Hello Gary,
As a first step I would suggest that you get a copy of the national curriculum for music, if you haven't already done so. You can find it at www.nc.uk.net. That will enable you to see how your work best links to the statutory national curriculum.
I would then suggest you think through how you intend to take account of whatever previous musical experiences the pupils have had, in the schools you work with, either as part of their school music curriculum, or maybe as a result of musical experiences outside of their school. (Private piano lessons, self taught guitarist, sings in local church choir etc).
Finally, think about what the school might do after your visit to develop any interest that your workshops spark in their young people.For me, this is what working in partnership and subscribing to the aims of the Music Manifesto is all about.
It means that the young people get the best possible joined up experiences from inspiring and committed musicians such as yourself. And that those experiences don't leave them high and dry, but offer pathways to them to becoming developing young musicians in their own right.
Of course, the funding side is more difficult! But you might look at the music technology side of your work as a way of appealing to the schools - they should be delivering ICT across the curriculum. And you might also consider an after school session as part of the extended schools programme.Hope this helps - and apologies if you are already doing all of this. If you are, then all that remains is to contact your Local Authority and ask how best you can contact the schools in your area.
Good luck!
Dick Hallam
I believe that every child and indeed every person deserves the opportunity to learn an instrument and to take their music making as far as they wish to, irrespective of their musical or physical ability. If it gives them pleasure isn't that enough?
Of course, we must challenge, motivate, support and encourage everyone to work towards excellence. Otherwise people may never realise what they are capable of. But let us never spoil the love of music or put people off music making because they don't have whatever 'exceptional brain/hand co-ordination' may mean.