With the new Spring Term, Southampton Music Hub is offering all schools in the city the opportunity to be take part in a huge, diverse range of music workshops, performances and experiences.
Alongside exciting new offers from the Everybody Sing and Digital Native Artists (DNA) programmes, this term’s offer includes:
Taking part in the hub’s MAST Theatre Residency
A concert for Key Stage 1 with Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS)
Proud to Be, History of Hip Hop
And loads more!
At the end of 2021, Southampton Music Hub’s Development Manager, Matt Brombley, looks back on the year past, to reflect on some of the most memorable moments and themes of the year.
“Back in July, we wrote about how, above all else, it was the resilience of the city’s young musicians, and the adults who support them, that shone through as the defining theme of the year so far.
Now, in December, it is even more true than ever.
Showing creativity and flexibility in the face of incredible challenges has had big rewards for us this year.
Thanks to Paul Hamlyn Foundation, £65,000 is helping develop literacy in three city schools using rap and hip hop in an exciting new pilot project.
Thanks to funding from Youth Music, Southampton and IOW Music Hubs are working together with Dorset, Portsmouth as well as SoundStorm Music Hubs to help young people shape and lead new music-making opportunities.
The digital resources from Sign & Sing have continued to find new audiences, and support schools to keep singing in an inspiring and inclusive way, with over 4,000 views just in the last month!
Songwriting and music production continues to be a big hit with young people, and is helping them with their mental health, as well as helping to shape the future of music-making in the city.
Innovative programmes, working closely with schools and alternative provision settings, have seen more young musicians taking part in music, including a 28% increase in Looked After Children, a 44% increase in pupil premium children, and an 88% increase in young people with Special Educational Needs.
Finally, after a start to the year which once again saw live music shut down, we have seen live music bouncing back, and since September over 3000 children have taken part in live music-making in schools, and over 400 young people have taken part in 16 ensemble performances.”
Kath Page, Hub Manager, adds
“We’ve been through an incredibly challenging two years, but every part of our music hub has responded to these challenges with resilience, creativity and innovation, helping to make sure we make progress towards our goal: that every young person has access to the life-changing power of music, whatever their background or circumstances.”
On Wednesday 15 December the Southampton Music Services team took part in ‘trauma-informed practice” training with Rock Pool.
The session helped the team to understand what trauma is, how it can impact children and young people, and how they can adapt their music lessons in a trauma-informed way.
Matt Brombley, Development Manager, says:
“Today has been another important step on our journey to becoming a more inclusive music service, leading a more inclusive music hub. We have spent time thinking about how music lessons can be a place where young people develop inner strengths which help them become better musicians, but also, which can spill over into other areas of their lives.”
On Saturday 4 December 2021 a group of young producers, songwriters and musicians came together at MAST Music Studio to talk about the DNA Programme: where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. They created a new song — Right Track — and an accompanying zine which includes illustrated lyrics and a manifesto for the future.
They day was kindly funded by Music Mark and Arts Council England with additional support from Youth Music.
Two weeks ahead of the University of Southampton Voices’ (USV) Christmas concert, a school children’s choir had to reluctantly pull out due to school Covid restrictions. Harvey Brough (Professor at Southampton) approached the Southampton Music Hub to find some children to sing some key elements of their programme.
Needless to say, 18 young singers from a range of schools across the city rose to the challenge and attended two rehearsals before having the amazing experience of performing at the Turner Simms.
They were rehearsed by Nia Collins and produced a wonderful addition to the programme. They performed alongside professional soloists, Clara Sanabras and Christina Gill singing wonderful jazz arrangements of Christmas music arranged by Harvey Brough. All accompanied by a talented brass quintet.
It was a special occasion for the young singers to perform for the first time for many of them for two years. Also, it was no ordinary concert as it was a professional setting with gifted professionals too.
Finn McGill’s solo in Away in a Manger was memorable as was the two choir voices in the Carol of the Bells. The children opened at least three of the songs with their singing – no mean feat after just three rehearsals. They particularly enjoyed telling the tale “Down in yon forest” (the Renaissance English version of Corpus Christi carol arranged by Harvey). The children came away saying “when can we do this again?” Their confidence and joy infected the whole audience and was an excellent start to the festivities of Advent.
