This October, Southampton Music Hub launches a brand new city choir, open to year 7+ students from across the city who enjoy singing and want to sing together with others in a wide range of musical styles. With rehearsals starting on Monday 2 October 2017, from 3.15–4.15pm, at Sholing Technology College, students interested in taking part can come along, and have a go — no previous experience is needed.

Hannah Meredith, Choir Leader, says:
"'If you love singing and are looking for a fun, uplifting, joyful group to be part of, you are more than welcome. We'll be getting started at 3.15pm at Sholing Technology College on Monday 2 October, and we can't wait to see you."

This weeks sees the start of a new initiative providing music therapy for Southampton’s looked after children, delivered by the life-changing music charity Nordoff Robbins The pilot project is the result of a new partnership between Nordoff Robbins, Southampton Music Hub, the Virtual School Network and Sholing Technology College. Music therapist Anna Tyrrell will work with pupils who are, or have been, looked after by Southampton City Council, using music to break down barriers in their lives, and help them to find their voice.

Matt Brombley, Interim Manager at Southampton Music Hub says:
“It’s an incredible privilege to work with Nordoff Robbins to help children and young people in the city use music to help overcome the challenging circumstances they face in their lives. Thanks to the commitment of Ann Dyton at the Virtual School, and the support of Sholing Technology College and their feeder schools, we’re able to share this incredible opportunity with pupils from across the east of the city. With over 3,000 pupils making music with Southampton Music Hub every week, we know the huge difference music can make in the lives of children, young people and their families. For the city’s looked after children, music therapy with Nordoff Robbins will help them to experience the life-changing power of making music too.”

Fraser Simpson who oversees Nordoff Robbins South West services says:
 “The spirit of innovation is at the heart of Nordoff Robbins, and we embrace strong partnerships to help us achieve our mission – bringing the life-changing power music therapy to as many people as possible, including individuals, families and communities, using our renowned approach. We are thrilled to be teaming up with Southampton Music Hub and the Virtual School in an originative and exciting partnership, to enable young people in need of support to engage in the creative power of music-making, inspiring them to innovate and succeed."

Southampton Music Hub are opening up auditions for a new, foundation level, city rock band. Groove Foundation will be Southampton's 19th youth ensemble, joining Groove Merchant as part of a growing network of support for the city's young rock and pop musicians. 

Auditions take place at Cantell School on Wednesday 18 October 2017, from 4.30–6pm. The band need three singers, two guitarists, a bass guitarist, a keyboard player and a drummer. Potential members need to be in school year seven and above, and whilst no previous band experience is needed, music reading is required.

Zoe Hunting, Ensemble Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
"We're delighted to see the music hub's support for talented, young, rock and pop musicians now include a foundation rock band. By offering new and developing players the opportunity to practice and perform together, we hope to see the quality and standing of rock music grow in the city."

Solent music leaders enjoying a percussion session at a previous Solent Cultural Conference 

Invitations went out this week for the annual Solent Cultural Conference — a central part of Southampton Music Hub's ongoing support for teachers and music leaders, as they work together with the music hub to bring life-changing music to every child in schools and across the city. This year’s conference will see an inspiring range of sessions — from hands on music making workshops through to creative and practical classroom ideas — all delivered by highly esteemed local and national music leaders.

Hosted by Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Music Hubs, the conference will take place on Thursday 2 November 2017 at Portsmouth Guildhall. 

Matt Brombley, Interim Manager at Southampton Music Hub says:
"We recognise and value the incredible work that music teachers do in our schools and communities every day. Each year the Solent Cultural Conference challenges us to try new ideas, find new ways of working, and be inspired by incredible music leaders from across the world. Investing in music staff — seeing them develop as musicians, teachers and leaders — is an essential part of bringing life-changing music to every child in our city. It is our hope that, once again, this year we will inspire and equip our music leaders with new ideas and skills that they will go back and share, to enhance music making for the city's children and young people."

On Saturday 20 September 2017, from 2–4pm, Southampton Music Hub will host a percussion 'have-a-go' workshop at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College, giving current young percussion players, and those interested in percussion, a chance to get hands-on with a wide range of percussion instruments and styles. The afternoon workshop will explore the world of rhythm and percussion through orchestral instruments and body percussion, as well creating and making music together. Families are warmly invited to join the group at 3.45pm to hear a short performance of the afternoon's work. 

Kevin Withell, Director of Southampton Youth Percussion says:
"As leader of Southampton Music Hub's percussion ensembles, I'm delighted to offer this hands-on workshop free to children in the city interested in percussion. The world of percussion is huge and exciting, with so many opportunities to make music with others. Places are limited, but young musicians interested in taking part can get in touch with the music hub office to book a place today."

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."

In celebration of Roald Dahl Day, Southampton Music Hub has released the first song from the Everybody Sing Song Bank: ‘Roald Dahl Day Song’.

As one of the new free song added to the Everybody Sing Song Bank each month, ‘Roald Dahl Day Song’ is accompanied by a short, but jam packed packed singing podcast for teachers, with each episode bursting full of great ideas to get the whole school singing together, having fun and feeling happier and healthier through music. 

