YOUR NEW TERM

INFORMATION PACK

JANUARY - MARCH 2018

Andersonstown

Traditional & Contemporary

Music School

(028) 90 434 894

HAPPY NEW YEAR and WELCOME

Happy New Year and a BIG WELCOME to all of the new pupils who will be starting classesthis term and, of course, a welcome back to all of our returning pupils, and we are delightedwith the interest and number of enquiries received for the forthcoming term.

We have been busy planning and preparing for the new term ahead over the Christmasperiod; and our tutors have all confirmed their availability and are working on their classplans and structures. We have also updated our website where you can download yourtutorial booklets, which you will need for your classes.

If you are a beginner - download the Preliminary Grade Book for the instrument you want tolearn. This will introduce you to the first tunes you will learn and lead you towards the nextstep-by-step level of progression.

For those of you that have attended classes previously or if you already have some playingexperience, you can also download tutorial booklets ranging from Grade 2 - Grade 8 that arerelevant if you that are learning to play a traditional instrument.

Our classes are designed to make the learning of an instrument a fun and enjoyableexperience. We can offer opportunities to gain accredited qualifications, if you choose todevelop your skills further, and periodically, we organise concert performances where youwill be invited to participate.

Look-out for our Ceol-a-Thon

We are looking forward to your support again thisyear for our annual fund-raising busk andsponsorship event, in advance of the St Patrick'sDay Celebrations. This year, we are planning forthe Ceol-a-Thon to take place on Saturday 10thMarch in the Kennedy Centre. This is anopportunity for our pupils to perform andshowcase their talent to the local community.

OUR VENUES

CITY CENTRE (Head Office)

Westcourt Centre8 – 30 Barrack Street

BelfastBT12 4AH

Phone: (028) 90 434 894e-mail: atownmusicschool@gmail.com

NORTH BELFAST

Survivors of Trauma Centre Holy Family Primary School155 Cliftonville Road 14 Newington Avenue

Belfast BelfastBT14 6JR BT15 2HP

SOUTH BELFAST

An Droichead20 Cooke Street

BelfastBT7 2EP

WEST BELFAST

Christian Brothers’ SchoolGlen Road

BelfastBT11 8BW

Andersonstown Traditional and Contemporary Music School

Health & Safety / Child Protection Policies

Andersonstown Traditional and Contemporary Music School (ATCMS) is committed tothe delivery of services that promote good practice and protects children and vulnerableadults from harm. Inherent in this, is the commitment to ensure that young people andchildren who attend our classes are not at risk in any way.

We will seek to protect the safety of children and provide a safe environment by ensuring thatall of our tutors participate in child protection training and are vetted through Access NI, toensure their suitability for working with children and vulnerable adults. All are required topartake in an induction process prior to starting with ATCMS and all must follow a strict codeof conduct which provides excellent guidelines for their work with young people.

To ensure that these measures are adhered to, ATCMS have adopted and implement thefollowing Policies.

· Child Protection Policy

· Health and Safety Policy

· Photographic Policy

· Anti- Bullying Policy

· Adult Pupil Policy

· Staff, Volunteer and Pupil Codes of Conduct

NOTE: Please make your child / children aware of the above and assure themthat they can confidentially discuss any issues that they may have concerns about,with their tutor or any of our staff.

Complaints Policy

A.T.C.M.S. recognises that from time to time some of our users may have complaints,concerns or problems relating to the school that they wish to raise and have addressed.Therefore, we have adopted a Complaints Policy to facilitate these types of issues andensure that they are dealt with fairly and speedily to the satisfaction of all concerned.

If you would like or require more information on our Policies and Procedures, (copies ofwhich are available on request) please feel free to contact us.

