On Friday 6 October, year six pupils at Shirley Warren Primary School debuted the city's first ever iPad Concerto. Following a workshop in September with Southampton Music Hub, Són Orchestra and Ricky Tart, pupils spent their music lessons creating new musical ideas with iPads, instruments and their voices. In a final workshop ahead of their performance to 120 pupils and teachers at Shirley Warren Learning Campus, pupils worked with professional musicians to arrange their ideas in a final piece of music.

Asked what they thought about the project, year six told us:
"The best thing about taking part was hearing the different types of music, trying new sounds on the iPad and showing what we did to our school"
"It was hard because you could hear other people and they were playing different parts, but we worked as a team and got to hear how good it sounded all together. Playing with other people is much better than playing alone!"

Year six pupils taking part in a workshop ahead of the iPad Concerto debut performance

This weekend Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB) will learn and perform alongside world-leading Cory Band. A workshop on Saturday 4 November 2017 will see members of SYBB joined by members of the Cory Band, to learn from their expertise as National and European brass band champion players. In the evening, a concert at Chandlers Ford Methodist Church will see SYBB  perform alongside the Cory Band.

Paul Hart, Band Leader for Southampton Youth Brass Band says:
"To have the opportunity to work with the best brass band in the world is really incredible — an experience that the players of Southampton Youth Brass Band and myself will never forget!"

On Tuesday 7 November 2017 Southampton Music Hub and Stage Lead will host a musical theatre workshop at Regents Park Community College. Taking place from 4.30-6.30pm and costing just £4 per person, the workshop is a great opportunity for young people who love musical theatre and West End shows to build new singing, dancing and acting skills. 

Photo by the Daily Echo

It's been an incredible start to this year for Southampton Music Hub — with many achievements worth celebrating.

This half term alone:

• 1,500 new pupils took their first musical steps in First Access
• 460 young musicians have joined or returned one of our 20 ensembles
• 15 looked after children are having music therapy
• 3,400 have taken part in one of our inspiring music experiences with hub partners
• And over 600 people joined our city ensembles and singers in Guildhall Square to celebrate Southampton’s musical diversity

Matt Brombley, Interim Hub Manager at Southampton Music Hub says:
"We're overwhelmed by what an incredible start to the year we've seen. A huge thank you to everyone who supports the work that we do in schools and the community. This is only possible thanks to the incredible dedication of our teachers, schools, families and partners; all working together to bring life-changing music to every child in Southampton."

Supersonic Summer School 2017

On Saturday 16 December, Són Orchestra and Southampton Music Hub will host a day of festive music making at Cantell School. The day is open to young orchestral musicians (grade 2–6 standard) and parents/grandparents who also play an instrument — even if it has been gathering dust for a few years! 

Photo by Daily Echo

On Saturday, Southampton Music Hub's Groove Merchant and Ukulele groups were joined by Delicious Sounds Choir, Sing Out Choir, Highfield Singing Club, Soton Voce and hundreds of community singers, musicians and audience members to take part in a celebration of Southampton's musical and cultural diversity. The event, which took part in Guildhall Square as part of the Music in the City Festival, saw hundreds joining in with 'Singing in the City': a specially commissioned song which was performed by youth and community choirs from across the city.

Nia Collins, who led the choirs on the day, says:
"This was an incredible event which brought together musicians, singers and audiences from across Southampton to celebrate the rich musical diversity that makes our city such an incredible place to live in together."

You can view photographs of the event on the Daily Echo website, and a report on Music in the city will be featured on South Today this week.

Southampton Music Hub will be hosting music in Guildhall Square this Saturday afternoon as part of the Music in the City festival. Joined by musicians from the community, the programme for the afternoon will be:

• 1–1.30pm: Ukulele Groups
• 1.30–2pm: Groove Merchant
• 2.30–3pm: Singing in the City with Sing Out, Delicious Sounds, Soton Voces and community singers
• 3–3.30pm: Groove Merchant

Any young singers who took part in workshops for Singing in the City are warmly invited to join the performance at 2.30pm, and should meet in Guildhall square, with a parent or guardian to accompany them, from 2.15pm.

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."

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."

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."

Brassroots performing at Music in the City 2016

On Saturday 7 October 2017, Southampton Music Hub will host an afternoon of music in Guildhall Square as part of this year's Music in the City festival. Performances from Southampton Music Hub ensembles and friends will be accompanied by a performance of 'Singing in the City' from the We're All Here From Around The World song book: a celebration of southampton's diverse musical cultures.

Matt Brombley, Interim Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
"Music in the City is an incredible annual event which celebrates the contribution people of all ages and backgrounds make to the musical life of our city. It's great that Southampton Music Hub and friends can be part of the festival again this year, with our children and young people getting the chance to give back to the their community through music."

Southampton Music Hub's city youth ensembles start rehearsals again this week, in preparation for an exciting year ahead. With over 400 returning members joined by more than 60 new members this year, the programme of rehearsals and concerts in the community will inspire Southampton's talented young musicians to work together, performing a challenging musical programme for their city.

Zoe Hunting, Ensembles Manager for Southampton Music Hub says:
"We're delighted to welcome new and returning members to our 20 city ensembles. Performing music together helps our children and young people to develop essential musical skills, build long lasting friendships, and give back to their community. We're particularly excited that this year that we have three new ensembles starting, giving young musicians new ways to find a way into performing music with others."

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.