IPM News This Week:
Tuesday 1st October 2024
Lesson Timetable
Homework and Learning Diaries
Books, Sheet Music, and USB Flash Drives
Learning Tips
Tech Radar
Lesson Timetable
The New Look Timetable is here, it’s much easier on the eye too!
The IPM timetable has the three colour-coded system which reflects the spinal part of all the RSL grade books. The first column is Period 1 and is coloured green. It is hoped that students studying at Level 1 will be allocated to the first column, it is usually primary school aged students that need an early evening slot. Period 2 is coloured red and is for Level 2 grades 4 and 5 respectfully. Period 3 is coloured blue and is for Level 3 music students studying grade 6 to 8. Green [Period 1. Level 1] = Grades 1 - 3, red [Period 2. Level 2] = Grades 4 & 5, and blue [Period 3. Level 3] = Grades 6 – 8. Where student’s names are in green font, red font, or blue font, denotes level and grade.
Grade 8 music is the final step in level 3 but it stands on its own. Studying and acquiring top marks in any instrument including vocals, is recognised internationally. Even though IPM and GHS students can earn decent UCAS Tariff Points at grade 6 and 7, it is with achieving a distinction in performance at grade 8 that students can earn 30 points.Â
Homework and Learning DiariesÂ
By now every IPM student should have their Learning Diaries. As usual, students should it with them to all lessons and hand to their tutor on arrival. Parents of minors, please ensure that your child follows the same procedure.
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Books, Sheet Music, and USB Flash drives
At the assembly at the start of term, Myke mentioned it is best for students to hold off from buying the graded books. This is because unless a student wants to learn and play three songs from the book, it will not be worth spending unnecessary money when purchasing a song or two, will be more cost effective. Students should by now have chosen their first Rockschool first song choice and loaded both the full and backing track mixes onto their USB flash drive. However, it has been reported that some students are already behind in the syllabus this autumn term. It has also been reported that students / parents are not sure of what USB flash drive to get. Tapping on the link below will help those in search for one. Loading GarageBand or BandLab is straight forward and is the first step. Next is to create an audio track and then drag the audio files of the song onto the track that was created; this whole process is to be repeated for the backing track.
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Learning Tips and Tricks!Â
Practise makes perfect: Do not wait until your next lesson with your tutor, seek help via the chat bubble on the student portal, and be prepared to make significant progress in the lesson that follows.
Tech Radar
Best USB Flash Drives for Audio.
Previous News
Tuesday 17th September 2024
This week’s news cover: -
1.     Important updates on tuition fees
2.     Lesson time allocation
3.     The new Learning Diary and Syllabus
4.     Theme for the Week
1.    Important Update on Payment Options for Music Tuition
Dear Parents and students,
We understand that managing tuition payments can sometimes be challenging, and we are committed to providing flexible options that work for all families. As part of our ongoing efforts to accommodate our students’ needs, we are reintroducing a monthly payment scheme for music tuition.
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Historically, our term-time payment system has been instrumental in maintaining a steady cash flow for all our music programmes. Late payment charges or fines were abolished and there were less administration costs, resulting in a much better system.
However, we recognise that some parents for many reasons, prefer the flexibility of a monthly payment option.
Due to the limitations from banks not offering direct debiting systems for small businesses, we previously required parents to set up standing orders. While many were diligent in making payments by a set day in every month, some experienced challenges, leading to late payments and administrative problems forcing us to introduce late payment charges or fines. To ensure a smooth and fair payment process moving forward, we will implement the following guidelines for the monthly payment scheme.
Potential Change to Term-Time Payments:Â If there are any instances of late or missed payments, we reserve the right to transition your payment arrangement to a term-time payment system.
Immediate Termination of Enrolment: Please be aware that consistent failure to meet the payment deadlines may result in immediate termination of your child’s enrolment in the music course.
3.     Responsibility for Timely Payments: It is essential to ensure that payments are made on time. Your cooperation will help us maintain the quality of our music program and avoid unnecessary complications.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate these changes. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these updates, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for being a valued part of our musical community!
2.    Lesson Time Allocation for This Week
As we embark on the autumn term, we face the ongoing challenge of allocating suitable lesson times for our parents and students. This year, it's particularly tricky to accommodate everyone, especially with the influx of new students registering. We have made every effort to meet your needs; however, we have exhausted our options and must revert to the original timetable plan. Unfortunately, this means we will have to be somewhat inflexible.
Our tutors work part-time, with many traveling over 24 miles to reach I-Play Music. Currently, each tutor commits a minimum of 8 hours per week, which can be distributed across two evenings or one evening and Saturday. We also need to consider our limited teaching space.
Since the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, we have communicated the new timetabling system, but it has not fully met everyone's expectations. We kindly ask for your understanding and flexibility regarding lesson time allocations. Please take note of the following tutor schedules:
Tutor Allocated Teaching Times:
Mondays:Â Closed for recording signed bands
Tuesdays:Â Sade - Teaching Vocals and Level 1 Piano
Wednesdays:Â Sade - Teaching Vocals and Level 1 Piano; Myke. Teaching all instruments
Thursdays:Â Holly - Teaching Bass, Drums, Piano, and Guitar. Robin. Teaching Teaching Piano and Vocals
Fridays:Â Myke - Teaching all instruments; Holly - Teaching Bass, Drums, Piano, and Guitar; Robin - Teaching Piano and Vocals
Saturdays:Â Myke - Teaching all instruments; Hasna - Teaching Bass, Drums, Piano, and Vocals
Please note that students may need to accept lessons with a different tutor than last year. Rest assured, our tutors are highly qualified and dedicated to their roles at I-Play Music. We appreciate your understanding, as the population of the timetable is subject to change. Please keep an eye on it weekly for any updates.
3.    The New Learning Diary 2024 to 2025
The Learning Diary is back and is available via the student’s chat bubble just before the first lesson, and a hard copy will be handed out to students at the start of the first lesson this year. Student’s, bringing your Learning Diary to every lesson is a definite requirement, do not for get it.
4. Theme for the week!Â
Best Practice tip!
Spend the time finding ways to understand the rhythm and how it is used in your first song choice, use GarageBand or BandLab to record your exercises and demonstrate your results to your tutor. Remember to save all work to your flash drive and bring it with you Learning Diary to every lesson.
More information about IPM
Thank you for your time and cooperation, we look forward to a wonderful term ahead!
Team Admin IPM
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