INSET
Teacher Training from ABRSM (INSET)
At ABRSM, we support the career-long professional development of music teachers through our innovative courses and online learning resources.
We can offer UK schools, music hubs and services a wide-ranging suite of INSET presentations, all delivered by our network of experienced examiners and presenters. We have topics suitable for both instrumental and classroom music teachers. All of our training is CPD accredited by CPDUK.
The full list of presentations is below – each session explores new repertoire, resources and teaching ideas, packed with useful ideas to take back into teaching. They are inspirational, practical and above all musical!
Our sessions last for 90 minutes but we can accommodate longer time periods if requested. Most of our sessions can be delivered online if preferred. Please check the details of the session you’re interested in below and let us know when you book whether you’d prefer face to face or online delivery.
We are always keen to support visits that bring together a wide and diverse community of practising musicians and teachers – if you can guarantee a minimum of 100 delegates, we’ll waive the presentation fee. This could involve coming together with local schools or hubs/services in your area.
“Both presenters delivered superb presentations which were interesting and inspiring and I hope much can now be used in our VMT’s daily teaching.”
The Schools at Somerhill
“I got lots of practical ideas to help my teaching. The presenter was friendly and relaxed.”
City of Edinburgh Instrumental Music Service
“Very straightforward and easy to book.”
Bedford Music Cooperative
Available as face to face or online delivery
Motivation and progression are two vital ingredients of successful learning. We will look at the challenges of maintaining both motivation and progression, and positive ways to invigorate one in order to turbo-charge the other!
Is assessment only about exams? And are exams only about assessment? By exploring the links between motivation, attainment, assessment and progression, this session explores how musical assessment can be used in a helpful and holistic way for all concerned – one that supports and guides progression in terms of the process itself and the outcome.
Available as face to face only
In this session we will share lesson ideas and activities to inspire your pupils’ love of music and learning, helping them to gain an understanding of the core elements of music: pitch, time, tone, shape and performance. These key ingredients are the skills that ABRSM examiners assess, although they apply to any music learning context, within or outside the exam. This is a hands-on, practical session that can be designed around 1:1 teaching, small or large groups, or class music lessons.
Available as face to face or online delivery
Discover ABRSM’s new exam repertoire in a session of practical demonstrations and discussions which explore a variety of musical approaches to teaching the music set for Grades 1–8.
This session will highlight themes and pathways that help to enable and sustain progression. We’ll also look at imaginative ways to focus your students’ exam preparation around the aspects of musical performance that examiners assess and help them to engage with the music with enthusiasm and confidence.
Available as face to face or online delivery
This session explores the vital relationship between knowledge, understanding and the practical and creative skill.
Highlighting the importance of music theory, this session uses a range of practical ways to demonstrate some of the intricate, inextricable connections between practical control and mental awareness, and between musical literacy and articulacy, showing how musical knowledge and understanding lies at the heart of successful music-making.
Available as face to face or online delivery
This session will provide you with helpful insights and understanding of this addition to ABRSM’s music exam offer. Performance Grades provide exciting new flexibility and accessibility in terms of where, when and how you take your exam.
They provide an opportunity for students to put together their own personal programme of music to perform and video-record, including one free-choice repertoire item. These exams now sit alongside ABRSM’s familiar Practical Grades, providing equal recognition, reliability and quality of feedback from the same ABRSM examiner team.
During the session, we will explain the rationale behind these assessments, how ABRSM examiners mark Performance Grades and how this different kind of exam can benefit a student as part of their musical learning journey.
There will also be a chance to ask questions at the end of the presentation.
Available as face to face or online delivery
This session will focus on our performance-only diploma, the ARSM.
It covers what’s involved in an ARSM exam, who the exam is for and its benefits for students, the relationship between Grade 8 and ARSM, top tips for creating a programme, and how the marking criteria works in practice.
There will also be a chance to ask questions.
Available as face to face or online delivery
This session will provide you with helpful insights and understanding of ABRSM’s exam offer for musical theatre singers; our face-to-face Practical Grade exams and digital Performance Grade exams. Our new Performance Grade exams provide equal recognition, reliability and quality feedback from the same ABRSM examiner team as our longstanding Practical Grade exams.
During the webinar, we will explain the rationale behind these assessments, how ABRSM examiners mark exams and how exams can benefit a student as part of their musical learning journey.
There will also be a chance to ask questions.
Available as face to face or online delivery
Classroom 200 is a free online resource for music teachers working with learners up to the age of 14.
