Arts The Music Teachers' Association summary for schools of the recent DfE Guidance with links to advice for music in school
Easing the lockdown: Schools reopening ISM guidance on teaching music in schools in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland during COVID-19, including information on risk assessments and social distancing
Collected advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19) A summary of advice relating to COVID-19
The ISM’s COVID-19 advice hub A selection of regularly updated COVID-19 guidance for music professionals, including advice on returning to work, succeeding online, managing finances, and staying healthy during the pandemic.
Plans for Reintegration of Music Services to Schools and Whole Class Tuition Guidance Post COVID-19 Documents intended to support the continuation of music making in school settings to ensure the smooth transition of tuition from an online platform back into the school environment
Ofqual exams and assessments changes in 2021: The ISM summarises Ofqual's changes to GCSE, AS and A Level music and music technology exams and assessments in 2021.
Children and School Singing During the COVID-19 Pandemic Sing Up and Music Mark commissioned Professor Martin Ashley to write some up-to-date guidance for schools in relation to managing coronavirus risks associated with singing for the start of the new academic year.

Teaching music in a non-music room

Charanga Musical School Offering a 30 day free trial to an online platform to assist with teaching music providing high-quality digital programmes and an online learning space for children
Classical 100 ABRSM’s Classical 100 is a fantastic collection of 100 carefully selected pieces of music and activities for you to share with your families over the coming weeks. Designed as a classroom resource, it’s already been a big hit in 6,000 primary schools.

Sharing instruments and resources in the music room

Instrument hygiene Guidance on how to perform and clean instruments to prevent the spread of coronavirus
Instrument Maintenance Guides Tutorials and guides to help pupils, parents and carers with instrument maintenance guides.
A blog offering guidance to woodwind and brass musicians on how to keep themselves and their instruments healthy. Key reading for pupils, parents, teachers and anyone else working in music education. Keeping your instrument healthy is of paramount importance.
Covid Clean: Your Music Technology Classroom: Advice for music technology teachers on cleaning equipment, hygiene and spacing students.

Enabling 1-2-1 and small group tuition

With Nicky An educational series of videos with Nicky Benedetti enabling 1-2-1 and small group tuition

Working with visiting tutors

The ISM Teachers' Pack A helpful guide for all instrumental and vocal teachers, whether you are employed, work freelance in schools or teach privately. It covers issues which all music teachers need to know about, including finding work, setting rates, recovering unpaid fees

Running after school activities

Resources to follow

Working in ‘bubbles’ and/or year groups

Nativity Finder Nativities really are possible this year with our great interactive Nativity Finder tool! Find the right nativity for your setting whether you are singing or not: 1, 2, 3 or more bubbles, adaptable cast lists, safe-performance advice, ideas and tips…

Teaching music online

Safeguarding for music teachers giving lessons remotely Guidance on safeguarding for online teaching.
Making music online in real time Want to perform or record remotely with other musicians, in real time? Bassist John J. Williamson offers a guide to the world of online real-time music (ORM) software.
Online musician: Zoom security features update Some security considerations for using the popular video conferencing software.
Copyright: where you stand as an online musician Practical advice which considers some of the copyright implications involved in moving to an online teaching or performing environment.
Transitioning to online teaching ISM member and music teacher Pippa Reid-Foster, sets out her steps for transitioning to online teaching so you can use her experience as your starting point.
Remote teaching – software basics How to offer instrumental or vocal lessons online.
Online learning resources A selection of online learning resources for primary, secondary and instrumental learning. Many are free or discounted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bring the Noise Series of educational resources, from films to songs to lesson plans a digital interactive tool
Home and School Online Resources A wide range of home learning resources covering EYFS and Primary Teachers and Pupils, Secondary Teachers and Pupils, Parents and general Music Education Resources
Online world-music workshops & courses Workshops and courses covering a wide range of drumming styles from across the globe, from samba drumming to african drumming to dhol drumming.
Orchestras for All online conducting Online training course designed to develop skills in effectively leading an inclusive music ensemble. The course is aimed at music teachers, ensemble leaders and aspiring conductors working in inclusive music-making settings. The first module is free
Play Trumpet with Kay Video for beginners to sing or play along with on trumpet or clarinet using C D E F, aimed at beginners who can play a few notes and those without an instrument who can sing along or play percussion on pots and pans from the kitchen.
Practical Progression film series A film series made by music leaders and intended for music leaders from any setting as part of a peer-led professional development programme also called Practical Progression and aim to build on music leaders’ existing tool kit, whatever setting ...
Tido Music app: Trinity's 2018-2021 repertoire An app containing all of the songs in the Trinity exam syllabus for Singing, enabling access to the sheet music, piano accompaniments and pronunciation guides.
Twinkl Tunes: Virtual Piano Game Interactive piano game enabling teaching basic piano skills on a virtual piano
Voices Foundation Virtual Singing Assemblies A collection of uplifting singing videos for primary teachers and pupils. In addition to these free assemblies, VF has launched #VFIntoMusic & #VFIntoChoral- videos that dive deeper into process of creating effective music lessons/rehearsals.
12 Tips for teaching on ZOOM 12 tips for using ZOOM to teach online to make sure you are professional, safe and at your informed best.
Moving Your Teaching Online By now it is very likely that you will have discovered all of the advantages and pitfalls of moving your teaching online. Some teachers may have been exploring the options long before this year and some will not yet have taken the dive.
Building an ensemble video Robert Thompson, Teacher of Music and Music Technology at Kenilworth School & Sixth Form, Warwickshire, reports on how the department pulled together to make a viral video.
Free youtube workshops 45-workshop videos with online quizzes covering many different world-music styles.
Remembering what ‘good’ sounds like In this article, Deputy Chief Examiner Mervyn Cousins explores how to teach tone in online music lessons.
How to Teach Music Online RSL's key strategies for online teaching and learning, referencing some good practice and highlighting some of the pitfalls