Contact Details:Thomas (Maxi) McElroy (Manager)Andersonstown Traditional and Contemporary Music School

Westcourt Centre, 8-30 Barrack Street, Belfast, BT12 4AH

Tel: 028 90 434 894 / 028 90 434 902

Mobile: 07754 466 954 / 07754 592 111

E-mail: atownmusicschool@gmail.com

RGT Graded Music Examinations

Exam Dates and Fees

Guitar

Exam Duration Closing Date

Spring: March / April 2018 1st February 2018

Summer: June / July 2018 1st May 2018

Winter: November / December 2018 1st October 2018

Grade Fees

Initial stage £33.00

Preliminary grade £35.00

Grade 1 £44.00

Grade 2 £50.00

Grade 3 £55.00

Grade 4 £59.00

Grade 5 £65.00

Grade 6 £75.00

Grade 7 £82.00

Grade 8 £94.00

Trinity Graded Music Examinations

Exam Dates and Fees

Piano / Keyboard

Exam Duration Closing Date

Spring: March / 2018 12th January 2018

Summer: June / 2018 13th April 2018

Winter: November / 2018 1st October 2018

Grade Fees

Initial £37.50

Grade 1 £42.50

Grade 2 £47.50

Grade 3 £52.50

Grade 4 £60.00

Grade 5 £67.50

Grade 6 £75.00

Grade 7 £82.50

Grade 8 £95.00

Accredited Examinations - 2018

Closing Dates and Fees

LCM Graded Music Examinations

Exam Dates and Fees

Irish Traditional Instruments

Exam Duration Closing Date

Spring: March / April 2018 1st February 2018

Summer: May / June 2018 21st April 2018

Winter: November / December 2018 01st October 2018

Grade Fees

Step grade £35.00

Grade 1 £47.00

Grade 2 £53.00

Grade 3 £58.00

Grade 4 £62.00

Grade 5 £68.00

Grade 6 £78.00

Grade 7 £85.00

Grade 8 £97.00

JANUARY – MARCH 2018

NEW TERM DATES - AT A GLANCE

Registration and First Class will take place as follows:

Please see new term class leaflet for instrument lists for each venue.* All pupils are required to supply their own instrument *

*** Pupils attending Piano classes require a portable keyboard ***

NORTH BELFAST

VENUE & TIME START DATE MID-TERM / andClosure Days

END OF TERM

Survivors of Trauma6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Monday15th January 2018

Monday12th February 2018

Monday19th March 2018

Holy FamilyPrimary School

7.00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday17th January 2018

Wednesday14th February 2018

Wednesday21st March 2018

SOUTH BELFAST

VENUE & TIME START DATE MID-TERM / andClosure Days

END OF TERM

An Droichead

11.30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Saturday13th January 2018

Saturday03rd March 2018

Saturday17th March 2018

Saturday24th March 2018

WEST BELFAST

VENUE & TIME START DATE MID-TERM / andClosure Days

END OF TERM

Christian BrothersSchool (Tuesday)

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday16th January 2018

Tuesday13th February 2018

Tuesday20th March 2018

Christian BrothersSchool (Thursday)

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Thursday18th January 2018

Thursday15th February 2018

Thursday22nd March 2018

PUPIL CODE OF CONDUCT

NOTE TO ALL PUPILS

In the interests of safety and class discipline, please note the following:

All pupils must:

· ARRIVE ON TIME

· PAY ATTENTION in class

· Leave classrooms EXACTLY as you find them

· DO NOT write on or erase anything from the blackboards

· DO NOT cause damage or vandalise property at any of the venues we use

· DO NOT touch any paperwork or books in the classroom

· RESPECT other people’s property, including instruments and music notes

· BEHAVE PROPERLY at all times:

· NO Bad language

· NO Hitting

· NO Name calling

· NO Spitting

· NO Fighting

· BULLYING BEHAVIOUR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

· NO Running in the corridors

· DO NOT Enter other classrooms

· SWEETS, FOOD AND DRINKS ARE NOT PERMITTED

If you have any problems, comments, complaints or anything you wish to discuss,please contact our office on: (028) 90 434 894 / atownmusicschool@gmail.com

PLEASE NOTE, FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE ABOVEMAY RESULT IN A PUPILS REMOVAL FROM THE SCHOOL

Remember, if you are unable to attend any of your classes, please contact the office andlet us know on (028) 90 434 894 / atownmusicschool@gmail.com

Under 18 - Did you ever consider becoming a tutor?

