Posts tagged First Access

More resources to support music-making at home and at school

Southampton Music Hub has new sets of resources to support music-making and learning at home and in schools this week.

Instrumental Newsletter

A weekly newsletter for instrumental musicians, to go alongside online music lessons, and instrument specific resources being sent directly by instrumental teachers.

This week's instrumental newsletter

Curriculum Newsletter

A weekly newsletter for those missing out on classroom music sessions.

This week's curriculum newsletter

Music Technology

Resources for making use of iPad and other digital apps, including video guides from expert musicians on how to write your own songs.

Music Technology Resources

Soundbites Digital

This week, the first of ten weekly sessions for First Access musicians is heading out to schools and families that are missing out on their Soundbites and In2Music lessons. Learning music from across the world, over ten weeks, young music-makers will use their voices and any percussion they can get their hands on — or just their hands — to explore melody and rhythm.

Think your school or family should be taking part? Get in touch

Music in the Community, Music in Schools, Family MusicMatt Brombley4 May 2020First Access, Curriculum, Instrumental and Vocal Tuition, Synthesis

End of year update: looking back on a decade of music-making for Southampton's young musicians

This year, as we wrap up for a Christmas holiday that includes the ringing in of a new decade, Southampton Music Hub looks back on the past ten years of music-making, to see the impact the hub is having for children, young people, and their families across the city.

18,500+ First Access Musicians

Every year Southampton Music Hub gives children an inspirational start to learning a musical instrument in First Access. In the past ten years 18,500+ children have picked up an instrument for the first time in classrooms across the city.

2,500+ Ensemble Members

Every year Southampton Music Hub gives young musicians the opportunity to perform and progress in a musical community of orchestras and bands. There are even a small handful of young musicians who, having started in 2009 or before, have been in an ensemble for over ten years!

Image 1_ 350 Young Musicians Perform Symphony 125 at Southampton Guildhall.jpg

30,000+ Affordable Instruments, Saving £10m

Every year Southampton Music Hub provides free, or affordable, instrumental loans to young musicians, families and schools. In the past ten years, there have been over 30,000 instruments loaned out, saving schools and families, an estimated £10million.

Looking Ahead:

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020, Southampton Music Hub presents two momentous evenings of musical odysseys. Hosted by Soweto Kinch, eache evening will feature musical performances from bands and orchestras of all different shapes and sizes from across the City of Southampton and celebrate the life-changing power of music, including the premiers of Mayflower 400 inspired projects Big Sing: The Journey and Symphony 400: The Voyage.

Tickets cost just £10.

Book Tickets Online

Ensembles, Family Music, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt Brombley16 December 2019Mayflower 400, Instrumental and Vocal Tuition, First Access

Southampton Music Hub celebrates the end of a year of inspirational music for the city

350 Young Musicians Perform Symphony 125 at Southampton Guildhall

On Tuesday 2 July 2019, Southampton Music Hub celebrated a momentous end to an unforgettable year of music for the city with an exciting day of music-making and performances at Southampton’s O2 Guildhall.

Following an unforgettable performance at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2018 — an event which saw over 200 of the city’s young musicians perform alongside members of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) as part of a 600 strong ensemble at the Music for Youth Proms — Southampton Music Hub have spent the past six months sharing the music and inspirational experiences of this once-in-a-lifetime event with schools and communities across the whole city.

Young ukulele players taking part in a massed playing event alongside 400 others.

In the afternoon, over 400 young musicians and singers — many of whom had only been learning their instrument of only a year — came together for a massed playing event, performing a special version of ‘Symphony 125’; the piece of music performed at the Royal Albert Hall.

In the evening, over 350 young musicians from across 45 city schools — over two thirds of the city’s schools — and thirteen music hub groups and bands performed an exciting programme of music to a packed out audience, including their own epic arrangement of ‘Symphony 125’, conducted by BSO CEO Dougie Scarfe and led by the song’s composer James Redwood.

Throughout July there will also be over 25 school concerts, involving nearly 1,500 young musicians. In total, over 2,000 young musicians will be involved in celebration events to mark the culmination of over 250 hours of workshops and lessons inspired by the Royal Albert Hall event.

Kath Page, Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
“Our celebrations this week have been an incredible way to mark the end of an inspirational year of music for the city. Huge moments like the ones we’ve enjoyed this year — from the Royal Albert Hall to Southampton Guildhall — are a great way to inspire our young musicians with huge new ambitions. And, thanks to the incredible work of our schools, music leaders, instrumental teachers and workshop leaders, Southampton Music hub is helping make those dreams a reality by helping every child in the city make life-changing music every week.”