Nia Collins, says:
"I couldn't be more proud of what these children achieved in their performance on Friday night in such a short period of time, what incredible musicians they already are! It was such an amazing opportunity for them to perform at such a high level in a top concert venue with professional musicians and they rose to the occasion admirably"
Over the past few weeks, year four Pupils at Weston Park Primary, along with year five pupils at Bassett Green Primary and St Monica’s Primary, have had an exciting start to the Rap and Literacy Project funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. The start of this project has also been documented by a filmmaker from City Eye.
With a workshop led by Rap and Spoken word artist Rob Bradley, and ongoing weekly class sessions, pupils have begun learning how Rap and Hip-Hop can be used as a creative tool to improve their literacy and music skills. This project will be continuing until July 2022, with opportunities for the pupils to shape the project, in collaboration with Rob Bradley and their lead teacher, through shared reflection and development.
Nia Collins, Project Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
"We are so excited to have finally started this project with the children and young people in schools who will form the core of this project! As they begin this journey with us along with their classroom teachers and schools, we can't wait to see what a difference this makes to their outcomes across the whole year."
Matt Brombley, Development Manager, for Southampton Music Hub, says:
“These first few days of the project have been so exciting. We’ve already seen pupil’s sharing raps they have written at home, and bringing music they love into their lessons. Their response to Rob’s freestyle skills was amazing to see too: they couldn’t contain they’re excitement as he created rhymes on the fly. Everyone left these workshops feeling inspired and excited for the year ahead.”
At the end of this school year, Southampton Music Hub is celebrating resilience.
The past 16 months have been disruptive for everyone, and in the face of such challenging times, we have seen the city’s young musicians, and the adults who support them, show an incredible ability to adapt, to grow, to learn, and to reach out.
Music has motivated us to keep going, and it has also helped us to grow the personal qualities that are so valuable, not just because they make great musicians, but because they make us better people.
So at the end of this school year, we’re celebrating resilience.
Over the past year, Groove Foundation have been recording regular videos from their living rooms and bedrooms at home, to share on the music hub YouTube channel.
Elliot, the lead singer, explains:
“It was a bit weird at first, because you don’t know what it will sound like until it all comes together. When I’m recording, it’s just me singing and I have no idea how it will sound. Knowing my performance was being recorded, I would work hard to get everything sounding just right. I would kick mum and dad out to the garden to make sure the sound recording was really clear, and keep retaking until I got it right.”
“Elliot really took the videos on as a personal mission” adds Groove Foundation band leader Aidan, who also edited together the band’s video performances.
The virtual performances had an unexpected benefit too, as Elliot explains:
“My friends often can’t come to our live performances, but they have been able to watch the videos all year. We get excited for the premier, and then it’s really fun to see it all sounding great together.”
Over the past year, Elliot has also been able to have music lessons to help develop her singing, thanks to funding from the Cultural Recovery Fund. Elliot tells us what a difference this has made:
“It’s been so cool to have singing lessons to help me improve. Being in Groove Foundation is what got me into singing properly, and now I’m getting better all the time.”
Last week, Groove Foundation returned to a real life stage, after over a year away, with an eight song set at The Point. Elliot tells us what it was like:
“It was really fun to be back. It’s the best feeling. The whole band is there, you can hear everyone again, and you turn around and can see everyone else enjoying themselves. I had to remember to look after my voice though. You can’t take a break like you can when you’re recording at home!”
And it’s not just on stage that being back with the band makes a huge difference. Elliot again:
“It’s so fun to see everyone, deciding the set list, making choices as a band, and helping each other out again. We’re there to support each other after the show too, to share the excitement, and chat about how things went.”
Matt Brombley, Development Manager for Southampton Music Hub adds:
“Elliot, and her bandmates in Groove Foundation are inspirational examples of the resilience so many young musicians have shown this year. We know how hard it has been, missing out on so many of the shared experiences that make music-making so enjoyable, but they have done an exceptional job keeping things going online, with their impressive video performances, and then returning to the stage this summer.”