Advocating for music in your school

ISM Global Literature Review – Music Performance, Education and COVID-19 This review collates current research and information relating to COVID-19, transmission and risk management in both the performance and music education space.
Music Unlocked An up to date resource bringing together the latest advice on safe ways to continue music teaching in schools
Music Education: State of the Nation Report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education, the Incorporated Society of Musicians and the University of Sussex advocating for all children to have access to a high-quality music education.
Musical understanding Essential reading for any school leaders and music teachers in schools currently reviewing the nature, purpose and design of curriculum music provision.
The National Curriculum for Music 2019 Two revised frameworks (primary and secondary), complete with wall-charts, to help you develop your curriculum, pedagogies and assessment in any setting.
10 Things Schools Should Know About Music A booklet and blog articles promoting the importance of music education in schools, including posters for display.
Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing Report presenting the findings from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing (APPGAHW) which was formed in 2014 aiming to improve awareness of the benefits that the arts can bring to health and wellbeing
Impact of instrumental learning on attainment Research article on the impact that learning a musical instrument has on core academic progress and attainment, focussing on a study of attainment at ages 11 and 16
Music Education Works Website Collection of evidence of the impact of music education, aimed at making it easier for everyone who cares about music education to understand the benefits and advocate them.
Valuing Music in Special Needs Settings Report on music making and singing approaches for whole class teaching (WCT) and group work in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) schools. The toolkit offers a training and development framework to be flexibly
Letter to your local MP template Downloadable template aimed at writing to local MPs regarding music education in schools for the academic year 20/21.
Take action Find out how to effectively engage and lobby your MP. Use the ISM’s practical advice, resources and research to promote music and protect music education.
Write to your school heads/governors/CEOs of academy chains Use this template letter to outline the risks of cutting back on music and the steps school leaders can take to protect it.
Bacc for the Future campaign Get involved with the Bacc for the Future campaign to save creative subjects in secondary schools across England. The EBacc is undermining creativity in schools and we need your help.
Write to your school leaders to advocate for music Use this template letter to write to school leaders, asking that they take steps to ensure that music education remains a key part of the recovery curriculum.
Becoming a Better Music Teacher free online course Whether you’re starting your music teaching career or refreshing your skills, our free online course helps you take your teaching to the next level. This free course will provide you with a strong foundation of the skills, knowledge and insight needed
Out of the Ark's #candomusic recovery curriculum blog Loads of creative, fun and easy-to-use ideas, activities and tips that will show how your favourite songs (and many you have yet to discover) can support your music and whole-school curriculums whether you are singing in your school or not.

