From our year-long Music in the Classroom programme to one-off Creative Days, training opportunities for primary school teachers focus on developing confidence and strategies for using music creatively in the classroom.
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Music in the Classroom One-Year Programme
Are you looking to grow confident, creative music leaders in your school? Do you want to empower every child to participate and flourish while strengthening wellbeing for both pupils and staff? Put genuinely inclusive, student-led creative music-making at the heart of your school’s music offer.
Music in the Classroom is a transformative year-long CPD programme designed to develop and support primary teachers in delivering vibrant, high-quality classroom music. This unique and practical training led by the London Symphony Orchestra musicians, LSO Animateur Rachel Leach and expert educators, builds deep connections between schools, teachers, pupils and LSO musicians.
This is more than CPD. It’s a proven, year-long programme that builds a healthy, sustainable musical culture across your school, enabling schools to develop music teachers and leaders on the job, supporting in line with the OFSTED Inspection Framework.
Music in the Classroom: A Snapshot
We’ve seen staff grow in confidence, and children flourish through musical creativity. The yearlong support really makes a difference.
Participating Headteacher
Programme Highlights
- Three creative projects, with in-school visits from course leader Rachel Leach and LSO musicians in school
- High-quality, practical CPD delivered by music specialists and LSO musicians, packed with activity ideas and teaching resources to use the next day
- Free access to one-off CPD Creative Day workshops for staff from your school
Who is it For?
Those new to leading music activity and experienced practitioners, regardless of musical or teaching experience. The programme is designed for Key Stage 2, and teachers will need access to a KS2 class(es) to take part.
Previously we’ve worked with:
- ECTs
- New or aspiring Music Coordinators
- Classroom teachers with little musical experience
- Classroom teachers stepping into arts leadership
- Experienced leaders looking to refresh and re-energise their creative curriculum
Key Details
- Open to state Primary schools in London
- Course fee: Early bird offer £400 + VAT for applications received by Thursday 30 April. £450 + VAT thereafter. Payment support or adaptation available if cost is a barrier. Please contact us to discuss.
- Free taster opportunities available – join a CPD Creative Day on selected dates between April and July at LSO St Luke’s
Apply
Applications for Music in the Classroom are now open for the 2026/27 programme. Download the information pack and application form below.
For more information please contact:
Becca Linton Senior Programme Manager, Schools & Young People (Maternity)
becca.linton@lso.co.uk
Although applications for the 2026/27 programme have now closed, we’ll be kicking off the programme with a free launch workshop in the Autumn Term, and we’d love to welcome teachers and educators who are interested in finding out more about Music in the Classroom and potentially joining the programme in the future.
Date: Monday 12 October
Time: 10am-12.30pm
Location: LSO St Luke’s
Cost: Free
Contact Adam Grady, Schools Programme Manager, adam.grady@lso.co.uk to register your interest.
‘The course has had a massive impact across the school. The children’s learning has been phenomenally improved. All classes are now composing, analysing music, playing instruments, collaborating and singing.’ –
Waltham Forest Primary School Teacher
Creative Days for Teachers
LSO Discovery CPD Creative Days are workshops that inspire and equip teachers, and other staff leading music, with the skills and confidence to take a creative, hands-on approach to music-making in the classroom.
Creative Days are suitable for practitioners at any stage of their career, regardless of musical background. The sessions support teachers in both mainstream and SEND settings.
Teachers can attend one or more sessions, with each workshop covering different key musical concepts. The sessions offer practical, creative approaches, supported by digital resources, and are paired with an LSO concert.
Mainstream sessions are led by LSO Animateur Rachel Leach, with LSO musicians. SEND sessions are led by LSO Animateur Mark Withers, with LSO musicians.
For any further questions contact:
Tara Ramoutar, Schools & Young People Co-ordinator
tara.ramoutar@lso.co.uk
Creative Days
Cost: £15 + VAT per session, including a ticket to an LSO concert.
Book any two Creative Days or SEND Creative Days, get the third free.
