Singing and Instrumental Packages for Schools

Music Service

Service Contact

Email musichuboperations@sheffield.gov.uk or call (0114) 250 6860.

Service Summary

Sheffield Music Hub, as a consortium member of the South Yorkshire Music Hub and lead delivery partner for Sheffield works to support the delivery of the National Plan for Music Education here in Sheffield.

The National Plan for Music Education (The Power of Music to change lives) clearly articulates a bold ambition for Music Education in Schools in England – we share this ambition and have curated a programme of activities to support schools across key areas of music delivery. Schools should work in partnership with their local Music Hub to deliver a range of curricular and co-curricular activities to enrich and enhance deep musical learning at all stages of a child’s education. Every school should be able to articulate their plan for delivering high-quality music education and supporting pupils to progress, just as they would in any other curriculum subject.

This should be connected to the school’s wider offer and development, as supported by their School Improvement Plans and, where relevant, trust Improvement Plans. We would like to see every school drawing out their subject-specific approach in a Music Development Plan that links back to their broader school development approach and priorities. The School Music Development Plan should set out how the school will deliver high-quality music provision for all pupils in the three areas of curriculum, co-curricular and enrichment, and against the key features set out above:

• timetable curriculum music of at least one hour each week of the school year for key stages 1 to 3*
• provide access to lessons across a range of instruments and voice
• develop a school choir and/or vocal ensemble
• develop a school ensemble/band/group
• provide space for rehearsals and individual practice
• develop a termly school performance
• provide opportunity to enjoy live performance at least once a year

* The timetabling of curriculum music remains the responsibilities of schools. Our schemes run alongside to enhance and deepen children’s musical learning, engagement and enjoyment.

Music Hub Packages 2025/2026

Music – Learn to play a musical instrument Primary/Special

• Standard Package £1,674 – A specialist musician will teach 1 class for 45 minutes each week (30 planned sessions maximum). Class teacher/TA must always be present and active in the classroom. This programme includes the loan of musical instruments which are the school’s responsibility. Your school staff will be invited to a Twilight CPD session in September to launch the programme, empower teachers and share curriculum resources.

• Enhanced Pathways Package £2,343 – As above plus an additional half hour for up to 10 children who wish to continue after the 1st year. Only £811 for each additional half hour session after this. The package includes the loan of musical instruments for both whole class and pathways programme which remain the school’s responsibility. There will be a co-designed opportunity for the young musicians to experience a live performance together with their Music Leader. The additional cost of the half hour session can be passed onto the families of the children taking part in the group if they wish to do so; schools will be responsible for this billing.

This package works alongside your Music Curriculum in school. Co-curricular resources and planning will help to super charge your music curriculum. These have been designed with the support of a primary music specialist and a formal cultural leader in education.

A member of staff is required to be present and support the learning which is taking place during any whole class lessons. A calendar will be provided to show which 30 weeks of the year lessons will take place.

This package is subsidised with funding from the Music Hub Grant from the Department for Education (via Arts Council England).

In order to achieve maximum impact for all our packages school are asked to share pupil level data as appropriate. This data will then be used to show a city wide picture to cover all demographics and understand more deeply the impact of our work on attainment, attendance and wellbeing.

Music – Build a Band (Aimed at LKS2) **New for 25/26**

Build a Band is a whole class ensemble programme aimed at lower key stage 2 (Years 3 and 4) and a classroom ensemble progression route to prepare pupils for classroom instrumental learning in UKS2. This is a programme for 1 class for the whole academic year.

ENSEMBLE TRAINING: the programme enables pupils to create musical ensemble pieces using singing and layering of untuned and tuned percussion. The carefully chosen repertoire produces ensemble pieces can then be performed in school concerts, in line with the National Plan for Music Education (2022) and Model Music Curriculum (2022).

TEACHER MUSIC CPD: class teacher involvement is key to the success of the Build a Band programme.  Additionally, working alongside a specialist musician is an excellent music CPD opportunity for class teachers.

INCLUSIVE: the programme is designed to be an accessible, fun and practical approach for all pupils to learn the skills required to play as a musical ensemble, with the focus on class ‘teamwork’ to produce authentic ensemble experiences.

• Standard Package £1,674 - A specialist musician will teach 1 class for 45 minutes each week (30 planned sessions maximum).

This package works alongside your Music Curriculum in school. Co-curricular resources and planning will help to super charge your music curriculum. These have been designed with the support of a primary music specialist and a formal cultural leader in education.

A member of staff is required to be present and support the learning which is taking place during any whole class lessons. A calendar will be provided to show which 30 weeks of the year lessons will take place.

This package is subsidised with funding from the Music Hub Grant from the Department for Education (via Arts Council England).

In order to achieve maximum impact for all our packages school are asked to share pupil level data as appropriate. This data will then be used to show a city wide picture to cover all demographics and understand more deeply the impact of our work on attainment, attendance and wellbeing.

Music – Learn to sing Primary

Our singing packages run for a set 30 weeks over the academic year – they are designed for the same class to have a lesson each week (for 10 weeks a term) for the whole year.

