Aurora Classroom will be completely free to access from April 2025 as part of their 20th Anniversary Celebration!

Aurora Classroom offers top-quality music resources for primary schools and specialist SEND settings. Including fully planned 10-week units of work and the ability to build your own lessons from their library of hundreds of activities and audio excerpts. You can access all of this for FREE as of April 2025!

Online CPD: Introducing composition in the primary classroom:

Join Aurora for an interactive session exploring ways to introduce musical composition in the primary classroom. Click the button below.

Aurora Classroom Youtube:

Check out Aurora Classroom’s new yotube channel sharing classroom resources for YFS, KS1 and specialist SEND settings. Click the button below.

Introducing composition in the primary classroom

Online CPD session

Wednesday 19 March at 3.45 - 4.45pm

Book Now

Aurora Classroom youtube

Including 10-week schemes of work and extensive activity and audio libraries, created by Aurora Orchestra's team of specialist educators.

Watch Now

Our Soundwaves Network SW Partners Take Art are offering CPD training sessions for Early Years music education, including online and in-person events.

 Below is a list of their upcoming training events! These are all available to book now:

Nurturing Creativity in Early Years Conference with Devon Music Hub. Fri 21 March £55 in-person Exeter

Nurturing your Early Years Music Provision with Jane Parker.  Thurs 27 March Free, in-person in partnership with Yeovil College

Fact-checking in Music Education with Dr Susan Young.  Wed 30 April. £5/£10 Online

Movement Play for Early Years with Hannah Lefeuvre.  Thurs 1 May.  Free, in-person in partnership with Yeovil College

Music, communication, language and literacy with Kate Comberti.  Mon 19 May. £5/£10 Online

Early Years Music: Nurturing children and staff with Vicky Trevithick, Hayley McDonnell and staff from nurseries in Southampton.  Tues 20 May £5 Online

The Power of Music: Supporting Children’s Wellbeing with Rosie Walton and Jane Parker.  Wed 11 June £5/£10 Online

Fostering your Early Years Music with Rachel Crane, Shelley Wood and staff from reception classes in Bournemouth & Poole.  Thursday 26 June. £5 Online

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Registration is now open for The Music Teachers’ Association Conference happening in May 2025. This years theme is ‘Stronger Together’.

The Music Teachers’ Association Conference is is a annual flagship event, bringing together 250+ delegates from across the music education sector for a weekend of exceptional CPD sessions, inspiring keynotes, a lively trade fair, and plenty of networking opportunities.

 This year’s event encompasses the theme Stronger Together and will include a wide range of topics within over thirty CPD sessions, designed to support and enhance all aspects of your work.  Confirmed keynote speakers include Dr Jim Frankel and Mark De Lisser. 

Where: Trinity Academy, Bristol

When: Friday 16th to Sunday 18th May 2025

Price: Day tickets start at £90.

Registration is now open, with early bird ticket rates are available until Monday 31st March, and discounts available for Early Career Teachers and those who are self-employed. 

On Monday 10 February SIOW Music invited talented musicians in our city to perform in a Secondary Schools’ Showcase Concert at MAST Mayflower Studios!

Southampton and Isle of Wight Music was delighted to be able to provide a platform for all of the fantastically talented young musicians in our City in our Secondary Showcase event. This evening performance gave secondary schools and college students an opportunity to perform, bringing a mixture of; individual performers, ensembles, bands and vocalists covering a wide variety of genres and styles.

Nia Collins, Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Strategic Programme Manager:

"What an amazing array of talent on display in so many different and diverse genres and styles of music! We are so lucky to have young musicians like this in the city and to be able to share that in Studio 1 at MAST Mayflower Studios and give them a literal platform to do so was an honour. It’s clear to see the incredible support the musicians were given by their music teachers, schools and also parents in facilitating them to take part in the event too”

A huge thanks to all the young musicians who took part and all of the SIOW Music staff and parents, friends and families who supported this event, and MAST Mayflower Studios for being the venue.

Below you can find all of the photographs from the event!

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Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will be performing and livestreaming its brand new Explore the Orchestra: Four Elements Schools' Concert on the afternoon of Wednesday 21 May 2025.

