Classroom Instrumental Learning

Please note that CIL is included in our support packages, and in the majority of cases these provide better value. However, we offer CIL as a stand-alone purchase in order to allow schools to make the best decision for them. 

Classroom Instrumental Learning (CIL) is our programme of support to enable all Key Stage 2 pupils to have the opportunity to learn an instrument – a key expectation of the National Plan for Music Education.

The aim of this programme is to:

• Inspire pupils and teachers to see themselves as musicians

• Develop enjoyment and skills in instrumental learning

• Create a culture of music within school

• Provide opportunities for pupils to develop their music making skills

We want to empower teachers to make choices about their programme and to help you decide which CIL programme is best for your school. 

We want to support school budgets and create capacity by giving schools the choice of whether they need to hire instruments and/ or need a teacher to support with delivery of the programme, or whether they can provide all of this in-house.

Furthermore, pupils who complete any of our CIL programmes can access free instrument hire for a year through our Next Steps scheme.

We offer two distinct stand-alone versions of CIL;

Visiting Musician Model

If you choose to have a Visiting Musician in school with you, then the programme will have a greater emphasis on team-teaching to support and upskill the teacher involved in the programme.

The benefits of this programme are:

  • A greater emphasis on team teaching and sustainable skills development in school
  • Support staff in their own professional development and enable them to get to ‘the next level’ of confidence in delivery
  • Enable class teachers and Music Subject Leaders to deliver instrumental learning in future years and create a sustainable programme for your school.

We will work with you to design your programme and support you to increase your confidence to deliver instrumental and musical learning at a level that works for you and your pupils. The programme will be devised and planned together to create a sustainable programme for your school.

If your school is booking for one class, and you do not own the instruments or equipment for the CIL programme, please purchase both the Visiting Musician Model plus a class set of instruments/equipment for the class involved. If you purchase the Visiting Musician Model for 2 or more classes, there is no need to do this as instruments and equipment are included.

Video Resource Model

Video Resource Classroom Instrumental Learning – Our video resources offer a fantastic opportunity for teachers to deliver Classroom Instrumental Learning themselves, keeping the benefits of flexibility in your delivery, but also providing a fully resourced scheme of lessons for Samba, recorder, ukulele, and music technology (via YuStudio on the Charanga platform). These lessons come with videos and ready-made slides so you can simply plug in and go with very little extra preparation or planning required by the class teacher. If you need a class set of instruments, we are on hand to provide this (costs apply) and offer delivery and collection of these instruments meaning a seamless offer for your pupils to experience the joy of learning a musical instrument.

To purchase Classroom Instrumental Learning, please visit our Nexus page.

Next Steps – after Classroom Instrumental Learning

Free instrument loan offer

We want every child to be able to experience the joy of music and are offering a free instrument loan for children who have completed a programme of Classroom Instrumental Learning this year. As part of our ‘Next Steps’ programme, we can offer a free instrument loan for one year to pupils who are learning with a music teacher or attending a music club in the school setting – this could be during or out of school hours.

You are welcome to run a club yourselves or you could use your existing music teachers to access this offer – we encourage you to speak with them to see if they would like to deliver a demonstration or talk to your class about what it’s like to learn to play their instrument.

We want children to follow their own musical paths so giving a choice of instrument will set children on their journey of music and hopefully create a lifelong love of music. If you don’t currently have any music tuition happening in school, then do get in touch with us to see which local teachers we could put you in contact with.

What do I need to do now?

  • Speak to your staff and visiting music tutors about this free instrument offer for children who have completed Classroom Instrumental Learning.
  • Ask your staff if they could run a music club.
  • Ask your music tutors if they have capacity for more pupils and if they would like to do a demonstration about what they can offer to generate interest
  • Work with the tutor to send home a letter to parents with lesson information and ask for sign up via return slip
  • Liaise with the tutor about how many pupils they have gained for next term and how much time they will need
  • Ask if the music tutor would like to complete the instrument request form or complete this yourself if not – (you will need to complete a separate form for each instrument type).
  • Instruments will then be delivered to the school for the relevant pupils on a one-year free loan agreement.

To access this offer, we ask your Music Subject Lead, Headteacher or tuition provider to complete this ‘Next Steps’ Instrument loan request form.

Please note…

Your school must request the instrument(s) within one term of the ‘Classroom Instrumental Learning’ programme coming to an end.

The instrument(s) requested for the Next Steps initiative don’t have to be the same instrument the pupils are learning during the 10-week, whole-class Classroom Instrumental Learning programme. 

Whilst the instruments can go home between lessons, the person who completed the hire request remains ultimately responsible for them.

If the pupil wants to continue using the instrument after the initial 12 month free loan, their parents/carers will need to request to hire the instrument directly from us via our Instrument Hire page. Full hire costs will apply at this point, unless the pupil is eligible for our Help with Fees funding.

Safeguarding and DBS checks of private tutors is the responsibility of each school. If you would like any advice or guidance, or need help engaging instrumental tutors please contact us at dorsetmusicservice@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Pupils who have already hired an instrument for tuition will not be entitled to a refund in order to access the free offer.

Musical Next Steps – other pathways

We know that instrumental lessons aren’t the only pathway for pupils to follow when they want to take their ‘next steps’ on their musical journeys.

To find out more about other musical pathways, please contact us at dorsetmusicservice@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or make sure you attend your Locality Area Music Network meeting to find out how we can support you and your pupils.

For more information about Classroom Instrumental Learning and Next Steps, please contact us: