The Valley School are in a working partnership with Hertfordshire Music Service. We have fantastic music tutors including Matthew Dear and Dan Bird, who deliver individual and group lessons.
These sessions take place on a rotating basis during the school day and are fully funded. Students have the opportunity to perform informally to their peers and at school concerts and events. In addition students may take part in concerts outside of school including most recently at the a joint schools’ concert at Woolgrove and at the Royal Albert Hall.
If you would like your child to participate in these sessions please contact the office.
About Hertfordshire Music Service (HMS)
For over 40 years Hertfordshire Music Service has successfully delivered musical opportunities to generations of young people throughout the county. The service is now one of the largest in the country with many thousands of young people involved in our weekly musical activities, supported by over 450 teachers.
Hertfordshire Music Service: Our Vision
‘All Hertfordshire’s children and young people, regardless of background or circumstances, have the opportunity to discover or develop their unique musical voice and express themselves through the language of music.’
For more information please visit:
https://www.hertsmusicservice.org.uk/
About our tutors
Matthew Dear
Matthew works extensively with children with special education needs, both within Herts Music Service (HMS) and for some national music charities. He is the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Development Lead for HMS.
His main instruments are piano and flute although he also enjoys singing and plays a little guitar and drums. At The Valley he works with students on the keyboard, within singing groups and interactive music, helping students to develop musically, but also seeing music as a context to develop social and communication skills and confidence.
Originally a graduate of music he has completed post-graduate training in Sounds of Intent (a music and special needs framework) which is now linked to Trinity College of Music. Matthew is able to assess students at the Valley for Trinity Sounds of Intent Music Awards. He has also completed a University certificate in Autism Spectrum with the University of Birmingham.
He previously lived in Asia where he helped establish an early intervention centre for children with autism.
He enjoys a range of classical music as well as blues piano and a variety of modern song genres.
Dan Bird
Dan is a peripatetic drum and percussion tutor, responsible for the education of a variety of students in drum studies. This includes: History, Styles, Techniques, and Application for GCSE and A level music students as well as the hobbyist player.
Dan has studied and applied the benefits of rhythm and drumming for individuals with Dyspraxia, and more recently, those with Cerebral Palsy. He enjoys devising coordination skill sets and individual limb manipulation to facilitate development.
In addition to his with with HMS, Dan has worked with the Mid Herts Youth Orchestra and has performed all over Europe with a wide range of artists.
He runs his own project studio and drum teaching facility and has completed a number of film and sound projects, many of which have found their way onto many social media streaming platforms including the BBC, SKY, and national radio
His current focus is education at every level.