Designed for KS2 students, these thrilling and interactive concerts will be presented by award-winning composer, James Redwood.

Explore the Orchestra: Four Elements will feature music that seeks to uncover the mysteries of the four elements that make up our natural world and inspires scientific discovery.

So, prepare to open your mind as we go on a journey to explore music ranging from the traditional and familiar, to the contemporary and unknown.

This livestream concert is offered to primary schools completely FREE OF CHARGE!

It will remain available for 30 days after the event.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will also be delivering an online CPD, led by James, where you will be able learn the participatory elements featured in the concert in advance.  

The concert running time is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.

Book now for the Concert and Digital livestream via the buttons below!

Please contact Tom Kay on tkay@bsorchestra.co.uk  if you have any specific questions about the event.

For more information on what Explore the Orchestra is, please click here.

ks2 sCHOOLS concert & cpd: Lighthouse, Poole

Concert: Tuesday 20th / Wednesday 21st May

at 10.15am / 1.30pm

CPD session: Tuesday 25th March 2025

at 4.15 – 6pm (Wimbourne)

Book Now

Free DIGITAL LIVESTREAM OF CONCERT & ONLINE CPD

Livestream: Wednesday 21st May

at 1.30pm

Online CPD Session: Thursday 1st May

at 3.45 – 4.45pm (Zoom)

Book Now

This year SIOW Music collaborated with Creative Island and IWCEP to support and deliver as part of a Creative Careers week.  Cross island 31 different cultural organisations and cross sector creatives delivered workshops across all ages/phases in 80% of schools on the island. 

The music hub delivered workshop sessions reaching 180 children and young musicians from year 3 – year 11 using our youth led An Audience With Resources to highlight roles within the industry.  The workshops required children and young people to design their own IOW Festival including branding, logos, ticket sales and identifying audiences and technical requirements learning about roles along the way. 

Alongside the music hub sessions IOW Music College Platform One toured schools with live performances from their FE and HE musicians, talking directly to children and young people and answering questions about jobs in the music industry (led by our IOWLAB chair Andy Booth).

In the run up to this the music hub also supported the development of a new IWCEP resource creating profiles for Island born and bred creatives living and working there.

Below you can see some of the creative ideas for IOW Festival made by young people!

Isle of Wight Cultural Education Partnership put together some great videos on their Instagram, sharing snippets of each day, including activities we led on Day Three.

You can view this by clicking ‘View this post on Instagram’ below.

“The music workshop was fantastic! It was so interactive and pitched at exactly the right level for the class. They thoroughly enjoyed designing their own music festival, which was a great way to get them thinking about all the different careers in the music industry. The class (and adults) LOVED it!” (Newchurch Primary Year 6 teacher feedback).

IOWCEP: Creative Careers Profiles

This bank of profiles was created to be used in your classroom as a resource to help pupils appreciate that living on the Isle of Wight doesn’t have to limit the possibilities open to them or their potential to achieve.

See the Profiles!

Music Festival Posters created by Young People.

Music Festival Posters created by Young People.

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A post shared by IWCEP (@iwcep_creativeisland)

Find full details and how to book for each event through the link to the listing on our events page.

🎺 Windband Pyramid Concert: Windband Pyramid Concert: featuring Studio Band — Southampton Music Hub

Saturday 1 March, 7.00pm

Thornden Hall, Winchester Rd, Chandler's Ford, SO53 2DW.

Southampton & IOW Music Services present their annual concert.

Featuring: Southampton Youth Wind Band, Pulse8, Airplay and Studio Band.

🌟 Rising Stars Open Mic Night: Rising Stars Open Mic Night @ The Stage Door — Southampton Music Hub

Tuesday 4 March, 6 - 9.00pm at The Stage Door, 78 West Marlands Road, SO14 7FW.

In partnership with The Stage Door and J Fashole-Luke.

Featuring Local Young Musicians.

🎼 SYCS: A Musical Adventure: Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia: A Musical Adventure! — Southampton Music Hub

Sunday 23 March. Doors open at 2.30pm, Concert starts at 3.00pm.

Thornden Hall, Winchester Rd, Chandler's Ford, S053 2DW.

