Music and the Creative Arts Developing an effective learning environment

About UsBeing a piano tuner, it seemed a logical extension for John Dawson to offer his customers the opportunity to purchase pianos. This rapidly grew to include a wide range of other musical instruments.

We reflect this heritage in all eleven of our music shops, continually expanding our range and reflecting changes in the musical tastes of our customers. Recognising the growing demand for musical instruments and technology in schools, Dawsons was the first music retailer to open a dedicated Education division.

Our roots are deep in the music business. Established in 1898 in Warrington, England, Dawsons Music has been around longer than any other UK music retailer.

Dawsons Music Ltd Education Division Web: www.dawsons.co.uk/education Email: education@dawsons.co.ukTel: +44 (0) 1925 582424 Fax: +44 (0) 1925 582422 65 Sankey Street Warrington Cheshire WA1 1SU United Kingdom

For over 30 years we have provided advice and support to our school customers, and were at the forefront of music ICT developments in the UK. We continue to design and install, and to train teachers on the use of recording studios, computer suites and AV systems, recently adding school radio stations to the range of services we offer.

We now provide this same high quality service to our international school colleagues, with regular visits to Europe, the Middle East and Asia.Contact Us

Dawsons: About Us

What We DoGood music teaching demands quality resources. To teach effectively we need the right tools, whether that means music technology or good, solid, reliable instruments. Beyond the music classroom, schools are now exploring the learning opportunities offered by radio and TV studios, multimedia performance areas and digital audio recording studios. No matter what stage your school is at, we have a range of services and solutions that will help you get the best out of your pupils.

Dawsons: What We Do 2

Read the case studies on page 8

to see our solutions in action

Consultancy and Design

We have unrivalled experience in the planning and development of creative facilities for schools and colleges. From the start of the process we work with your design team to come up with the best solution for the specific needs of your school and your students. Site meetings ensure that building standards meet expectations. Acoustics, specialist cabling and aesthetics are all included as part of our consultation process.

Installation and Training

Our installation team looks after every aspect of your new facilities, whether a complete music department, additional recording facility or school radio station. Working closely with consulting engineers and building contractors, we take care of every aspect of the installation, ensuring that you get the quality facilities you expect. Follow-up bespoke training means that you will get the best out of your new equipment.

Instruments and Equipment

As one of the biggest music retailers in the UK, we have unrivalled purchasing power with the major instrument manufacturers. That means we get the best deals and can pass on the best prices to our customers. From Apple computers to Yamaha xylophones, descant recorders to Sibelius software, we have access to everything you might need for teaching music and the other creative arts.

Testimonial

“William Thompson from Dawsons has been most helpful in designing the Music Technology Rooms in our new Music School. Having been a Director of Music, William knows how the technology can and should be used by a forward thinking Music Department and as a result his frank advice during the early stages of our project was most welcome. He has shown us how we can make best use of the budget and technology available.”Peter Farrelly, Newton Prep, London

Consultation and Design

We have been providing advice and support to music teachers for over 30 years. Initially only within the UK – when it was mostly related to the choice of keyboards or basic recording equipment – Dawsons soon expanded both in terms of geographical reach and also the type of advice we were able to provide.

The development of the new GCSE examination in the UK in the mid eighties was the catalyst to schools considering the role of creativity in music teaching. No longer could some music departments survive by teaching notation, aural, recorder and singing; all pupils were now to have the opportunity to express their creativity through improvisation and composition. Thus began a new era in music teaching, and with it the requirement for both better accommodation and new equipment.

Dawsons are uniquely experienced in providing comprehensive consultation and design advice to schools who see the value in developing the creative areas of the school curriculum. Throughout the UK and Ireland, in Europe, the Middle East and beyond, we have helped state, independent and international schools to move from aspiration to implementation. Working in tandem with architects, consulting engineers and other professionals, along with school staff, we ensure that the end result is appropriate, relevant and future-proofed.

Building upon their experience as teachers and music advisors, our staff were soon in demand, visiting schools to provide impartial advice, to train staff and to install the latest in music technology solutions. Although it has changed and developed over the years, our advisory role has continued, expanding into other areas of the creative curriculum and seeing the introduction of new and exciting technologies.

Most schools, governing organisations and construction professionals do not have the necessary experience or skills in designing spaces suited for creativity. That is where we come in, providing the missing elements, acting as advocates for both teaching staff and students, but always demonstrating that we understand the constraints of both the design process and the need for fiscal management.

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For schools who wish to excel in the creative subjects, we can bring clarity and focus at the design stage, continuing to work with the design and construction teams throughout the length of the project, to ensure that areas such as acoustic separation, room relationships and audio connectivity are dealt with appropriately.

