Initial reading or contact as a first stage include:-

Careers in Music, published by Kogan Page. Less extensive but less expensive. ISBN 0-7494-2957-7.

Local Authority Music Adviser, Inspector or Music Service: find via the Local Education Authority in your telephone book, the Head of Music in your local secondary school or 6th Form College.

A2. All University and College courses have slightly different emphases. Music Colleges or Conservatoires have instrumental and vocal learning and/or composition as a main focus but also provide wide educational courses as well. Universities tend to concentrate more on a general musical education but also include composing as well as instrumental and vocal training for their students. Look for the one that most interests you, including any of the following elements:-

• instrumental skill development on a range of instruments from guitar to trumpet
• violin and percussion music technology, recording and sequencing
• stylistic differences: popular, jazz, orchestral, band, world music
• composing
• musicology
• harmony or musical techniques
• music education
• arts administration

Use the local library and/or your Careers Office to browse the prospectus of different institutions. Contact the admissions officer of the institution you are interested in and discuss with them if itŐs the right course for you before you apply. Ask what kind of jobs their students go into.

Other contacts and helpful information:-

• Careers in Music books:-
  1. Careers in Music, published by Heinemann in collaboration with NAME. ISBN 0 435 80996 2.
  2. Careers in Music, published by Kogan Page. Less extensive but less expensive. ISBN 0-7494-2957-7.
• LEA Music Services or Music Advisor/Inspector - find under Local Education Authority in your telephone book
• Local institutions offering courses
• Heads of Music or Performing Arts in your local secondary schools or colleges
• Local musicians/artists working in a similar field to that you are interested in
• The British & International Music Year Book for entry requirements and addresses of institutions where courses are run and higher education quality ratings for subjects

A3. You can work as an instrumental teacher privately without any formal training, but if you want a long term career, success for pupils at a high level and an important part in the music education of young people you will need training.

Firstly you become very skilled on your chosen instrument. Then take a higher education course either at the university or at Music College/Conservatoire. See details above. It is not essential to have a teaching qualification to work in some local authority music services though most of them employ largely qualified staff. Certainly without one you are hampered in developing your teaching career.

A4. You will need a degree from a University or College of Higher Education plus a teaching qualification which gives you qualified teacher status (QTS). This can either be done as a first degree in any subject (BA/BSc) followed by a postgraduate teaching certificate (PGCE) or as a 3 or 4 year degree with education throughout the course (BEd. or BA QTS).

A5. Contact:-

• the Local Education Authority Music Service. You will find it under Education Department in your local telephone directory;
• the music teacher/coordinator in your child's school.

A6.There is no single answer to this question. Has your child heard a range of instruments about which they could express a preference? What do they want to play? Are you prepared to support their choice or do you want to rule any out? Have you discussed it with them and do they realise how much work is involved?

In all cases, the child must be the one to decide what they want to do. They are the ones who will have to put the work in. However, there are a huge range of ways you can help them to keep going and become very skilled on whatever instrument they choose. Being supportive, avoiding nagging about practice, ferrying to lessons or rehearsals will become part of your life too.

There will be points when they are learning when the excitement of the new activity has worn off and the slog seems to be taking over. DonŐt let them give up at the first hurdle. Playing in concerts and ensembles, orchestras and bands usually tides them over the bad patches and they will make long lasting friendships through that ensemble playing. If they are feeling stressed at school examination times, discuss with their teacher the possibility of a lighter load for a time. There is no need to give up altogether. If they do give up they will probably not go back to it and will regret it later.

A copy of the National Curriculum for Music

• England
  1. QCA or DfES links or at www.nc.uk.net
  2. Schemes of work on www.standards.DfES.gov.uk/schemes
• Wales: ACCAC at www.accac.org.uk

• Ofsted Website on www.ofsted.gov.uk (Wales/Estyn is not yet on line)
• The Headteacher at the school concerned

• England: 020 7333 0100
• Scotland: 0131 226 6051
• Wales: 029 2037 6500