Artist in Residence Case Study Two

Artist in Residence (A.I.R.) is a curriculum level support programme.

It is aimed at assisting heads of department, teachers and students of independent music schools by providing a structured framework culminating in the students being able to sit a grade exam*. It gives department heads and business owners time and space to focus on other aspects of their education business and ensures that their curriculum is not only current, but ahead of the curve. A.I.R. caters for players of all levels by offering NQF qualifications from Level 1 – 6 and for teachers by offering NQF qualifications from level 4 – 6 – all of which are recognised in over 60 countries.

Centre: Perform School, Turin, Italy

Adviser: Paul Hose

Levels: NQF levels 1 – 3

Perform School of Music is a private music school based in Turin, Italy. It’s goal is to provide students with education relevant to the global music industry, both in terms of teaching methods and mental approach to the industry. Focusing their attention on the real challenges encountered by the working musician, either working on tour or in the recording studio. The school partnered with Paul Hose in 2017 – using his Artist in Residence programme in an effort to standardise the teaching offered and delivered.

Primary support in given online at https://mlc-academy.com/courses and a member of our team visits the school periodically to review progress and give seminars. Where visits are not possible, webinars are hosted.

*MLC Group, like many others, subscribe to the opinion: education first, testing second. That is to say: gaining the tools, techniques and the experience is paramount. Qualifications play an extremely important part in today’s society but they are not for every learner. Sitting an exam should be optional, perhaps preferred but not compulsory. The enjoyment of participating in an art form should be the foremost concern for both teacher and student.

To find out more about A.I.R. book a video conference.

Approach

1. Each student undertakes an audition, the objective of which was to assess each person’s approximate ability prescribe the appropriate level of work for the year ahead. Total A.I.R. cohort for 2018-2019 academic year increased by 30% with A.I.R. now begin delivered to the entire school across all instruments;
2. An orientation day is held giving everyone the opportunity to ask questions, gain their website credentials and begin working on the course;
3. The task for the 2019-2020 academic year is to help students manage their expectations. Efforts will be made to explain how guided learning hours and independent learning hours relate to the total qualification time;
4. Monthly online updates will be issued in an effort to moderate everyone’s progression;
   Audio, visual and printed media are published periodically and subsequent visits are made to the school;
5. A mock exam session was held at the school and the final exams were administered by RSL Awards;

Impact

The impact that the A.I.R. programme has had on the school has been measured in the following ways:

The 2017 cohort results:

• Pass rates: 100% pass rate with 60% achieving distinction and a further 30% achieving merit;
• Continued Professional Development: Four members of the school’s teaching team are now studying with Paul and are working towards their Level 4 teaching diploma;
• 99% of the students signed up again for the 2018-2019 academic year;

The 2018 cohort results;

• Pass rates: 100% pass rate with 45% achieving distinction and a further 51% achieving merit;
• The A.I.R. programme is to be given to all students at Perform School in 2019-2020 and beyond thus standardising the education offered within the establishment;
• Thanks to introductions made by Paul, Perform School is now a Rockschool exam centre and has since entered into a strategic partnership with MLC Academy in Nottingham;