It’s not just Groove Foundation that have been back on stage. This summer, music hub bands, orchestras and other groups have been rehearsing and performing together again. If you’d like to join a music group, then find out more on our ensembles page.
At the end of this school year, Southampton Music Hub is celebrating resilience.
The past 16 months have been disruptive for everyone, and in the face of such challenging times, we have seen the city’s young musicians, and the adults who support them, show an incredible ability to adapt, to grow, to learn, and to reach out.
Music has motivated us to keep going, and it has also helped us to grow the personal qualities that are so valuable, not just because they make great musicians, but because they make us better people.
So at the end of this school year, we’re celebrating resilience.
John Hanchett conducting an inclusive orchestra at the Mayflower Theatre in 2019.
It has been a challenging year for everyone, but music teachers and leaders across the city have shown incredible resilience.
Having moved music lessons online in the previous year, they moved them back into schools in September. They moved them back online in January, again, then back into school again in March. Every step along the way, teachers and music leaders have been determined to keep music-making going, wherever, and however they can.
One such teacher has been John HancHett. John teaches brass, cello, piano and leads some school orchestras, and has been at the heart of moving not just music lessons online, but virtual performances too.
In December, when we lived in tired restrictions, John arranged, virtually conducted, and edited together ‘A Million Dreams’ — bringing together over 50 young musicians of all ages and abilities, from across Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
John explains:
“It was important to me that everyone who wanted to take part was able to take part, so I created an arrangement with parts for all instruments and abilities. There was a lot to learn when bringing such a big virtual performance together for the first time, but I was delighted by how it came out. The joy came from featuring the vast array of instruments, played by young musicians who were carrying on playing through such a difficult time. I wanted them to have something to be really proud of at the end of a difficult year.”
In January, and throughout the Spring Lockdown, John, along with all Southampton Music Service Tutors, moved their music lessons online again, as they had done the previous year.
“It was great to be able to get new learners face-to-face in September. And with so many new learners and those carrying on from last year, when lockdown two happened in January, we hit the ground running: teaching day one of lockdown. This was the pay off from all the groundwork laid last year: we never missed a week. This has been an awful year in so many ways, but it has also been a powerful year for teaching: it has been really motivating to learn new things and face new challenges in such difficult circumstances.”
And, when schools returned to full opening in Spring, lessons returned to face-to-face:
“Returning in the Spring was not always easy. There were restrictions around social distancing and school bubbles which have been huge logistical challenges. It was so wonderful to see those young musicians who could carry on online pick back up right away, and carry on making progress. But there were also challenges for those who hadn't been able to learn online, and had missed out on so much. I’m not alone here, I know many other teachers do this tooL we just give the extra time to make it work sometimes!”
And at the end of the year, John brought together “Get Loud” a virtual performance which debuts on Friday night, with young musicians from Southampton Youth Brass Band and Kanes Hill School.
“Get Loud is only possible because of everything that we’ve learnt over the past year. It’s a performance that has the best of both worlds — online recordings, plus face-to-face music lessons, workshops and recordings, before coming back together in the virtual world. This is something far bigger and more ambitious than we’ve done before, and it brings together musicians in a way that would not have been possible just a year ago.”
At the end of this school year, Southampton Music Hub is celebrating resilience.
The past 16 months have been disruptive for everyone, and in the face of such challenging times, we have seen the city’s young musicians, and the adults who support them, show an incredible ability to adapt, to grow, to learn, and to reach out.
Music has motivated us to keep going, and it has also helped us to grow the personal qualities that are so valuable, not just because they make great musicians, but because they make us better people.
So at the end of this school year, we’re celebrating resilience.
When Covid restrictions in schools meant that singing assemblies were cancelled, and singing in the classroom was much trickier, then Southampton Music Hub responded with a brand new initiative called “10 Minute Sign & Sing”.
It’s ten minutes long, because Covid guidance says to keep singing short; there is sign language with every video, so that when you can’t sing, you can sign along; and it’s in video format so anyone can take part, anywhere (yes, even if your bubble has been sent home!). Also, many of the songs also celebrate and encourage those taking part to show and grow the inner strengths that make us more resilient.
