The National Association of Music Educators is delighted to have been awarded pound;8,000 by the Department for Education and Employment to develop our website to help support teachers of music in primary and secondary schools. The money was made available as part of the national grid for learning developments, and everyone will have open access to the many improvements in the site, with extra information and material for NAME members.

It will give teachers a powerful new way to gain knowledge, keep up to date and feel part of a wider music education profession. We hope our site will encourage teachers and others from all over the country to talk to and learn from each other. NAME is working on a joint project with the Federation of Music Services on the schemes of work for instrumental teachers as a follow-up to the Common Framework for instrumental and classroom teaching developed last year.

Another collaboration, this time with Bath Spa University College, is on a substantial research project to define effective practice in the teaching of composing, particularly at key stage 3. A publication for schools derived from the research will be launched as part of NAME’s national conference in July. The upgraded work will also be available in an interactive form on the website, with the opportunity t listen to pupils’ work, look at lesson plans and watch various different styles of teaching. It may also be available as a CD-Rom if funding is found.

NAME is a descendant of MANA, the music advisers’ national association, and now represents the full range of those involved in music education: classroom and instrumental teachers, advisers, inspectors, higher education lecturers, independent consultants and people who work in businesses allied to music education.

We work very closely with other organisations such as the DFEE, the QCA and the Music Education Council in furthering the cause of music education.

There are particular concerns for music in primary schools in relation to both initial training and continuing professional development. We are contributing to the debate about the long-term plans for the Standards Fund, which so far has enabled many local education authority music services - but not all - to increase and improve the provision they make for schools.

We make sure that the voice of teachers, LEA services and higher education is heard. Contact us through our administrator, at the address below, for more information about activities and membership.

Anice Paterson is chair of the National Association of Music Educators, 16 Pinions Road, High Wycombe, HP13 7AT. Tel: 01494 473410. E-mail: musiceducation @name.org.ukwebsite: www.name.org.uk