@sotonyouthconcertsinfonia will perform music from:

The Prince of Egypt, Robert W Smith's Into the Storm and The Jungle Book!

🥁 Airplay, Elgar & Boom! perform at Cantell School: Airplay, Elgar & Boom! at Cantell — Southampton Music Hub

Thursday 27 March, 6.30 - 8.00pm.

Violet Rd, Southampton, S016 3GJ.

There will be a retiring collection.

🎷 Southampton Youth Brass Band: Southampton Youth Brass Band: Summer Concert! — Southampton Music Hub

Saturday 29 March, 7.00pm

Chandler's Ford Methodist Church, Winchester Road, Chandler's Ford, SO53 2GJ.

🎻 Pulse8 & Southampton Youth Strings: Pulse8 & Southampton Youth Strings joint concert at Cantell! — Southampton Music Hub

Monday 31 March, 7 - 8.45pm

Cantell School, Violet Rd, Southampton, SO16 3GJ.

On 23 January 2025, at the iconic Portsmouth Guildhall, we had an inspiring day of exploration and collaboration at South Coast Music Partnership’s Music Education Conference.

This year's theme, Innovation: Driving Music Forward, invited educators and music practitioners to engage in meaningful discussion and, explore new innovative ideas and transformative practices that are shaping the future of music education.

“It was truly inspiring to see so many educators, practitioners, and music enthusiasts gathered to explore fresh ideas and transformative practices shaping the future of music education. From thought-provoking discussions to hands-on workshops, the day was packed with innovation, collaboration, and a shared passion for making music accessible and impactful for all.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us—your contributions and energy made for a fantastic conference. Together, we’re driving music forward and ensuring its place at the heart of education!”

- Portsmouth Music Hub

Below you can watch a video which gives you an insight into the day!

Island Music Makers have some wonderful opportunities for young people to learn and make music!

Sign ups are open for 2025. Find out more below and visit our Music Groups page for music groups run by the hub, our partner organisations and people we recommend!

Songwriters Den:

The Songwriters Den is a place for ​young people to come together and be supported to write songs, as part of a ​group and as individuals. No experience required.

Whether your child already plays an instrument or they’re looking to learn, or if ​they just enjoy creative writing - they should come along and meet some like ​minded creatives and start making music!

Who is it for: 8-16 yr olds

Where is it: Newport Congregational Church, Pyle Street

When is it: Wednesdays (during term time) from 4pm til 5pm (Oct to July)

What’s Involved?

• Support to write lyrics and share ideas

• Learn different song writing techniques and approaches

• Create chord progressions and compose music

• Explore instruments and live performance equipment

• Opportunities to perform songs at local festivals and community venues

• Option to work towards elements of GCSE and BTEC Music

PRICE: The first session is free! If they wish to continue after the first session, the ​cost is £28 per calendar month (paid by standing order from October to July).

The ​price covers the cost of resources as well as performances that take place ​outside the weekly club sessions.

*If your child is in receipt of support services or free school meals, you are ​entitled to a discount of 50% (£14 per calendar month). Please be sure to make a ​note of this on the form when you register your child. *

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Our partners Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra recently provided a special performance and workshop for pupils at Dover Park Primary School in Ryde.

The children loved the workshops and they were a perfect link to the tuition the children will be having from January. They left inspired and excited for their lessons!

Read the full article below.

Read the full article

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Captivates Pupils At Dover Park Primary School

Read More

Children from across Southampton have taken part in the workshops for the MAST christmas show this year! 

Students at Thornhill Primary School, Redbridge Primary School and Hightown Primary School have worked alongside Southampton & IoW Music and workshop leader Miko Lisiak to learn and record songs from The Wind in The Willows: Toad's BIG Musical Adventure. 

We are amazed that the students were able to learn, sing and record these songs all in less than an hour!

You can listen to the recordings below:

Life is a Highway

Mr. Blue Sky

People Are Strange

Somewhere in My Memory

Our Christmas celebrations have continued in style over December.

On Friday 6 December, we joined University of Southampton Voices and their director Harvey Brough for The Bells of Paradise, a sparkling Christmas concert at Turner Sims concert hall. 

Children from Bassett Green Primary School and young singers from St Michael's Choir came together to perform a collection of carols and Christmas songs from around the world. 

