As some of you may already know, we are in the process of applying to update the current Figurenotes Software. A part of the application requires us to estimate our reach i.e how many people are using Figurenotes.
With this in mind, we have launched our new project Figurenotes Collect! We are delighted to announce that we have been getting out and about in the Figurenotes Community, visiting projects, school, concerts and meeting some Figurenotes users.
Teens+
Rebecca was lucky enough to visit Teens + Ravenscroft, a unique service providing further education, life and social skills, transition to ownership of tenancies and lifelong learning, to young people who, due to their needs, would ordinarily be excluded from accessing any form of further education once they have left school.
Rebecca visited one of our Associate
Musicians, Fi Sharp. Fi leads a small group of young adults with a variety of
needs, in their quest to learn and play music.
It was fantastic to see these young
adults interacting with Figurenotes in different ways to suit their stage and
it was a real treat to experience people of differing ages and musical
abilities playing together.
Big thanks to Fi and everyone at Teen+
for allowing me to come along.
If
you are using Figurenotes in your school/council/community project we want to
hear from you!
We could not be more delighted by the feedback from our participants. Quotes like these really make all the hard work worthwhile. Just seeing these fantastic teachers and practitioners enjoying themselves, playing music together using Figurenotes and swapping creative ideas is what CPD is all about. But don’t just take our word for it, check out what some of our participants had to say.
Our sessions focused on First Figurenotes and how best to introduce Figurenotes to new users. We held creative composition sessions inspired by BBC Ten Pieces, using pieces of modern art as stimuli. We played games and told an interactive story about Mr. Whale. All of this fun culminated in a huge Play Together session where we paid tribute to the Ben E. King classic ‘Stand By Me’.
Thanks again to everyone involved and we cannot wait to do it all over again on the 23rd of November 2019! Keep an eye on the Figurenotes website for more information and updates on the next Music Teachers Toolbox. You can also sign up to our mailing list to get regular updates on all things Figurenotes.
We understand how isolating it can be as a teacher or practitioner and hope these events help to form new ideas for using Figurenotes and facilitating music making in general.
If you are looking for somewhere to share your ideas, check out the Facebook page Figurenotes – Let’s Make Music where you can chat to colleagues and get general advice from other Figurenotes users.
We are thrilled to announce the programme for our upcoming Music Teachers Toolbox on Saturday 23rd March 2019.
First Figurenotes & BBC Ten Pieces
This time around, we will be focusing on Creative Sessions involving Early Years/Primary/ASN and how best to support your participants brand new to Figurenotes in a variety of engaging ways. We will also be incorporating pieces from our collaboration with the fantastic BBC Ten Pieces.
Why not take a look at some of the resources BBC Ten Pieces have available online.
Although there will be an emphasis on Early Years and Primary, there will be something for everyone regardless of the age and stage of your users. If you have been to our training days before, or your participants are older, do not fret. We will provide a fun filled day of activities where you will learn news skills and refresh your current knowledge, providing you with new and exciting ways to incorporate Figurenotes into your setting.
Our training day will also include networking activities and a help desk where you can speak to an experienced member of the Drake Music Scotland team. You can seek advice on all things Figurenotes, technology, progression and general teaching advice.
And if that is not enough to entice you to book your place on our next Music Teachers Toolbox, maybe this will;
*Special Offer* – Purchase Our Upcoming Music Teachers Toolbox Training Day and Receive Our First Figurenotes Pack for only £10.00!!!
Here is a brief rundown of the proposed programme for the day.
9:30am Coffee & a Chat – Come in and meet the rest of the Music Teachers Toolbox participants over coffee/tea and biscuits provided.
10am Welcome and Warm up – Join us in getting to know each other and warm up with some fun activities.
10:45am What is Figurenotes? – Anyone can use Figurenotes and get instant results! Find out what Figurenotes is all about and where it came from or refresh your memory if you are returning.
11:00am BBC Ten Pieces – An interactive session looking at some pieces from our collaboration with BBC Ten Pieces.
11:30am Break
11:50am Creative Session – A series of exciting activities based around our SPACE theme! Fun for you and the classroom.
12:50pm Lunch, Networking and Help Desk – We will break for lunch and you will have a chance to stretch your legs, get to know each other some more and take advantage of our help desk where we will offer advice and aim to find solutions to any issues.
2:00pm First Figurenotes – A little look at some activities you can do using the First Figurenotes Packs and more.
2:45pm Play Together – An opportunity to try out what you have learned and get everyone playing.
3:45pm Q&A – A chance to ask any questions and tell us how you have felt about the day.
4:00pm Finish
If you have any questions, wish to enquire further or have anything you would like to see covered in the next Music Teachers Toolbox, you can contact Rebecca on 01316594766 or email at rebeccadirollo@drakemusicscotland.org
We hope you had a lovely Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Here at Figurenotes HQ we are thrilled to be back and to welcome the newest addition to the team, Rebecca Di Rollo. Rebecca will be taking over as Figurenotes Officer (Maternity Cover) as of January 2019.
Rebecca is also a percussionist, freelance community musician, sound artist and Youth Music Initiative Coordinator. Prior to joining the DMS team, Rebecca has worked in schools, special needs and early years provisions where she experienced the unequivocal social and mental development of people who participate in the arts.
Rebecca is passionate about all things Figurenotes and is looking forward to shaking things up a bit and bringing a new perspective to the role.
Here’s a little statement from Rebecca.
I am absolutely thrilled to join a leading organisation like Drake Music Scotland. I have followed the work of DMS throughout my entire musical career and I couldn’t be happier to be joining such a welcoming team of hardworking and skilled individuals.
I have used Figurenotes in the past and I believe it to be a transformative tool for so many people, making music so much more accessible. I cannot wait to get started andcontinue the already stellar work of supporting and promoting this invaluable resource.
Rebecca
For all Figurenotes enquiries contact Rebecca at rebeccadirollo@drakemusicscotland.org or figurenotes@drakemusicscotland.org
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