The Isle of Wight Music Service has, in one form or another, been providing instrumental tuition to local education authority (LEA) schools on the Island for more than half a century
Currently, some 3,000 pupils a week in 49 primary, secondary and special schools receive weekly instrumental and vocal tuition from a team of 24 qualified and experienced staff.
In addition all LEA schools are offered and regularly benefit from an extensive programme of workshops, concerts and other special projects, including the provision of ‘world instruments’ provided by the Solent Music Project, a major collaboration with our sister services in Portsmouth and Southampton.
The Saturday morning Music Centre meets on 24 term-time weekends as well as for occasional long-weekend courses and concert tours and provides further ensemble experience and tuition for some 300 young musicians drawn from all parts of the Island, and who take part in three wind bands, four orchestras, two choirs, a stage band, three recorder ensembles, keyboard and theory classes. Full information can be found at the Isle of Wight Music Centre website at www.iwmc.org.uk/
Guidelines on instrumental tuition, the Music Centre prospectus and copies of agreement forms can also be found at http://www.iwmc.org.uk/downloads/
The Isle of Wight Music Service also provides an interactive learning environment under the auspices of 'Charanga', which can be found http://www.iwmsinteractive.org.uk/