“Ideas in – music out!”

We do not usually have a theme for our NAME Conferences but 2004 brought new surprises and a meeting of minds at the superb London venue of the Hilton, Docklands. With so much common ground that I am convinced that, had we decided on a theme, this would have been the one to use. The theme is, for those not at Conference for and those who have not bought one of the high quality ICT in Music books we launched, it is the title of our new publication on ICT in music.

It was our first conference in London for a very long time and was only made possible by funding from the DfES, which served as the ‘ICT in Music Road Show’, the first of the DfES series of Road Shows across all the subjects in the curriculum. We acknowledge with a huge debt of gratitude to our other main sponsors Yamaha Kemble UK and Sibelius Software whose support never fails.

It was our first conference where we identified the Friday to have a specific focus as it was in London. It was the first conference where we worked closely with the Schools’ Music Association and Chair, David Bunkell in particular mainly on the ICT work which NAME now leads in music in partnership with SMA, the DfES and Becta. It was the first conference to launch a book on ICT in Music and where we shared the launch of a new assessment system for group instrumental teaching from the ABRSM. Next year we hope that the venue will be situated in at The Sage Gateshead to give our northern colleagues an easier journey but also to be among the first users of that amazing new venue. So from Thames to Tyne we go in 2005 with our new Chair Derek Kitt leading the way.

Day 1 opened with a trio of speakers; first of all was Adrian Hall (DfES) who brought us up to speed with the government’s intentions in embedding ICT in curriculum subjects and a little hint or two about their support for music, which is again like the support for AST’s, developed through working with NAME. Niel Maclean, Chief Executive of Becta magically demystified a lot of the actual procedures and practices for supporting ICT so strongly. Although not a musician himself like many of our speakers this year, Niel spoke enthusiastically about ICT in Music and on teaching and learning in particular. Russell Prue an evangelist and promoter for the use of technology in education concluded the opening session. His spirited and hilarious presentation left everyone in no doubt that technology was here to stay and that ICT was at the heart of a creative twentieth century music curriculum when used in appropriate ways.

It would be invidious to single out any individual presentations during the rest of the day because of their extraordinary high quality but NAME would like to thank Andy Murray and Simon Elledge because of their coordinating role without which the Friday sessions could not have taken place. We were delighted to welcome David Ashworth, the newly appointed national Lead Consultant for ICT in Music who, at the last minute stepped in to take a seminar group. We pay particular tribute to Duncan Mackrill, Doug Briggs, Liz Collins and Melanie Parker who introduced delegates to some of the latest developments and some of the established ones in ICT and music. Chris Barlow, Hayley McDonagh, and David Bevin developed the theme of ICT in support of the music curriculum and our corporate colleagues provided high-powered support for practical applications of the use of ICT in composition, musical creativity and making music accessible through the use of technology – grateful thanks to Immersive Media, Sibelius, ESP Music and Yamaha.

On the Saturday Gavin Henderson from Youth Music and Trinity College of Music joined us. His amusing account of ‘politicking’ in arts education was a revelation and just the way to start the day in a pithy and relaxed fashion. Prof David Hargreaves, currently at Roehampton University, introduced us to some research into why students study music and set us really alight with some new thoughts from the project currently under way with QCA and Keele University. If Day 2 was not practical enough, the Saturday involved delegates in music for the Foundation Stage, Djembe music and dance (Emily Keeler, Landing Mane), world music (Claude Deppa), Wider Opportunities (Peter Desmond), singing (Brenda Rattray), Jazz (Richard Michael), music in early childhood (Susan Young) and 14-19 in music (Brian Humperson, Janet Hoskyns). Back by popular demand were Alexandra Dalton (Dalcroze), Sarah Hennessey (composing at KS2), Steve Block (music starters), Sue Cottrell (GCSE Music), Jonathan Kirby and Emma Pipe (Tailko Drumming) and researchers Helen Rudeforth, Pamela Burnard and Derek Kitt on various projects to stimulate the mind. What an amazing group of professionals this was and many a class was full to overflowing such was the demand to get in!

It was particularly pleasing to welcome not only our sponsors and the Schools Music Association but also delegates from South America, Germany and South Africa. NAME is often the first point of contact for colleagues from abroad and it is helpful to put faces to names or e-mails!

Margaret Martin-Griffiths HMI provided the concluding session on the Sunday to outline where the developments by OfSTED, in a new way of working with schools, might impact on music in her inimitable relaxed way. How lucky as a subject and how lucky as an Association we are to have Margaret’s support and comfortable words. Finally we were treated to a stunning arrangement of some traditional songs with words casting doubt on the Past Chair’s “orchestral parts we never see” and the new Chair’s disposition to imbibing, not to mention a sideways swipe at the responsibilities of policy makers and inspectors. All ended well with “we’ll make our lives complete” through music to the tune, Land of Hope and Glory. I think several of us thought; “We are the music makers, we are the dreamer of dreams” at that point.

So there we have it. Lots of new ideas in, lots of music out! Do try to buy the book and go to www.name2.org.uk and then publications to order your copy. These are ‘limited’ editions and it was noticeable how some LEA officers and Heads of Music Services were buying multiple copies for their staff and schools…you heard it all here first.

Without more ado, we look forward to putting these new ideas into practice and trying out this and that, while dwelling on some fine research ideas. This is clearly the main purpose of Conference and we hope that you will all join us next year for the next exciting instalment at ‘The Sage Gateshead’ where more networking and challenge will be provided. The new Chair, Derek Kitt, plans some brand new ideas and new areas of working, which will tie in nicely with the work that we do in schools. Watch this space – and the website soon.

Thanks to the Hilton Docklands too – they thought we were called the National Association of Music Education according to their message board – were they that far out?

Roger Crocker

Chair NAME, 2003 - 2004