We are so proud of our incredible young singers who performed brilliantly with a full adult choir in front of a packed audience. What a way to continue the festive period!

Join students and teachers from Platform One - College of Music to hear performances from bands, young people and learn lots about events, sound, music technology and jobs in the music industry.  This will be happening in April - July 2025.

Details of spaces available will come directly from Platform One to your settings so this is one to look out for!

Our annual event Christmas at Osborne took place last week and featured 80 children from three primary schools: Broadlea, Carisbrooke & Newport CE.

The schools came together to take part in singing workshops, a tour of the house and some Victorian Christmas Crafts topped off by a fantastic performance in the Durbar Room where Queen Victoria would have enjoyed listening to her own children singing.  A beautifully decorated Osborne House was a stunning backdrop for the day along with the amazing staff and volunteers from English Heritage who helped the day to run smoothly.

In addition to this students from Carisbrooke College were invited to sing for guests on a tour of the house in the week prior.

“Just wanted to say a big thank you for today. The children had a wonderful time and they just beam after these experiences!”

- Emma Millard Music Lead at Broadlea Primary

Thursday 5th & Friday 6th February KS2 & KS3 in partnership with IWCEP and Creative Island

"An Audience With..." is Southampton & IOW Music's flagship vehicle to help schools connect the areas of the National Plan for Music Education focused on Music Industry roles with children and young people. 

In partnership with IWCEP and Creative Island, we will be delivering workshops on Thursday 5th & Friday 6th February for young people on the Isle of Wight in KS2 & KS3.

These will be hands-on sessions outlining some of the job roles available in the music industry (both technical and performance based) through practical activities and digital video content which will inspire young people to work in the music industry and develop aspirations for the future

Find out more via our hub menu.

Pathways to music industry workshops

In partnership with Isle of Wight Cultural Education Partnership & Creative Island

Find Out More & Book

January - April 2025 KS1 & KS2 in partnership with Fairest Isle Festival

After the success of our recorder extravaganza at St Catherine’s Church in Ventnor last year as part of Fairest Isle Festival we will be continuing the tradition this year! 

Although the festival is not taking place again until 2026 the festival organisers were keen to continue the legacy of this year’s project via the commissioning of a new recorder songbook written by island-native Miriam Monaghan from recorder super-group Palisander. 

The music hub will host these digital resources, provide CPD for schools and workshops to introduce the materials and during next term select a venue and date for performance in the spring term. 

If your school would like to host this event please do get in touch. 

Recorder Extravaganza!

In partnership with Fairest Isle Festival

Register Interest

January & February 2025 - KS2 & KS3 Vocal Workshops

In January and February, the student members of Southampton University Chamber Choir are offering the opportunity for schools to hear them perform in a short assembly and then work with a class or a choir group for a workshop leading to a small performance on the day. 

The workshop: 60 minutes, suitable for a class of up to 30 or your choir.

Assembly: 15-20 minutes, including performances from SUCC and children’s performance of material from the workshop.

Vocal Workshops

Southampton Univeristy Chamber Choir

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Innovation: Driving Music Forward

Join us on 23 January 2025, at the iconic Portsmouth Guildhall for an inspiring day of exploration and collaboration at South Coast Music Partnership’s Music Education Conference. This year's theme, Innovation: Driving Music Forward, invites educators and music practitioners to engage in meaningful discussion and, explore new innovative ideas and transformative practices that are shaping the future of music education.

Strands of sessions across the day will be suitable for EYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3 and KS4 along with specialist sessions on vocal, curriculum and SEND. You can explore the sessions and full schedule on the South Coast Music Partnership website.

The dynamic line-up of presenters and workshop leaders, drawn from across the music education sector, will provide invaluable insights and hands-on experiences designed to ignite creativity and enhance your teaching practice. Whether you're a seasoned music educator or just starting out, this conference is an opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, share innovative strategies, and explore new approaches to fostering musical talent in the classroom.

Don't miss this chance to be part of a vibrant community dedicated to advancing music education. Together, we can drive music forward!

Tickets are £90 with lunch included or £50 for students - schools will be invoiced for your attendance after booking so please have the details of your finance contacts when completing the booking form.