Our portfolio also includes radio and television stations, dance studios and drama theatres.

What we offer schools is truly unique: a team consisting of specialists who have a passion for their subject areas, combined with excellent creative skills and balanced with budgetary awareness and a recognition that the best solution is not necessarily the most complicated or the most expensive.

Testimonial

“From my first contact with Dawsons I was confident that they would be able to provide my department with the technology solution we needed.

The iMacs are totally reliable, unobtrusive in the classroom and intuitive to use. The children are able to achieve a great deal musically and really enjoy using the computers.

I am able to spend my time teaching rather than trying to deal with ICT problems. The installation, training and ongoing support offered by Dawsons have been superb.” Kate Davies, Edgeborough Preparatory School

Installation and Training

Dawsons: Installation and Training

As a company with experience in hundreds of schools installations, Dawsons understands the particular challenges faced in achieving the best outcome for any new build or refurbishment project. We have worked with the best and worst construction companies; with those who, like us, aimed to provide the very highest standards to our shared clients, and also with those whose lack of vision has sometimes threatened to compromise the aims of the whole scheme.

No matter what challenges we have faced, our staff always act as advocates for the

Even though details have been agreed at the design stage, unless these are effectively implemented during construction the end result can be disappointing, challenging or, at worst, unworkable. Excellence at the installation stage will preserve the integrity of the complete project.

school throughout the project, ensuring the best outcomes for the school and its future student population.

We offer comprehensive installation services, working in tandem with industry-leading companies to provide the highest quality at every stage. We install stage lighting, theatre sound systems and digital studio wiring; music ICT suites, school radio stations and Apple server systems; mobile and fixed staging, bespoke keyboard and computer furniture and television green screens. In short, anything related to the effective teaching of the creative curriculum.

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GEMS World Academy, Etoy, Switzerland

Case Studies

Strathearn School, Belfast, Northern IrelandTraining

In order for schools to get the best out of their equipment, we provide structured, comprehensive and tailored training on every aspect of the equipment we install. Teachers can opt to stagger aspects of their training to match their own progression through using the new facilities: our staff return after a number of weeks or months to answer any questions which have arisen in the interim, and to help staff move on to the next level.

We can also provide ongoing support for teachers via phone, email or a remote online session.

Dawsons were invited to consult on the design and installation of a number of creative spaces in the new GEMS World Academy, near Lausanne in Switzerland. The brief was to create flexible learning environments for music and media, to include recording, television and radio studios, a number of dedicated music rooms and a performance area, complete with surround sound and projection facilities.

During the initial discussions it became clear to our staff that insufficient space had been allocated for the different curriculum areas; we were able to help the architects and client agree revised space allocations for the music and media departments.

Installation took place during the summer of 2013, with subsequent training sessions for the new staff following once term had started.

The construction of a new school building was a unique opportunity for the Headmaster and Music Staff at Strathearn School to design the best facilities possible for this thriving girls grammar school.

Our advice was sought on the cabling infrastructure for the new department, and our engineers then installed the necessary multicore cabling during the construction phase.

Following detailed discussions on equipment lists for music classrooms, the recording studio and music ICT rooms, we installed a complete Apple solution – including a Mac server – in June 2014. The hifi systems are configured to access shared iTunes libraries on mobile devices, and several of the main and subsidiary rooms are equipped with audio cabling which connects to the main studio facility.

Music ICT

Dawsons: Music ICT

Dawsons has unrivalled experience in the development of music ICT facilities in schools around the world. Whether based around PCs, Apple computers or tablets, we can help you find the best solution to provide a relevant music curriculum through the use of ICT.

Installation

A key element in getting the best out of your new investment is the correct and effective installation of all the different components.

Any music ICT suite usually consists of computers (often with an associated server), ancillary devices (keyboards, audio interfaces), network cabling and switches, and dedicated bespoke furniture that allows effective use of music and computer equipment together.

We will ensure that everything is set up correctly, and that it is left tidy, easy to maintain and ready for use.

Design

Using our experience from schools across the UK and beyond, we will design the perfect ICT system for your music department.

Our education advisors use the software and hardware that we recommend, so you can be confident that what we suggest will meet your needs. Details such as cabling and furniture are included in our design proposal.

We can also interact with your consulting engineers and architect to ensure that the building infrastructure supports the music department’s vision.

Pre-installation

We pre-install as many of your software packages as possible onto your new computers so that when you receive them you are ready to teach.

With all software pre-configured, drivers for your hardware installed, and the system set up the way you prefer, you’ll find it easy to concentrate on the teaching rather than being distracted by the technology.

