CITY MUSIC
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CITY MUSIC
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Click above to find out more about becoming a Music Medals Assessor Role of the LA Working in Sunderland Teaching Opportunities Payment About 70 music tutors currently work within Sunderland LA, teaching over 4,000 pupils in schools and music centres. All of these tutors work in Sunderland on a self-employed basis and are engaged directly by schools or the LA. The Local Authority provides assistance to school music departments, both financially and in the form of advice. The LA also maintains central ensembles, music centres and runs special events, all of which require music tutors. Tutors' records, including employment details, are held centrally by the LA, which also deals with monthly payment and tax deductions. Although all Sunderland tutors are self-employed, the LA provides opportunities for them to attend professional development courses, and offers schools advice about quality of teaching. Particularly since the advent of Music Standards Fund, there has been an increasing demand for more vocal and instrumental tuition in schools throughout the City. Whilst the primary responsibility for organising such tuition lies with the schools, the LA co-ordinates the process of engagement of teachers; this includes the issuing of contracts, obtaining the requisite clearances and checking matters like public liability insurance cover etc. The LA also becomes directly involved when pupils in receipt of tuition are entitled to fee remission. Tutors who can demonstrate good playing skills and the ability to motivate and inspire pupils are likely to be most attractive to schools. If you wish to know any further details about the development of music provision or organisation of vocal/instrumental teaching in Sunderland, contact Stephen Auster - City Music Co-ordinator at the Music Development Office by clicking here The majority of instrumental teaching in Sunderland takes place in school hours. Teaching will usually be in groups of three, but may be any size up to four. Schools organise this teaching, and are responsible for selecting pupils and monitoring progress. In practice, an instrumental tutor's main contact is likely to be the Head of Music if the school is a secondary, or the Music Co-ordinator if the school is a primary. It is always worth asking about any particular focus that the school requires in addition to the general teaching programme, such as a forthcoming concert/assembly, or a GCSE recording session. Payment: Although there are some locally agreed variations, most music tuition in Sunderland costs £24 per hour, with schools or the LA engaging tutors on an hourly basis. Since tutors in Sunderland are self-employed, working under a contract of engagement, there is no entitlement to sickness or holiday payments, which is why the LA endeavour to pay what is effectively a teacher supply rate. All payment to tutors from the LA i.e. for work in central ensembles or at music centres is paid monthly directly into bank accounts. The LA makes the appropriate statutory payments on behalf of tutors according to their tax code. Although schools may differ in their payment procedures, the LA recommends that they pay tutors through the LA in the same way as described above. It is illegal for tutors to charge pupils directly, unless they are registered with the Inland Revenue as responsible for their own tax payments. The LA recommends to schools that even these tutors should be paid through the LA, since tutors' tax codes are automatically taken into account. To allow payment for tuition, simple claim forms need to be filled in each month and signed by the individual schools. Forms for work within schools are available from school music departments, from the Music Development Office and from the 'Forms' section of this website (click here) Standards: Through annual surveys, the Music Development Office keeps track of the progress made by all pupils receiving instrumental tuition. Although some teaching situations, particularly those in music centres, are about providing an initial 'taste' of music, it is vital that pupils gain a solid foundation of good technique and understanding that can be built upon. As a minimum, tutors should: * Develop pupils' understanding of notation, including time and key signatures * Demonstrate teaching points using their own instrument * Place sufficient emphasis upon correct tone and phrasing * Allow pupils to play together i.e. duets, trios The LA expects Heads of Music, Music Centre managers and Primary Music Co-ordinators to monitor the quality of teaching that pupils receive from music tutors. This monitoring might involve an observed lesson, but is more likely to be an ongoing process, taking into account such things as pupil/parent feedback, pupil dropout, pupil participation in concerts or ensembles, or achievement in exams. It is worth tutors becoming familiar with the requirements for graded examinations, so that elements of musicianship are not missed out. The Music Development Office offers advice and professional development to tutors working in Sunderland, and encourages those with questions to get in touch. Agencies: A number of music tutor agencies operate in the Sunderland area. These agencies offer to supply schools with music tutors. Individuals signed up with an agency might receive work opportunities from schools who contact agents directly with their needs. In return, the agencies generally take a percentage of tutors' payments. It is important to note that all tutors who are engaged by schools need to follow school policies and procedures, regardless of whether or not they are signed up to an agency.
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