Thursday 23 January 2025

Portsmouth Guildhall, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, UK

Find Out More & Sign Up

A round up of the concerts and performances taking place through the end of November and into December!

Find full details and how to book for each event through the link to the listing on our events page.

November

• Monday 25 November: Elgar, Twango and Los Twangolitos live at Cantell! — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

• Thursday 28 November: Airplay & Boom! live at Cantell School! — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

• Saturday 30 November: BSO On Your Doorstep: Curious Creatures Family Concert — Southampton Music Hub [Isle of Wight]

  • Come and join 14 BSO musicians, a young Isle of Wight string group, and someone to guide you through the music – this relaxed performance is perfect for young audiences going to a concert for the first time.  The afternoon will involve some listening, some participatory elements, and you’ll be sure to experience a mixture of styles – from Bjork to Moana, as well as relaxing classics. Designed with families in mind, let the music take you from forests to oceans and explore the curious creatures of the natural world.

• Saturday 30 November: Gig Night — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

  • Southampton and IOW Music are proud to partner with the Gig Night Charity, providing young artists with a regular platform to perform and develop their music and confidence. Gig night runs monthly at the Old Chemist engaging young musicians from all over Southampton. SIOW Groove Bands, Groove Merchant and Groove Syndicate, feature in the lineup.

December

• Sunday 1 December: Southampton Youth Orchestra live at Turner Sims — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

  • Southampton Youth Orchestra’s first concert of the season is an all-French programme with a Spanish twist, featuring Delibes’ Coppelia Suite, Chabrier’s Espana and an exciting performance of Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnol, featuring the debut concerto performance of one of our own young violinists.

• Wednesday 4 December: Southampton University Symphony Orchestra at Turner Sims: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

  • Southampton University Symphony Orchestra and Turner Sims would like to invite you to a free performance featuring Leonard Bernstein's thrilling ‘Symphonic Dances from West Side Story’! This performance is perfect for local families with children up to 15 and is an ideal opportunity for young people learning an instrument, who are interested in learning an instrument, or anyone looking for a fun evening out!

• Thursday 5 December: Schools Christmas Concert at O2 Guildhall Southampton: featuring SYWB — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

  • Join us at Southampton Guildhall to continue the Southampton Schools Music Association of schools Christmas events at Southampton Guildhall this Christmas! Featuring music from Jo Downs new Christmas Songbook and narrative script, loosely based on the Nativity story. Southampton Youth Wind Band will also be performing in our Christmas Schools’ Celebration Concert.

• Friday 6 December: The University of Southampton Voices: The Bells of Paradise at Turner Sims — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

  • The University of Southampton Voices present a sparkling Christmas concert. The Bells of Paradise is a collection of carols and Christmas songs from around the world and through the ages. For this performance, USV are joined by children’s choirs from local schools, organised and supported by Southampton & Isle of Wight Music.

• Saturday 7 December: Southampton Youth Brass Band live at Exbury Gardens! — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

  • Southampton Youth Brass Band will be performing at Exbury Gardens.

• Monday 9 December: Pulse8 Open Rehearsal for Family & Friends! — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

  • Pulse8 will be having an ‘Open Rehearsal’ at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College. This is an opportunity for Family & Friends to watch our young members practise together. Parents & friends are welcome to attend the whole rehearsal.

• Wednesday 11 December: Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia live at Thornden Hall — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

  • Join Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia, Southampton's largest youth orchestra, for an evening of festive favourites from our most loved Christmas films.  Programmes to include everything from Aladdin to White Christmas, along with wonderful festive lighting.  Fun for all the family - not to be missed!

• Thursday 12 December: Southampton Youth Brass Band perform at Ocean Terminal! — Southampton Music Hub [Southampton]

Do you play the violin, viola, cello or double bass? Would you like to make music with other young people? Then the Southampton & IOW Music’s String Extravaganza is the place for you.

The event will be at Cantell School from 1.30-3.30pm on Sunday 24 November.

This is a FREE event run with support from the Friends of Southampton Youth Orchestras (FSYO) and is open to string players who have been learning for a year up to approximately Grade 1 standard.

Please contact music@southampton.gov.uk to sign up.

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