Tuesday 19th March 

Office Contact 

07825 202596 

[email protected] 

Current situation 

In light of recent advice from government around patterns of working and social gatherings Durham Music Service has reviewed its current working practices: 

Durham Music Service Office  

Admin and management staff are now working remotely. Ushaw college where we are based is now closed to visitors.

All teaching staff (including management) will be delivering in schools unless the school is closed to visitors, has closed for a deep clean or the teacher is not able to be in school (see below for the alternate arrangements which will be in place). 

The email inbox ([email protected]) and office number 07825 808596 will be manned throughout working office hours. 

Ensembles and Events 

All Durham Music Service ensembles and events will be cancelled and postponed with immediate effect. 

Those in partnership with a school, e.g. a member of DMS staff conducting a school ensemble, will be decided at the discretion of the school. 

Exams 

All music exams are postponed. 

If you have paid for the exams this money will be rolled over for the next exam date, we won’t accept any more payments for exams and will contact you when the new date is confirmed to make the payment. 

Small Group Lessons 

In all cases DMS will teach all pupils either in person if the school is open and (and the teacher is able to be in school) or via YUMU , which is an online platform where you child’s teacher will post resources and materials for pupils to work on that they would have covered during lessons. Staff will be sharing login details with each pupil, if you have not received this please contact us  

• The minimum lessons DMS will deliver in a school per term is 8 (most pupils should have received 9 lessons by the week beginning 16th March 2020, with 2 lessons remaining).  

Whole Class Lessons 

DMS will continue to teach lessons within school, providing the advice from DFE is for the school to remain open.  

• Where staff are absent through self-isolation or mild illness, they will email work to the appropriate class that can be delivered by a non-specialist 

• If the school is closed the Staff member will email work that can be sent to the pupils individually to complete at home. 
• Guaranteed minimum lessons per year (pro-rata) is 27 (currently most schools with full year programmes have had 22) 

Sharing of Instruments 

• No BLOWN instruments are to be shared between pupils or staff 

• In cases where schools are sharing one class set between two (or more classes) staff will contact the school to arrange this. All lessons will go ahead but it maybe that the 2nd class will not be able to play instruments rather sing or work on musical concepts within the progress map.  

• Staff will have bottles of Sterisol to sterilise mouth pieces if the need arises. 
• Small Group Pupils must not share instruments or mouth pieces 

• Sharing NON BLOWN instruments 

• Instruments such as violins or percussion instruments can be shared, but pupils and staff must wash their hands prior to playing.