MUSIC INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND CARERS– 2026 – 2027
Welcome back to all returning parents and carers, and a very warm welcome to our new Year 7 and new student families! I hope this information pack provides everything you need to know about Music at RLS this year. Please note that I will be on maternity from October, so Mrs Foxon will be Head of Music for the year ahead. If you have any questions for me specifically, please get in touch before the end of September. I look forward to seeing many of you at our Christmas Service of Nine Lessons and Carols on 7 December 2026, and again in March 2027 for the Annual Cornwall Music Festival. Further information about these and other major school events will follow throughout the year.
Yours musically,
Miss Jones ~ Head of Music
Practice Rooms
Practice rooms are available at lunch times for students who participate in school Music ECAs or are studying KS4 Music. Students may speak to their music classroom teacher for sign up and more information. Practice rooms are also available to use after school Monday to Thursday from 3-4pm, again students just need to speak to their classroom music teachers to organise this with prior notice. If your child is in Year 9 and considering taking music at KS4 level then we would expect them to be either involved in a school music ECA or utilising the practice spaces in preparation for further music study.
Instrumental Lessons at Richard Lander School – Provided by the Cornwall Music Service Trust (CMST)
Your child has taken an interest in learning a musical instrument! At Richard Lander School lessons are timetabled on a weekly rotation, so students don’t miss the same lessons two weeks running, as lessons are timetabled during the school day. We provide solo and group lessons via the Cornwall Music Service Trust (CMST):
For pricing and sign up please go to: https://cmst.co.uk/signup
| Day teacher visits | Instrument | Teacher | Room Number |
| Monday | Voice | Ms. Jessica Norgard | 1 |
| Monday | Drumkit / Percussion | Mr. Ross Hamilton | 5 |
| Monday | Woodwind | Ms. Rebecca Bingham | 3 |
| Tuesday | Voice | Ms. Cheryl Brendish | 2 |
| Wednesday | Piano | Ms. Jill Bolt | 2 |
| Thursday | Piano | Ms. Jill Bolt | 2 |
| Thursday | Brass | Mr Joe Hamlen | 1 |
| Thursday | Electric and Accoustic
Guitar / Bass / Ukulele |
Mr. Mark Johns | 3 |
| Friday | Strings / Violin | Mr. Neil MacMahon | 6 |
If your child receives Free School Meals, is a Child in Care, is in receipt of Disability allowance, has an EHCP or has a parent in the armed services you are entitled to subsidies for instrumental lessons. More information here: https://cmst.co.uk/subsidies-20252026
If you would like to hire an instrument for the year, please get in touch. The company that organises this is in a period of transition, and so as a school we will try and accommodate any instrumental hire needed. There are often subsidies for endangered instruments such as bassoon or double bass – do get in touch for more information.
Storing your instrument at Richard Lander School
We have a large instrument storeroom within the Music Department where students can safely store their instruments on the day of their instrumental or music curriculum lesson. Instruments should be taken home at all other times and should not be left at school overnight. Please ensure that your child’s instrument case is clearly labelled with their full name. Where possible, we also recommend labelling the instrument itself. Please remind your child to store their instrument at the back of the storeroom, where personal belongings are covered by 24/7 CCTV. Thank you for helping us to ensure that all instruments are stored safely and securely.
CONTACT US
Mrs Foxon – Head of Department for Academic Year 2026 – 2027 – gfoxon@richardlander.cornwall.sch.uk
Mr Vincent – permanent replacement for Mrs Munns as teacher of Music and Drama bvincent@richardlander.cornwall.sch.uk
Mr Wright – teacher of Music for Academic Year 2026-2027– mwright@richardlander.cornwall.sch.uk
