Learning opportunities at Coventry Music Museum

Coventry Music Museum welcomes groups of visitors of all ages & with a wide range of interests & needs.

Since opening three years ago, we have welcomed thousands of visitors from around the globe.

This has included a range of groups carrying out educational activities from pre-school age to University students and many with particular education needs. Indeed, education is a key part of the mission of the Museum and this has in part contributed to the range of awards and accolades it has received including recently the bestowal of a British Empire Medal on its creator, Pete Chambers and a visit from the CEO of the Arts Council.

We can offer a substantial range of learning opportunities:

• An overview of the musical heritage of Coventry & Warwickshire from Roman times to the present day
• Specific foci on eras within the timeline such as the modern era, the Two Tone phenomenon, the 1950s, 60s, 70s etc
• More detailed input on significant figures from the local area such as Delia Derbyshire, the creative genius whose work underpins so much modern electronic music.
• A key focus we are very proud of is to look not just at the Two Tone Movement but the context & philosophy behind it: its impact on society, its role in challenging racism and even the part it played in raising awareness of the plight of Nelson Mandela.
• More hands-on activities include the opportunity to play a wide range of actual instruments such as theremin, acoustic & electric guitars, a bass guitar, mandolin, tuned percussion etc.
• As can be imagined, there are many things to listen to as well as watch and observe.
• There are a number of identified art activities and several carefully worked out photo opportunities to provide material for use back in the classroom etc.

In addition, led by Pete Chambers, a team from the Museum has created the Heritage Lottery funded “Articles in Sound” project, capturing the history of Coventry & Warwickshire music & offering further resources for use in education. The strands of the project are

• A book (available from the Museum)
• A three hour film featuring original material such as new interviews with leading local musical figures (available free online). Since this consists of a series of foci, it lends itself to watching in episodes rather than a single three hour viewing.
• A website
• A free App which can support field work in terms of visits to key landmarks in local music history
• A mural outside the Museum which lends itself to a variety of learning opportunities

As regards the National Curriculum, the Museum offers valuable learning opportunities in these areas:

• English
• Art & Design
• Citizenship
• Design & Technology
• History
• Music

Outside the National Curriculum, we can tailor packages for various learning projects, to meet the needs of visitors with specific learning difficulties and we can support Further & Higher Education research.

For further information, please contact Pete Chambers (tencton@hotmail.com) to discuss your specific needs.

The nature of the Museum’s environment is such that subdividing groups into smaller units means that each member gets the most out of their visit, especially in the more interactive activities.

Equally, planning is helpful in terms of access too: the Museum is on two levels & we facilitate access upstairs for those visitors with mobility issues with use of a stair climber.