In this session, we will unpack the resource, demonstrating how it can be used creatively and simply in the classroom and also in instrumental or vocal lessons. Performing & singing, listening and composing are taken in turn, and we will discover how skills are developed from through primary and secondary school using Classroom 200, by directly relating it to your curriculum. By the end of this session you will be able to confidently use Classroom 200 in your music making, and you will leave the session with many practical examples of how it supports children to progress with their music making. Register for the resource in advance at www.classroom200.org
Please bring your instruments.
Available as face to face or online delivery
When teaching really works, it’s informed by belief, passion, a desire to communicate and share the joy of music, underpinned of course, by skills and expertise. In this session, we will explore the values that make us tick as a teacher, and how we can identify our areas for our own development. We’ll
consider making a promise, a new year’s resolution if you like, to putting one of our values first this year and ensuring we keep ‘checking-in’ with ourselves.
We will explore some key areas of our free CPD accredited course on the ABRSM Teacher Hub, Reflecting on your Practice in a fun and engaging workshop. We’ll also be discussing the new starts and clean slates we are giving our pupils, so bring some of your favourite tutor books to the session too.
Come prepared, to be open to possibilities and learning. We look forward to getting to know you in this session.
Available as face to face or online delivery
ABRSM’s Practical Exams and Performance Grades provide opportunity for us to consider the strengths and areas of development of our pupils to determine the assessment option that’s right for them.
In this session we will provide you with helpful insights and understanding into both the Practical Exam and the Performance Grade exams. During the session, we will explain the rationale behind both the Performance Grades and the Practical Grades, delve into the marking criteria and consider how these exams can benefit a student as part of their musical learning journey. You’ll also get a chance to mark some exams too!
There will also be a chance to ask questions at the end of the presentation.
Available on the Teacher Hub or as face to face delivery
Train to become a Teacher Assessor so you can use ABRSM’s Music Medals Assessments. This training session will equip you with the skills needed to administer and assess Music Medals as well as introduce you to the different Options Tests available to you and your pupils. This session is only available in the UK.
Online Training is available on demand via our Teacher Hub. Fill in the Teacher Assessor Registration Form and you’ll be sent information on how to access this training. You can complete this at your own pace, and you’ll have lifetime access to the course so you can top up your knowledge when you need to. It’s CPD accredited too, so you’ll get a certificate from CPDUK after you complete the training.
Available as face to face or online delivery
Understanding the way ABRSM exams are assessed will support the entire exam journey for you and your pupil, from preparation right through to the exam itself, and beyond to getting the most from the mark form.
You'll gain helpful insights into the aspects of musical performance that you and your pupils need to consider to work effectively towards an ABRSM exam. The session will also explain the principles behind the exam structure and how it works and, using recorded examples, how examiners apply the ABRSM marking criteria to assess each section of the exam.
You will come away with a clear understanding of how the mark form comments are intended to help support and guide your pupils’ future musical development.
*This session can be targeted to ABRSM G1-8 Practical exams, Jazz exams, Singing for Musical Theatre or Performance Diplomas upon request.
Available as face to face or online delivery
This session will provide you with information about how the Teaching Diplomas are assessed, how to prepare for each of the elements of the diploma as well as some helpful hints about making your entry. We’ll also run through some of the practical considerations required when preparing to build your teaching portfolio.
Available as face to face or online delivery
Our diplomas allow candidates to demonstrate their practical performance skills in a live performance environment and their knowledge and understanding, relevant to their programme and performance through a piece of supporting evidence. This session will provide you with information about how the Performance Diplomas are assessed, how to help your candidates build their programme for their performance and what is required in the supporting evidence. We’ll also run through some of the practical considerations required when preparing for the performance.
We regularly update our INSET offer, so please check this page for details of new sessions.
Still don’t see a presentation that meets your needs? We are often able to tailor sessions for teachers – recently, this has included sessions around our jazz exams, and on new syllabus repertoire. Please get in touch with us by email to discuss your requirements.
These INSET presentations are available to all UK schools, music hubs and services. If you are a private organisation or based outside the UK and you are looking for CPD from ABRSM, please get in touch, tell us more about your needs and we will be happy to talk to you. In the meantime, why not check out our courses, resources and online events on the Teacher Hub.
Bookings
Bookings must be requested at least 30 days before the INSET date. Periods of high demand are April, September and January.
No photography or filming is permitted by attendees at these events.
