Let’s make music! Engaging and supporting non-specialist music teachers

The Ear Academy is a comprehensive school’s music programme, providing curriculum-aligned individual, medium, and long-term planning alongside bitesize CPD and video guides. They shared their tips on how to engage and support non-specialist music teachers with their curriculum knowledge, pedagogical understanding, and confidence when teaching music.

Music is a wonderful tool for learning, both as a discrete subject and as a teaching tool across the curriculum. Yet in today’s educational landscape, many schools find themselves with a distinct lack of teaching expertise in this area. Frequently, peripatetic teachers or music leads are few and far between, meaning non-specialist teachers pick up the mantle. Teachers are incredibly adaptable professionals – but we all need guidance when approaching a new subject.

In this blog, we’ll share our best tips and advice for senior leaders when equipping non-specialist teachers to deliver engaging, exciting lessons.

Curriculum knowledge

At The Ear Academy, we are well versed in the frequency of non-specialists finding themselves with the responsibility of delivering music teaching. There are three common strands to the concerns non-specialists have in this area, but first we’ll focus on curriculum knowledge.

Many teachers will be worried that they do not have the subject knowledge required to deliver engaging music lessons. For primary teachers, they will likely have covered music as part of their training – but on a very minimal scale. Secondary teachers may feel even more acutely aware of their limited musical knowledge if their subject specialism is robust in another specific area. Teachers of all phases may have never played a musical instrument, could have minimal knowledge of musical theory, and may not have a working knowledge of musical terminology. Add this all together, and teachers might feel like they’re trying to teach a language they’ve never spoken!

This is an absolutely understandable concern to have, and there are lots of ways to bring in support. A great start is conducting a short, self-guided audit of subject knowledge for staff so that they can spot where they need extra support, and where they are already confident. They might surprise themselves!

With a good gauge of where teachers are most confident, it’s a great idea to support non-specialists in their teaching with clearly planned lessons from a trusted source. This may be internally designed by a previous music teacher, or a peripatetic teacher that can support. Alternatively, you might consider bringing in a full package providing individual, medium-term and long-term music planning for all phases, like those from our team at The Ear Academy.

Pedagogy

Next up, pedagogy. Teaching music involves a whole host of skills and teaching methods that are natural to subject specialists, but may not be to those uninitiated. From the best ways to deliver singing teaching through to how a teacher should relay information on different rhythms, it can feel a little overwhelming.

A great way to work on this issue is by providing visual demonstrations. If you do have an occasional peripatetic music teacher, consider bringing them in on a staff training session which discreetly shares teaching techniques and methods. If this isn’t available, you may also be able to find video demonstrations for specific areas of music online. We embed visual demonstrations of new pedagogical techniques and teaching methods throughout all of our lesson plans, so if you’re using us, you’re all covered!

Confidence

Finally, with all the lesson plans and visual demonstrations in the world, confidence can still be a real stumbling block for non-specialist music teachers. Our best recommendation for supporting teachers who are still unsure of their abilities in music is thorough continuous professional development (CPD). Consider providing CPD at the start of a school term, if you know which staff are to teach music, or better yet, find bitesize CPD that can work alongside lesson progress. At The Ear Academy, we had non-specialist teachers in mind when we designed our ‘learn as you go’ CPD, which provides short video instruction at the beginning of every lesson strand and individual lesson plan, allowing teachers to be secure in their knowledge before they welcome their class for the day.

It’s the music that matters

We hope that these tips and tricks support your non-specialist teachers in their music teaching journey. Music is a wonderful subject with skills and knowledge that benefit all areas of the curriculum – and above all, the important thing is that your school delivers it. Whether taught by specialists of 20 years through to enthusiastic newly qualified teachers, getting music out there with your pupils is the focus.

Unsure of where to begin? We’re here to help. At The Ear Academy, we provide a comprehensive music programme including individual, medium and long term lesson plans, bitesize CPD to upskill your teachers, and streamlined teaching methods across all key phases. Designed by teachers, inspired by musicians. Head to our website to find out how The Ear Academy can support your teachers, pupils, and school community.