The project has been a huge hit, clocking up thousands of Youtube views, and reaching across the country.
Nia Collins, Vocal Coordinator, says:
“The health and wellbeing benefits of singing and making music with others are well known, and they are even more important at a time when young people are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic. It’s been so inspiring to see them enjoying music, celebrating their achievements, and being part of something the hub has made to help them carry on singing!”
10 Minute Sign & Sing is just one example of the way digital resources have kept music making going in schools this year. Because these resources are digital, a huge range of hub partners and others have been able to share their unique musical perspectives, including Folk Active, Alexander D Great, Welsh National Opera and more. Plus, they’re available for schools to use next year, and far into the future!
At the end of this school year, Southampton Music Hub is celebrating resilience.
The past 16 months have been disruptive for everyone, and in the face of such challenging times, we have seen the city’s young musicians, and the adults who support them, show an incredible ability to adapt, to grow, to learn, and to reach out.
Music has motivated us to keep going, and it has also helped us to grow the personal qualities that are so valuable, not just because they make great musicians, but because they make us better people.
So at the end of this school year, we’re celebrating resilience.
After Covid disrupted face-to-face music-making, and left young people missing out on so many normal opportunities, Southampton Music Hub responded with a brand new, online songwriting and music production offer, allowing young people to work with a new, more diverse team, of talented young producers to write songs, make beats and rap.
The young people — many of whom have been offered the opportunity to take part from their social worker, NHS team or other support network — have been developing their skills, expressing themselves in the tracks they write, and now, are helping to choose what the programme looks like going forward.
Chris a young producer and songwriter, explains why he wrote his new song, ‘Avalanche’.
“Avalanche is a song about going through struggles of life and difficult times. I wanted to write this song to reach out to other people going through a hard time, to let them know they’re not alone. I’m going to be going into the studio in September to record the full version, including working with a singer to add the chorus.”
“Forty thoughts a second, can’t hold my mind
Spitting these rhymes, ahead of the times
Iceberg with a dark side, on the flip side, I’m a nice guy
Like a cuppa tea, steam floats to the sky
Hanging off a balcony
Cold air made the heat die”
Matt Brombley, Development Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
“From the team supporting them, to the young people taking part, everyone involved has shown incredible resilience. We know that music is a powerful way to explore and express your emotions. This year, more than ever, that creative outlet has been a place we see young people rise to the challenge of learning new skills, facing up to their emotional experiences, and turning that into exciting new music.”
As announced in the Daily Echo last week, Starting in September, pupils at three Southampton primary schools will be getting lessons in rap and hip hop alongside their other subjects thanks to a £65,000 grant from Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
The project is being led by Southampton Music Hub, and will see pupils and teachers from Bassett Green, St Monica and Weston Park Primary Schools work with inspirational rap artist Rob Bradley.
Matt Brombley, Development Manager from Southampton Music Hub, explains:
“Rap is the perfect artform for this project because, to be a successful rapper, you have to blend so many important skills and qualities. It requires both written and spoken language development; rhythmic and melodic flow; as well as self understanding and self expression. Young people in the city tell us they love rap music, and we’re tapping into that enthusiasm to help make sure that what happens in the classroom is as exciting and inspiring as the music they’re passionate about.”
The project goes much deeper than performances and workshops, and will see class teachers bring rap music into weekly music and english lessons too.
Rob Bradley, Rap Artist, explains:
“This project is so exciting because we will have time to develop relationships throughout the year. Over this time, pupils will develop their ideas and build their confidence, with teachers getting the support they need to deliver their own authentic and engaging rap lessons. I really look forward to meeting pupils and can’t wait to see what they write!”
Kath Page, Manager of Southampton Music Hub adds:
“This is a unique project, both in design and outcomes. We are using music to help pupils who may struggle in other areas of school life. This is a real collaborative process, with the hub working closely with Rob, and schools, to make the outcomes even more meaningful."
The project has been supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, whose significant investment will help pupils to benefit from the same inspirational power of music which changed Rob’s life growing up.
Catherine Sutton, Head of Programme - Education, explains
“PHF is delighted to be able to support this project, which will bring together children, teachers and musicians to explore how a co-constructed approach to embedding rap into Music and Literacy learning can support children’s engagement, enjoyment and progress in learning.”
