The UK-based music education foundation Musical Futures has named the BSN one of its Champion Schools, the first in the Netherlands.
Musical Futures in a non-profit organisation that provides accessible, student-led opportunities to create music, and supports the training and tools necessary for primary and secondary school teachers to transform mandatory music teaching into something that inspires growth through the power of music. Being named a Musical Futures Champion school means that teaching staff are especially innovative in using the principles of a hands-on approach to music making that is driven by a student’s individual motivation to inspire a love of music within their students.
Luke Kemmett, KS2 music teacher at Junior School Vlaskamp, has been following the Musical Futures approach for nearly 10 years, and through this he has noticed a significant uptick in interest of students towards getting involved in music. Ways he puts this approach into practice include allowing students to choose their own songs, encouraging and giving space for students to form their own bands and finding exciting ways to showcase student performances in both formal and informal settings.
“In three years we have turned music into one of the key selling points of the [British School in the Netherlands], with very popular lunchtime and after school music clubs, a whole-school Performing Arts Week, weekly year group choir sessions, concerts, productions and tours."
This approach to music education is a part of the BSN’s larger commitment to allowing students to take ownership of their experience, explore their interests and have the space and support to grow their interests into careers and lifelong passions.
Read Luke Kemmett's full interview with Musical Futures here.