Practical teaching resources

General

Free Figurenotes Resource Bundle Figurenotes is a progressive, accessible notation that adapts to your teaching method. This free bundle contains a range of activities - rhythm, composition, mindfulness, tutorials, and more.
Sing Up Explore Sing Up’s free resources that support creative music making and blended learning at school and at home. Suitable for teachers, pupils and families. Schools are welcome to add this link to your own website or VLE.
Indian Takeaway: Rāg and Tāl basics This innovative online resource brought to you by the ISM Trust and Indian music expert Yogesh Dattani enables you to take away lesson plans and successfully play or teach a piece of Indian classical music on any instrument.
Body Percussion Recover Curriculum The #BodyPercussion #RecoveryCurriculum uses peer-reviewed and evidence-based fun and engaging exercises
Home Body Percussion Challenge Several short videos demonstrating a variety of body percussion duos, at various levels of difficulty, including challenges expanding on these patterns.
Live Music Now: Free online video concert library A series of short recorded concerts and music sessions covering a wide range of instruments and musical styles for schools and families to enjoy for free.
Music for Wellbeing Framework Shared by Hounslow Music the attached framework is designed to help the user plan music lessons focused on supporting wellbeing.
English Folk Dance and Song Society Resource Bank A wide range of free, downloadable materials for teachers to use English traditional folk song, music, dance, drama and other arts
Song Source Song Source is a digital song bank designed to help keep children singing wherever they are. There are over 200 original songs as well as lyric sheets, scores, lyric videos and backing tracks.
Building an ensemble video Robert Thompson, Teacher of Music and Music Technology at Kenilworth School & Sixth Form, Warwickshire, reports on how the department pulled together to make a viral video.
7 Tips to survive Working from Home Having a clear list of aims for Monday morning will help you survive the week and the months to come.
NYJO’s Virtual Academy helps you recreate the feeling of playing in a band from wherever you are and includes our very own ‘Minus One’ material! All of the content is completely free and broken down into three levels: Entry, Intermediate and Advanced.
Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme A wide range of sacred and secular singing sessions, from individual activities and songs to complete lessons. Primary KS2, with some resources for EYFS/KS1/ Secondary.
A Cappella Lego A free resource from the VOCES8 Foundation, A Cappella Lego consists of 11 videos with interactive singing activities including warm-ups and songs. Suitable for primary and KS3.

Early years

Early years education Information on early years education, including free-to-download resources.
First Notes Early Years Music App Music resource app for use with Early Years packed full of exercises and activities designed to suit all ability levels to help with a child’s development in and outside of music
ABC Creative Music Musicality Resource for Early Years Free trial of creative resources for 3-6 year olds

Primary

Primary Music Toolkit An online toolkit from the ISM Trust to help primary school teachers better understand what music teaching is and how it can be utilised even more to bring the primary curriculum to life.
In the Gap! Fun Improvisation A resource designed to allow teachers to introduce basic improvisation and creative music into their lessons, which is suitable for whole class, group and individual sessions
National Curriculum for Music at Primary Information regarding the National Curriculum for Music introduced in 2014, including programmes of study for primary schools.
Making it easy for schools to perform Musical resources, plays and songs for children aged 3-11 aimed at being easy to use for non-music specialists
Music and Voice Play An easily accessible book to help anyone to be a creative music-maker with young children. It aims to inspire parents and teachers to take young children’s enthusiasm for music and create a musically rich environment that supports all areas of learning
Arts Award with BCMG These resources enable children or a class of children to complete their Discover or Explore Arts Award remotely with BCMG.

Secondary

BBC Bitesize music Revision guides for all GCSE Music topics, covering a variety of exam boards
GCSE (9 to 1) subject-level conditions and requirements for music Outcomes and analysis documents from Ofqual's consultation regarding the conditions and requirements in GCSE, AS and A level music examinations
Inspire Young People About Careers in Music A free bank of videos from professional musicians, teachers and music licensing assistants, to concert and music video directors all telling their career stories
Introduction to music theory Free course covering basic knowledge about music theory, aimed at being equally suitable for self-directed students, or as CPD for primary music coordinators, additional material for GCSE etc
MooreNotes Compositions Original compositions, based around jazz, string and song ideas aimed at the young and the more experienced performer. Ideal for classroom and public performance for all.
Music Technology A Level An A-Level Music Tech course opening up a range of skills to students, suitable for anyone who has a keen interest in creating and recording music, and who wishes to deepen their understanding of popular music styles and developments in music tech
National Curriculum for Music at Secondary Information regarding the National Curriculum for Music introduced in 2014, including programmes of study for secondary schools.
Secondary Ten Pieces Plus Classroom resources to support the BBC Ten Pieces II initiative