Rob Bradley shares more:
“Like many young people I needed an outlet for my thoughts and emotions when I was growing up. When I discovered rap music around age nine I fell in love. It was a world of limitless self expression. The rappers I listened to had a hypnotic mix of passionate performance, captivating stories and clever one liners.”
“Young people can have complex ideas. They are coming to terms with their identity and their place in the world. They need tools to be able to express their developing thoughts. I hope to inspire young people to write. I want them to pay attention to their use of language. I want them to be confident enough to perform and own their work, and I want them to have fun whilst doing it.”
James Baillie, Cabinet Member for Education at Southampton City Council (SCC), says
"At SCC we are determined to provide the best possible start to life and opportunities for our young people. This exciting project is an excellent example of creatively using the power of music and a medium they love to provide the children with key skills they need. I look forward to seeing the results!"
Ahead of UK Music’s “MAPping the Future” conference on the 16 June — an exciting programme of free online sessions for young people aged 16+ interested in a career in the music industry — Southampton Music Hub are sharing some links to help young people in the city explore a future in the music and creative industries.
As Matt Brombley, Development Manager, explains:
”Young people on our mentoring programme are asking us how they can set themselves up for a future career in music, and , with some help from Oli Morris at UK Music, we’ve pulled together some tools that will help them to plan and take their next steps towards a successful future as creative professionals.”
Use this website from Creative & Cultural Skills to help identify the perfect future role for you!
Use this pack from UK Music to help you identify and plan your next steps.
Southampton Music Hub’s mentoring team can help you develop your skills, and move forward on your musical journey.
Over the past three months, online songwriting and production mentoring sessions have been a huge success, helping young people write songs, create beats, and produce their own tracks.
For some of the young people taking part, the process of writing songs has not just been about the music at the end, but about finding ways to better understand their mental health journeys, and, with the help of their mentors, write lyrics which help make sense of some of the struggles of the past year.
“Mentoring sessions are a relaxed space to try new things — I’m free to be myself and express my ideas. I was anxious when I first started, but the mentors are super chill and helpful.”
As Chris, one young songwriter explains: ”Mentoring sessions are a relaxed space to try new things — I’m free to be myself and express my ideas. I was anxious when I first started, but the mentors are super chill and helpful.”
Matt Brombley, Development Manager for Southampton Music Hub adds: ”It’s been so powerful to see young people discover songwriting as a way of processing and understanding their thoughts, feelings and circumstances. I know that for me, songwriting has been a place where I can get lost when life feels overwhelming; a place where I can say with music, what feels impossible to say with words. It is so exciting to see young people and their mentors find purpose in sharing that process together.”
The Everybody Sing Song Bank has loads of great songs to help children and young people feel healthier and happier through singing together, and this Mental Health Awareness Week, here’s a few highlights:
This Easter Holiday, Southampton Music Hub’s DNA Programme is offering young people the chance to learn how to freestyle with one of the UK’s top battle rap MC’s, Tenchoo.
The virtual, interactive masterclass will help young people — and especially those who usually get free school meals — to find out more about rhythm, flow and sporadic rhymes, then have the chance to put their new skills to test.
The workshops, suitable for those in KS3 and up (aged 11+), is available free of charge thanks to Southampton City Council and the Holiday Activity Fund.
A young brass player taking part in the Symphony 125 project in 2019.
For those missing Strictly Come Dancing, Southampton Music Hub has put together a school’s ensemble performance project – Strictly Come Dance.
Southampton Youth Brass Band have been working on creating a virtual performance of Let’s Get Loud by Gloria Estefan and Flavio Santander. This performance will provide the backing track for the primary and secondary schools activity. Southampton Music Services teacher, John Hanchett, has written additional school parts for all instruments, levels and abilities as well creating the final video of SYBB’s performance.
Southampton Youth Brass Band is directed by Paul Hart and the band’s assistant is Kevin Withell. Here Paul, Kevin and some band members talk about what it has meant to be part of this city-wide project and their experiences and achievements whilst rehearsals have had to be online.