Multiple licences for Sibelius can either be pre-installed or deployed from any new network server.

Server ConfigurationAs the use of information technology continues to grow in music and media departments, so also does the need for a localised server solution. Where multiple Apple computers are being considered, an Apple server seamlessly joins any new computers to the school’s existing Active Directory.

This can be a challenge for any school without expertise or experience in Mac OS X integration. We will configure the server to your school’s specifications and create or migrate user names and managed preferences.

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Training

We provide tailored training which ensures that you can operate and teach effectively using your software and hardware packages.

With our extensive classroom teaching experience, and with over 15 years of training teachers, we deliver training that provides a comprehensive overview of your software. Not only do we ensure that you understand how your new suite is put together, we can train you (and other staff members) on its relevant use in the music curriculum. We also provide training for your ICT technicians on any server software we have installed.

Support

Music departments often need support - whether it is general advice or help in getting the music suite back up and running after a system problem. Sometimes ICT support staff do not have the experience to effectively troubleshoot and maintain a Mac suite.

We offer a remote support package which provides fast and reliable solutions - both over the phone and by remotely accessing the school computers. Almost all queries or problems can be resolved using remote support, taking the waiting time and any potential additional costs out of the equation.

Testimonial

“Dawsons’ level of knowledge and experience has made this potentially challenging project very straightforward. Dawsons’ commitment to after-sales support is superb and has left me with complete confidence in every aspect of my new equipment.” Chris Flynn, Parrenthorn High School

Dawsons: Media Installations

More and more schools are recognising the benefits of the creative curriculum for all their pupils. No longer restricted to a few talented musicians, the use of creative technologies is now enhancing the learning of many more students, through school radio stations, television and drama studios and spaces where sound and video equipment are incorporated into school performances.

Drama Studios

Drama (and Dance) studios require careful planning because of the mix of requirements: space, lighting, sound, even audience seating, depending on the available size and role of the designated area. Flooring and acoustic treatment (to ensure isolation and to manage reverberation times) are also areas which need consideration.

Working with Drama by Design we ensure you end up with a creative space which can be used for a multitude of different activities, from drama rehearsals to art exhibitions, dance performances to master classes.

Recording Studios

Although usually located within the music department, modern digital audio recording facilities provide not only the requirements for many aspects of the music curriculum, they also become places where informal creativity can be nurtured.

In whatever style of music, children love the excitement of taking home an audio recording of something they have created or performed.

Radio Stations

A school Radio Station is a creative, engaging and exciting facility that allows students to express their views, engage in lively debates and explore their creativity whilst simultaneously developing their speaking and listening skills. It helps to build confidence and raise literacy standards.

In partnership with Sonifex, we install bespoke Radio Stations that suit the size and age range of any school population, with optional interview and editing facilities which can mesh seamlessly with the school’s audio network.

TV Studios

Having a school TV studio puts the power of video into your students’ hands, and helps them to develop employable media skills using professional equipment. Extended learning takes place when video is incorporated as part of the everyday curriculum, allowing students to share their understanding through a visual format.

And everyone benefits from sharing the ethos and vision of the school through the students’ eyes, showcasing professionally created content of sports matches, school productions and special events to the school and the local community.

Media Installations

Testimonial

“We genuinely feel that the Dawsons staff treated us as partners in the development of the new Music Suite. Together we have built something which future generations of pupils and staff will enjoy and benefit from.” Urmston Grammar School

AV Installations

All schools require effective performance spaces. Children love to perform, and to ensure that they are heard clearly a good sound system is a prerequisite.

Whether for music or drama performances, parents’ events or school assemblies, clarity of sound and ease of operation are essential.

We can also design and install projection equipment and surround-sound AV systems that will turn your school auditorium into a top quality cinema!

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Dawsons Music Ltd Education Division

Web: www.dawsons.co.uk/education Email: education@dawsons.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 1925 582424 Fax: +44 (0) 1925 582422

65 Sankey Street Warrington

Cheshire WA1 1SU

United Kingdom

As well as supplying musical equipment throughout the UK and Ireland, we can also deliver to locations around the world. We use a number of UK-based freight forwarders, but are also happy to work with your local distributor if this provides you with a better service.

“We have always found the Dawsons team pleasant to deal with and very informative. When faced with the daunting task of equipping a new department, their advice and encouragement were incredibly useful.

We’re proud of the final outcome - superb facilities and the right equipment for effective learning and teaching.”

St Paul’s High School

“Dawsons have not only come up with the best solution for our music ICT requirements, their follow-up support and

advice have been excellent.”

Bloomfield Collegiate School