A joint research project between East Ayrshire Council, Drake Music Scotland, and the RSAMD’s (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) Musicworks programme.
The programme was designed as a pilot programme to evaluate two different yet interrelated learning and teaching concepts:
- Try out a full class approach to string tuition using Figurenotes notation and gauge its effectiveness in accelerating the process of learning to play and read music with larger groups
- Work with educators and string teachers experienced in orchestral tuition with young people to develop an approach combining other proven methods with Figurenotes
Quotes taken from a follow up article in TES:
‘One Greenmill P3 class was taught using Figurenotes and the other using conventional notation. Six months later the benefits of the former were apparent, says Mr Gray. “The class using it were months ahead in their reading and understanding of rhythm. When it came to bowing they could immediately see how long a stroke should be from the shape of the note.”
“We converted them to conventional notation in a 40-minute lesson, where I explained it was like different languages and from now on they would be using this new one. They’ve never looked back. So when it came to starting the P1s and P2s a few weeks ago, we had no hesitation in using it with them.”
“When Paul first came to me and suggested trying Figurenotes with young children in the mainstream, I was very sceptical. But there is no doubt that it works.”‘