Classroom Assistants Wanted

Do you know that we have a Classroom Assistant Programme where pupils, underthe age of 18 and of the right standard, can gain skills and valuable experience as‘Classroom Assistants’ in their instrument under the supervision of their classteacher.

This is a volunteering opportunity that will prepare young pupils in advance ofreaching the age of 18, to become tutors themselves and benefit from being able toadd this experience and new skills development to their CV.

We are targeting pupils aged 16+ with and playing ability ofGrade 6 or 8 standard. (pupils above the age of 18 can also be considered if they wishto avail of this experience.) If you think you match this criteria and would beinterested in becoming a assistant please contact us at 90 434 894.

a mature disposition

Patrick O’Hare - Uilleann Pipes

Patrick O’ Hare is an Uilleann piper and pipe maker from Belfast, Ireland. He began playing the tin whistle at age 9 andthen began the pipes at age 12. As a piper he has travelled extensively throughout the world as both a soloist and withvarious groups. His most prolific group work was with The McPeake family and Craobh Rua. He is highly regarded as askilled piper.

As a reedmaker he has established himself as one of the foremost authorities in the world today. His recent publication“A Guide to Reedmaking For The Uilleann Pipes”, launched at the Leo Rowsome Commemorative event in Na PiobairiUilleann in 2013, is now one of the most popular publications on the subject today and is considered a benchmark forlearning reedmaking for the Uilleann Pipes.

With his pipemaking he combines his extensive reedmaking knowledge and engineering expertise to produce pipesthat are crisp and vibrant in sound , paying homage to the great master Leo Rowsome his reeds and pipes are designedand made as one systems to produce a sound that is pure in tone with excellent tuning. The aesthetic of his pipes aredesigned to be uncluttered yet elegant based upon classis examples of Leo Rowsome concert pitch Uilleann pipes.

www.patrickohare.co.uk

2018 marks the 30th birthday of Féile an Phobail

Help us to support and join in the Féile an Phobail celebrations during their special year.

We are planning to provide a number of activities and performances during the year insupport of Féile and, of course, we will providing our annual traditional music sessions

for local commuters on the Metro Buses during Féile an Earraigh in March andFéile an Phobail in August.

This is a fantastic opportunity for our school to showcase and highlight the talent andability of our pupils to our local community, and also to a global audience, through the

platform that Féile offers.

Happy Birthday to Féile - very well done.

Contact Details:Thomas (Maxi) McElroy (Manager)

Andersonstown Traditional & Contemporary Music SchoolWestcourt Centre, 8-30 Barrack Street, Belfast, BT12 4AH

Tel: 028 90 434 894 / 028 90 434 902Mobile: 07754 466 954

E-mail: atownmusicschool@gmail.com

HOW TO FIND USOur address is:Westcourt Centre8-30 Barrack StreetBelfast, BT12 4AH

Falls Rd Divis St Castle St

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A.T.C.M.S. is supported by

Charity Status No: XR 33007Company No: NI 36660

Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC103431

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGLaunch of Strategic Plan & Establishment of Music School Support Group

Light Beverages & Buffet / Venue & Time to be confirmed

Thursday 15 February, 2018th

We will be holding our Annual General Meeting on Thursday 15 February2018, and we invite and encourage new members with relative skills,knowledge and experience, for nomination to our board.

If you think you have something to offer, at a Governance level within theschool, and would like to help us provide the leadership and determination todevelop the School further request a Nomination Form by e-mail and return itto us no later than Thursday 8 February 2018.

Additionally, we are aiming to establish a Music School Support Group thatcould support us in a practical way through fund-raising activities,volunteering, promotion, lobbying and advocacy.

We remain committed to making the art of music accessible and affordable forall. We believe that through our activities, we can contribute to the personaldevelopment of individuals involved, while addressing social and economicissues within our changing society.

We ask for your expression of support.

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The Board have reviewed and updated our Strategic Plan that they l also

the . The plan establishes our Aims / Objectives / and Targets for

the school's development, over the next 3 years, 2017 - 2020.

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present at AGM