First Access

Durham Music Service complements our existing curriculum by helping children develop required musical techniques in order to achieve end of key stage expectations. They have been a fundamental part of our music curriculum for the last 10 years and we love working with them to continuously develop our music provision at Reid Street.
Children thoroughly enjoy their lessons with the Durham Music Service staff and they provide exciting and engaging lessons to cater for all learners.

Natalie Perry, Reid Street Primary School
Darlington

Every child can explore the magic of instrumental learning as part of the First Access scheme. These programmes introduce pupils to instrumental learning in a fun and inclusive way. They are carefully designed to develop pupils’ love of, confidence and progress in music, while also enhancing their personal and educational development as a whole.

Recorder
Strings
Ukulele
Guitar
Voice
Woodwind
Wind Band
Brass
Percussion
Rock & Pop
Digital

Sessions include a wide variety of musical activities and build musical understanding in a progressive and fun way. The use of voice is integral to the sessions and can contribute to overall vocal development within your school. Each school can access subsidised teaching time to put towards our range of programmes of up to two terms of provision FREE (dependent on school size). Please contact us to find out more about your subsidy.

1 hour per week for the year	2,725
1 hour per week for the year with 2 teachers WIND BAND programme	4,460
1.5 hours per week for the year (2x45mins)	4,040
2 hours per week for the year	5,235
3 hours per week for the year	7,715
4 hours per week for the year	10,375
5 hours per week for the year	12,595

I loved doing mini trombone First Access in year 4 so much
that I wanted to carry on. Playing the trombone is great.
It makes me feel happy and I enjoy playing it. I like reading the
music and I like the happiness I feel when I can play it right!

Daniel

Terms and Conditions

Latest

Leadgate Methodist Concert

DMS Stars Band Consett and DMS Consett Wind Band are excited to be joined by The Glendale Choir for an evening of music making in celebration of International Make Music Day. All three groups will perform individually, with a joint grand finale singalong to finish! Leadgate Methodist Church 7 p.m. Admission free. Refreshments available after the performance.
Rock and Pop @ New College LIVE STREAM

Durham Music Services and New College are teaming up to wrap up the incredible journey of our secondary school bands. After months of dedicated preparation with Durham Music Staff, it all comes together in a thrilling day-long workshop and concert as part of the Big Play celebration. Don’t miss the live stream of this spectacular showcase of young talent!
Durham Music Young Musician 2024

Durham Music is thrilled to announce that the Young Musician of the Year competition is back again.
Mini Big Play LIVE STREAM

Join us this Summer for the Mini Big Play streaming live into your settings to deliver a fun and interactive music session for children in EYFS.

Tiny Fingers

For your youngest learners in EYFS, we provide fun and engaging music sessions to develop musical skills and relationships through musical games, songs and rhymes. The sessions focus on aspects of musical learning and development as detailed in Musical Development Matters: Hearing and Listening; Vocalising and Singing; Moving and Dancing and Exploring and Playing.
SEND

Musical activity gives powerful, validating, multi-sensory and kinaesthetic experiences to children with SEND, supporting the development of the whole child.
Little Fingers

Little Fingers is a programme designed for your young learners in KS1 and can build on musical learning and development from the Tiny Fingers programme. Musical skills are learnt through singing games and rhymes, and by developing children’s confidence in using untuned percussion instruments.
Progression

To make the very best of your First Access programme, Durham Music Service has created several pathways for progression to choose from that best suit the needs of your pupils
Singing in Schools

Durham Music Service supports safe singing following the latest government advice. Singing together is a great way to learn about music, bring your school community together and to support wellbeing for students and staff.
Rock and Pop

Whether you are looking to create a whole class rock band, bring a rock gig to your school hall, or compose your own school anthem, Durham Rocks can help. With opportunities to learn instrumental skills through our First Access programmes, expert guidance to develop a rock choir or band, and bespoke composition and music production options in our song writing and music technology courses, we have programmes to get your school rocking!
DMS Virtual

Recent times have shown that creativity can continue and thrive online! Durham Music Service is delighted to enhance our face-to-face delivery with an exciting range of virtual musical opportunities. DMS Partners (schools who subscribe to our in-school provision beyond their subsidy) receive substantial discounts on DMSV.
CPD

Durham Music Service offers a wide range of training sessions designed to help you develop an engaging music curriculum. The school-based sessions can be booked as one-offs or in a series across the school year. Each session is one hour and can take place after school or during the school day for whole staff training or designated teachers. In addition to our listed CPD programmes, we offer fully bespoke sessions.