Instrumental/Vocal

Junk Percussion Arts Award Project: Facilitators guide you through making and creating junk percussion instruments using everyday household objects to create a Brazilian samba reggae, a junk funk piece and an atmospheric soundscape!
MTB Piano Duets: Music Teachers' Board's supporting exercises are all designed to enable musical development. Find reading skills, listening skills, scales, technical studies and even duets for all grade levels.
Livestreamed piano lessons from WKMT Free advanced lessons in composition, music analysis, counterpoint harmony and piano technique
RSL Teach Today - Free grade books and schemes of work for teachers across Rockschool syllabuses (Music Production, Vocals, Piano, Drums, Ukulele, Electric Guitar)
Orchestra of the Swan video resources A series of short videos for music students from OOTS principal players including flute, french horn, trombone, viola, bassoon and oboe

SEND / Additional Support Needs

Amber Sound Touch Amber Sound Touch, from the Amber Trust, is an online resource for teaching music to blind and partially sighted children and young people. It comprises a set of 13 engaging videos complemented with a comprehensive written guide.
Guide to Buying Adaptive Musical Instruments This guide from Creative United includes details of more than 80 musical instruments and products, many of which have been specially designed to make learning and playing musical instruments accessible
Inclusive and accessible music-making with adaptive music instruments This webinar panel from the ISM Trust introduces Creative United's Guide to Adaptive Musical Instruments and explores inclusivity and accessibility in music education and performance
ABC Creative Music Resource for SEN Free trial of creative resources for special educational needs
NDCS Guidance Guidance from the National Deaf Children’s Society aimed at helping music professionals develop confidence in supporting the music education of deaf children and young people.
Friday Afternoons An initiative encouraging young people to sing, commissioning new repertoire every year for children’s voices, with a whole host of resources available for free on the website, including teaching and accessibility resources to help lots people
Good Vibrations Toolkit Toolkit for those working with deaf and hearing impaired children and young people, promoting active participation in music making as a way to enable musical engagement and progression
Drake Music Scotland resources: Drake Music Scotland’s team of specialist musicians have worked on over 300 resources for pupils, teachers and parents. There are videos, downloads, and interactive resources for everyone.
AMIE Inclusion Resources Tools and guidance, blogs and case studies to help you break down barriers to music-making.
Online Resources Update: what music projects are doing and using to stay connected & accessible Positive examples of what music projects are doing to stay connected, as well as resources and activities that can be accessed remotely.

Composing/Songwriting

GCSE Music Composition Resource Free digital resource providing creative inspiration for students tackling the composition module of the GCSE syllabus through exploring music by 6 NMC composers
Free blank sheet music A series of blank notation to be downloaded and printed out
Listening Inspiration Free resource aiming to help students find pieces to give inspiration and ideas for their own composing activities
Online composing courses Interactive online courses to help secondary level students and teachers with different aspects of composition, accessible from home or in the classroom.
Composition using iPads and Apps Inspire Event Resources regarding composition in the classroom using iPads and Apps
Listen Imagine Compose Exploring how composing is taught and learned at KS3, KS4 and KS5
Minute of Listening Helps pupils develop their creative listening skills. This carefully curated collection of introduces children to a range of music and sounds.
Practical songwriting ideas and inspiring songs 5 tips and tricks to kickstart the songwriting process, plus a playlist of inspiring songs across different genres. Suitable for primary and secondary.
Creating Music at Home set of composing activities for young people without access to a musical instrument. Inspirations include superheroes, nature, the zodiac, maps, lockdown, graphic scores and found objects. KS1 or 2.
Creating Music at Home (Instrumentalists) Set of composing activities for young people with access to a musical instrument. Inspirations include code, bird song, clouds, constellations, skylines and stories. KS3 or instrumentalists.

Music technology

Teaching Music with iPads Training and Workshops A training programme aimed at being able to teach music with iPads
Play Trinity Rock & Pop app An app allowing users to mix their own performances with the app's professional session musicians using the practice app that allows users to to adjust pitch, tempo and each individual instrumental track from the mixing desk.
Taking Projects Online: Practical advice on using VIP Studio Sessions to support your digital work Some shared learning that Charanga’s VIP Studio Sessions team has encountered so far when designing online provision.
Technology in Music Education resources: Resources for teachers interested in music technology, including blogs, podcasts, news, videos and tutorials.
Opening DAWs – Home Learning through Music Technology RSL's top 5 tips to harness the music technology available at home