On Twitter, Councillor Darren Paffey said:
“Such a privilege to be there to hear Southampton’s young musicians perform with such passion, sensitivity and commitment. The Guildhall was absolutely bursting with talent tonight! Well done to everyone involved”

Image Gallery:

Ensembles, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt Brombley10 July 2019Airplay, Acorn Strings, First Access, Elgar, Southampton Youth Strings (SYS), Southampton Youth Orchestra (SYO), Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS), Southampton Wind Band (SWB), Brassroots, Fusion Brass

Get hands on with the Bassoon as part of the Beyond Ambition programme

Poster Flyer Template - Wind Bands - without Text.jpg

Southampton Music Services, lead partner for Southampton Music Hub, is offering future young musicians the opportunity to get hands on with the Bassoon in a free taster session on Saturday 2 February, from 1.30-3pm, at Woodlands Community College.

The free workshop is part of the Beyond Ambition programme: with workshops and masterclasses designed to get children and young people playing ‘endangered’ instruments.

This hands on Bassoon workshop is ideal for young musicians at the start of their musical journey — those currently learning an instrument with their whole class in First Access projects In2Music or SoundBites — and is also open to any future young musicians who might be interested in getting started on this exciting, and lesser known, member of the woodwind family of instruments. No experience is required.

Get in touch to book a place on the Bassoon Workshop

Also part of the Beyond Ambition programme are two masterclasses for more experienced players:

Bassoon workshop with Polly Phillips for Bassoon Players from beginners and up
(Saturday 2 February, 1-5pm, Woodlands Community College)
Double Bass workshop with Caroline Emery for Double Bass players from beginners and up
(Sunday 3 February, 10am-3pm, Woodlands Community College)

Family Music, Music in the Community, Music in SchoolsMatt Brombley23 January 2019Beyond Ambition, Instrumental and Vocal Tuition, First Access

SEND Music Advisor to improve access to life-changing music across the city

Southampton Music Hub and Southampton Inclusion Partnership (SIP) are working together to pilot a new SEND Music Advisor role in the city. The role will help improve access to music for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Kelly Jo Peters, who is the music teacher at Great Oaks School, a Specialist Lead Educator in SEND Music for SIP and a national SEND Music consultant, will be taking on the role, supporting the city’s special schools and inclusion units to help every young musician reach their fullest potential, regardless of the challenges they may face.

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
“We’re delighted to work with Southampton Inclusion Partnership and Kelly Jo Peters as part of our ongoing commitment to improve access to music for children with additional needs: recognising the unique challenges they face and valuing the unique contribution they can make. Kelly Jo’s expertise and experience mean she is uniquely placed to help deliver our ambitious plans for 2018–20 and beyond.”

Kelly Jo Peters, SEND Music Advisor for Southampton Music Hub, says:
"Music is my passion and sharing that passion to help others develop their musicality is my lifelong goal. In this new role as SEND Music Advisor, I will help children with additional needs access increasing music learning opportunities and experiences. This role enables me to work with the city's special schools and inclusion units, as well as arts organisations, in order to support the Southampton Music Hub and SIP in delivering a dynamic and engaging music programme for SEND."

Janina Spencer Assistant Head from the Southampton Inclusion Partnership says:
"Working in partnership with the Southampton Music Hub will further SIP's purpose in developing inclusive opportunities for pupils across Southampton. Kelly Jo (SIP SLE) is extremely experienced in the field of music with SEN and mainstream so her expertise will be invaluable. It will be exciting to watch music develop for all"

Kelly Jo Peters and the Great Oaks iPad band performing at Portsmouth Guildhall

Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt Brombley17 November 2017First Access, Instrumental and Vocal Tuition, Training and Resources

First Access brings an inspiring start to 1,500 pupils this year

First Access musician performing at Sounds from the Stadium in 2016

This week sees the start of First Access projects all across the city. Delivered through three exciting class-based programmes — Prepare2Play, In2Music and SoundBites — Southampton Music Hub's First Access projects are giving the city's children an inspiring start to a lifelong journey with music. This year alone, nearly 1,500 pupils, in 50 classes across more than 20 schools throughout the city, will take part in whole class music lessons on a wide range of instruments.

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
"First Access is an amazing opportunity for children in Southampton to get their hands on a real musical instrument, and be inspired to start their own lifelong journey with music. Southampton Music Hub has a brilliant team of teachers who deliver exciting and inspiring lessons each week, leading to our First Access programmes being nationally recognised for their excellence. We all love music. But we also know the huge difference that learning music can make in the lives of our children: helping to develop intelligence, emotional literacy and social skills. For the 1,500 children starting their musical journey this year, we wish them every success for the incredible adventure that lays ahead of them."

Music in SchoolsMatt Brombley19 September 2017First Access

A new school year means an exciting year of life-changing music

As the new school year starts, Southampton Music Hub is working in schools and across the community to deliver its ambitious programme of life-changing music for the year ahead. Through first access, instrumental and vocal tuition and city ensembles, every child has the opportunity to perform and progress. Through the Stadium Tour, every child will have access to inspiring and inclusive music experiences, with world class musicians touring around the city's schools. Everybody Sing will help everyone to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of singing . The Family Music Programme — including Family Singing and a new Family Rock Jam, along with the return of the Family Orchestra — will help all families share the life-changing power of making music together.