• Standard package £3,262 – an expert vocal music leader will visit your school for half a day per week, 30 weeks across the academic year. A comprehensive singing programme for 3 classes of 30 children each week. This package also includes one CPD for teachers and support staff, Curriculum Support, A scheme of work, repertoire, and resources.

• Enhanced package £6,525 - as above for maximum 6 classes for a full day per week for 30 weeks.

This package works alongside your Music Curriculum in school. Co-curricular resources and planning will help to super charge your music curriculum. These have been designed with the support of a primary music specialist and a formal cultural leader in education.

A member of staff is required to be present and support the learning which is taking place during any whole class lessons. A calendar will be provided to show which 30 weeks of the year lessons will take place.

This package is subsidised with funding from the Music Hub Grant from the Department for Education (via Arts Council England).

In order to achieve maximum impact for all our packages school are asked to share pupil level data as appropriate. This data will then be used to show a city wide picture to cover all demographics and understand more deeply the impact of our work on attainment, attendance and wellbeing.

Music – Choir Bolt On

NOTE - This is only available when purchased alongside a Learn to Sing package. The choir may run within the school day, or immediately before or after it. The choir will automatically become part of our Junior Voices Choir and will be invited to take part in selected performances during the academic year in a variety of venues around the city.

• Standard package £1,705 – includes 30 rehearsals from a vocal specialist, plus 2 performances. The choir leader will work alongside a member of school staff who must assist with the overall running of the choir. Sessions will run for up to 45 minutes.

Music – Design your own music programme (Primary)

Specialist music leaders from £49.87 per hour (min 30 and max 34 lessons) – music specialists are available to design a programme with you. Where lessons take place individually or in small groups, schools can re-charge parents and carers to cover the cost. Instruments are available for families to hire at low cost. For further information contact your Music Leader or the Music Hub office on 0114 250 6860. If you wish to buy in a specialist music leader to run any school choir, singing sessions or music groups an additional 15-minute preparation time per week will be added to the charge.

All packages and projects are subject to instrument availability and mutual agreement on days and times.

Music – Specialist Music Lessons (Secondary School Funded Lessons)

£47.02 per hour for our Specialist Music Leaders and Tutors to deliver 1-2-1 or small group lessons in Secondary Schools. This subsidised rate is designed especially for secondary schools to support meaningful and quality progression for young musicians. Additional discounts may be available for secondary schools that buy in more than 10 hours per week of provision.

Hourly rates to secondary schools are subsidised by approximately £4 per hour (DfE Music Hub Grant) specifically to support musical progression from KS3 to KS5.

Music – Special Schools (Bespoke Special Schools)

• Standard - £475 - This package is ideal for schools where teachers want to be upskilled in delivering classroom music themselves. 

The package contains:

• 2 x ‘Count me In’ resource books (A Musical Resource book written for SEND settings)
• Bespoke CPD for staff led by a SEND music specialist; attendees will be given a bank of ideas and approaches based on SEND musical pedagogy to guarantee appropriate accessibility and progress for every child within a mixed SEND class.

• Enhanced - £1,674 - A SEND music specialist will design and deliver 30 engaging bespoke music lessons to be delivered throughout the academic year. This will culminate in a performance, or an appropriate sharing event.

This inclusive musical package is designed for children with learning difficulties and disabilities working at a broad range of musical development and is intended to be fully adaptable to the group. The package will be delivered over one school year in 10 weekly group sessions per term, each of approximately 45 minutes. Every session should allow opportunities for listening, making music and interacting with others through music. There are lots of short activities planned for each session to manage short attention spans, but if a particular activity produces longer engagement, it can be extended and repeated.

Design your own programme (Special schools)

• Hourly rate from £47.02 – a SEND music specialist will design 30 engaging bespoke music lessons to be delivered throughout the academic year. This will culminate in a performance, or an appropriate sharing event. Sessions can be up to an hour in length.

Music – Musical Programme of Learning for Sheffield Schools

• Percussive Classroom - Instrument hire for existing schools only £200 per set.

• The Recorder Revolution: Standard Package £850

Super charge your teachers’ skills within your school with the Recorder Revolution. The programme is designed to upskill, build confidence, and leave a musical legacy within your school for you to use year after year or across several year groups per year. It is a package designed to work alongside your music curriculum giving your teachers the resources, training, and motivation to deliver high quality music curriculum in your school.

THIS PROGRAMME WILL BE DELIVERED BY YOUR CLASS TEACHERS ON A WEEKLY BASIS

The programme includes:

• High Quality class set of recorders for the children to keep
• Full scheme of work and planning to cover an entire first year of learning.
• Full set of teaching resources and music to play
• Support to link learning into your wider music curriculum and school music development plan
• Termly twilight CPD for participating class teachers, support staff and any other additional staff to launch the programme, upskill the teaching team and introduce the resources and learning scheme.
• Additional class recorder sets are available to purchase for the cost of £295 (price for 30 instruments – specially selected high-quality instruments).