On Friday 8 September, year 6 pupils at Shirley Warren took part in their first iPad concerto workshop, where they were joined by members of the Són orchestra, spoken word artist and musician Ricky Tart, and Southampton Music Hub's Music Technology Leader, Matt Brombley. The afternoon started with all sixty pupils making music together, creating music with their instruments and voices. Then in group workshops, pupils made new musical ideas using their voices, iPads, and instruments. Over the next three weeks, Shirley Warren's Head of Music, Helen Mead, will help pupils develop and refine their ideas, which have been inspired by their class topic of World War Two, ready to bring everything together into a brand new piece of music in October. 

Matt Brombley, Music Technology Leader for Southampton Music Hub says:
"This is an exciting and ambitious new project, which is giving Shirley Warren pupils the chance to create music alongside incredible musicians, including Robin Browning, musical director of Són, and Ricky Tart. Thanks to the expertise of Helen Mead, we're able to pair inspirational workshops with work in the classroom, which we hope will boost pupils' ambitions and support deeper learning."

Teachers and musicians from Southampton Music Hub led music assemblies at Cantell School this week, starting the new term with inspiring music performances that encouraged pupils to take up learning an instrument. Alongside performances for over 300 pupils in year 7 and 8, pupils are also being offered taster sessions to get hands-on, and give playing a new instrument a try.

Thanks to @MusicHubSouth for inspiring assemblies! Music so important here. Just ask Will @coldplay Russel&Matt @bandofskulls & Joe @alt_J pic.twitter.com/qZCcgEJkCE

— Cantell School (@CantellSchool) September 7, 2017

And Jack&Milo @porticoquartet to name a few! #culturalcapital #musicforlife #cantellandproud

— Cantell School (@CantellSchool) September 7, 2017

The autumn term, and the new school year, are off to an inspiring start for staff at Southampton Music Hub. With two days of training, the first was dedicated to looking at the year ahead, and a second was dedicated to different approaches to creating music, where staff were also joined by music teachers from Portsmouth Music Hub. The morning session was expertly led by Neil Valentine, a nationally recognised music leader, former Southampton Youth Orchestra member and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra member. During the afternoon, Matt Brombley from Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Hubs shared approaches to composing music with technology based on the past year of the Music Tech project.

Nia Collins, Interim Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:

"We have incredible team of staff who are both outstanding musicians and educators, and it's been a delight to spend the past two days with them, working alongside nationally recognised music leaders, to inspire our staff with new music experiences that they can now share with the children and young people in Southampton."

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.

September 2017 Southampton Music Hub launches Everybody Sing. As part of this years school's music programme, Everybody Sing will be sharing the health and wellbeing benefits of singing with every child.

Everybody Sing shares the incredible health and wellbeing benefits of singing, helping every child to feel healthier and happier. Free singing resources and training for teachers will help support vocal development and build awareness of important health, wellbeing and PSHE themes. Events and workshops will inspire children and young people who would not normally take part in singing, particularly boys and pupils in secondary schools, through learning and performing alongside world-class singers and vocal coaches.

This year's programme includes singing experiences from Southampton Choral Society, CPR and Sound Pop Academy, as well as other inspiring music leaders.

September 2017 Southampton Music Hub launches the Stadium Tour. As part of this years school's music programme, the Stadium Tour will be taking inspiring and inclusive music experiences touring across the city.

In July 2016, over 2,500 children took part in Sounds from the Stadium: making music at St Mary’s Stadium, alongside world-class musicians.

Building on the overwhelming success of this event, the Stadium Tour is taking inspirational and inclusive music experiences touring across the city. With performances and workshops from exceptional local, national and international musicians, high-quality music is accessible to every child, regardless of their background. Encountering and exploring music from a wide range of genres, styles and traditions opens up a new world of creative participation, building aspirations to engage in lifelong music-making.

This year's programme includes experiences with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Welsh National Opera and Mayflower Theatre, as well as other inspiring music leaders and performers.
 

Southampton Music Hub have released a free songbook, ‘We’re All Here From Around The World’, which celebrates Southampton’s diverse musical cultures and communities. The book, which has been compiled by Fiona Funnell of Delicious Sound Choir, contains new arrangements of traditional songs, alongside an original song, inspired by the musical traditions which the songbook draws from.

The free book has been sent to every infant, junior and primary school in the city and is also available to download for free below, so that friends, families and the community can take part in singing to celebrate Southampton’s musical diversity. The songbook will also be supported by free singing workshops and events in schools across the city.

Fiona Funnell, Founder and Musical Director of Delicious Sounds Choir, says:

“This songbook brings together music from many of Southampton’s diverse musical traditions: from ‘Ami Tomake’, a Bengali lullaby which my local pharmacist knew from his childhood, through to ‘Stary Nietz’, a song I have sung to my Polish neighbours, making them light up with recognition, whilst also being very bemused with my pronunciation. I wrote the song ‘Singing in the City’ on one of my regular morning walks through St Mary’s, heading towards the Itchen Bridge. As I walked, I was reminded that the people of our city represent cultures from all around the world, yet we all call Southampton our home.”

Matt Brombley, Projects Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:

“As an ancient port city, Southampton has a long and proud history of welcoming people from all across the globe. As people have come to Southampton from around the world, over hundreds of years, they have bought with them a rich diversity of music. We hope that schools, families and the city will join us in singing the songs of those who have made Southampton their home, as we celebrate the contribution they have made to our communities, our city and our rich musical heritage.”

Performance Tracks:

Backing Tracks