Steve Reich: Rhythm and Repetition
Thursday 12 November 4.30–6.30pm, LSO St Luke’s
Minimalism is an exciting form of music based on hypnotic motifs and is perfect for the classroom. In this session we will learn how to create interesting rhythms similar to Steve Reich, how to play them, keep in time and get your whole class performing as an ensemble.
Shostakovich: Structure & Sound
Wednesday 17 March 4–6pm, LSO St Luke’s
Structure is often the element that is missing from classroom compositions and its the element that can transform your children’s ideas from chaotic sound effects to music. This back-to-basics session will use ideas from Shostakovich’s mighty music as inspiration for our own pieces.
Opera and Storytelling
Thursday 27 May 4.30–6.30pm, LSO St Luke’s
Opera is a creative goldmine for the classroom, bringing together storytelling, drama, music, movement, singing and acting in one art form. In this session, award-winning director and writer Tim Yealland MBE will explore how opera can inspire creative learning as you work together to create your very own short opera.
To be the first to hear about details of our creative days, sign up for our mailing list and stay up-to-date with all the latest news.
SEND Creative Days
Cost: £25 + VAT per session, including a ticket to an LSO concert.
Book any two Creative Days or SEND Creative Days, get the third free.
Digital Music
Wednesday 11 November 10am–3pm, LSO St Luke’s
Assistive music technology can open up new creative possibilities and support greater inclusion in the classroom. In this session, leading experts from Drake Music will demonstrate a range of accessible music technologies, exploring how they can support students’ musical development and be integrated into everyday teaching practice.
Music and Movement
Tuesday 19 January 10am–3pm, LSO St Luke’s
Music and movement share a close creative relationship, with each enriching and inspiring the other. In this session, we will explore practical ways to combine movement and music-making, discovering how these approaches can unlock creativity, build confidence and engage students in new ways.
Poetry and Prose
Thursday 13 May 10am–3pm, LSO St Luke’s
Words have long inspired composers, providing the foundation for both songs and instrumental works. In this session, we will explore how poetry and prose can spark musical creativity, using language as a starting point for composition and song-writing in the classroom.
To be the first to hear about details of our creative days, sign up for our mailing list and stay up-to-date with all the latest news.
Poetry of Music
Poetry of Music is a collaborative project between the LSO and Keats House, using John Keats’ poetry and life to inspire creativity through composition, songwriting, drama and cross-curricular learning. Led by LSO Animateurs Rachel Leach and Tim Yealland MBE, and supported by LSO musicians, teachers are invited to take part in a CPD session, offering practical ideas for teaching composition and demonstrating how poetry and literacy can inspire musical creativity. The session is supported by a set of resources to help teachers apply what they’ve learned in the classroom.
Teachers attending an Autumn CPD session will have the opportunity to bring their class to Keats House. Students will explore Keats’ former home before working with LSO musicians to create and perform their own original composition and performative work.
Key Details
CPD Session
Cost: Free
Date & Time: Tuesday 6 October 2026, 4.30–6.30pm
Venue: Keats House, 10 Keats Grove, London, NW3 2R
The CPD session is suitable for teachers teaching Key Stage 2 and 3 in both mainstream and SEND settings.
Open to Primary and Secondary School teachers within Greater London.
Workshop
Cost: Free
Date & Time: Various dates available in the Spring Term 2027
Venue: Keats House, 10 Keats Grove, London, NW3 2R
Workshop places are limited. Teachers must attend the CPD on Tuesday 6 October.
Open to state Primary and Secondary Schools (KS2, KS3, and SEND) within Greater London.
Supported by The City of London Corporation.
Teacher Advisory Group
Our Teacher Advisory Groups, both Primary and Secondary, play a key role in shaping and strengthening our schools and education offer, ensuring that all our programmes create the greatest possible impact both inside and outside the classroom, guided by the expertise and voices of those working in education.
To find out further information, please contact:
Adam Grady Schools Programme Manager
adam.grady@lso.co.uk
This project is generously supported by the Innholders’ Charitable Foundation, Tallow Chandlers Benevolent Fund, Pewterers’ Seahorse Trust and City of London Cultural and Creative Learning Fund.