What has being part of the Let's Get Loud project meant for SYBB?
PH - Let's Get Loud has been an exciting project for the students, giving them something to work towards, with a new positive focus for the rehearsals.
What have the difficulties been preparing for the virtual performance of Let's Get Loud?
Player A - Learning the part, practicing it and following the conductor over the internet.
Is Let's Get Loud a breakaway from the music normally played by the band?
KW - The band is used to playing in a range of styles, and has worked in the past with other bands and choirs. The idea of learning the parts without being able to play it together, and recording and videoing individually has been a new and challenging experience.
What have SYBB been able to achieve whilst rehearsing online?
PH - The achievements of SYBB Online will be easier to gauge once we're back to normality. The positives are that we still have a functioning band, full of students who have been given opportunities to keep on learning and playing throughout the lockdowns. They've been able to get a headstart on learning the music and their individual parts ahead of coming back together, and we've been able to maintain a sense of continuity with the students, both musically and socially.
What have the challenges been taking part in online rehearsals?
Player A - Internet connections and the loss of the band dynamic that’s present when we are all together.
What has really impressed you about the band whilst they have rehearsed online?
PH - What has impressed us most has been the continuing commitment from the large percentage of the band who have been logging in every week. Rehearsing online has required a lot of patience and open-mindedness from students and staff alike. The fact that these students have so much commitment to the band, that they have not shrunk away from the challenges of embracing an entirely new and often difficult way of rehearsing does them real credit.
What is your proudest moment of being a member of SYBB?
Player A - Playing in the concerts, it’s very rewarding to see all the hard work pay off !!
What are you looking forward to most when SYBB can meet face to face again?
Player B - Seeing my friends
Player A - I am most looking forward to playing in a full band, with the sound and dynamic that it will bring. I am especially looking forward to performing, so we can show off all of the progress we have made, with all of the hard work that we put in.
This term the schools up and down the country have been delighted to share in the successful 10 Minute Sign & Sing project. The project has seen sign ups from as far afield as Rotherham, London, Leicestershire and Bedfordshire plus many local schools both in Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
Currently the hub is collecting videos of schools, classes, bubbles and individuals signing along to a song from the songbank, to be stitched together into a digital premiere performance on Monday 29th March over on the hub YouTube channel.
Participants will also be given a link to participate in a new sign and sing workshop which will be on the hub YouTube channel just before the premiere at 1.30pm on the same day.
The deadline for video submissions is Wednesday 17th March but if you’re not yet signed up to participate in this there’s still time! Whether you’re a school bubble or an individual learning at home in isolation or a whole school participating you can get involved!
Nia Collins, Music Hub Relationship Manager, says:
“We know that currently schools are finding it challenging to find larger scale performance activities that pupils can safely get involved in and this project gives you the perfect vehicle to do so. Not only are we taking the hassle of the digital editing off your hands but we’re also offering schools the opportunity to come together and do something as a community post lockdown and start to build those vital connections again for children and young people”
In 2021, Southampton Music Hub is launching the Digital Native Artists Programme: an exciting approach, which sees young people empowered to take control of shaping, and leading, the music-making they want to be part of.
The programme is being run by two new, Digital Music Engagement Workers — Sheldon and Gurmaan — young digital artists themselves, who have been recruited thanks to new funding from Arts Council England. They’re being supported by the hub’s wider team, including music service tutors and hub partner organisations, to inspire young people to explore new genres of music, and empower them to create their own musical futures.
The programme has kicked off this month with two new opportunities:
1. Online Production and Songwriting: giving young people access to online tools to create new music alongside mentoring support to develop their songwriting and production skills.
Places are limited for now — and invites to take part have already been sent out by virtual school, social workers and more, making sure the young people who often miss out, get the first shot — but anyone interested in taking part can register their interest right now.
Listen to “Why So Lonely” by one of our young songwriters:
2. TikTok Tutorials: quick and easy videos to get young people inspired and skilled up.
These videos are quick to watch, but share tips, tricks and inside secrets on the world of songwriting, music production and more. You can subscribe, or watch online, and leave suggestions for videos you’d like to see in the comments.
We’re not stoping there. Coming soon are masterclasses, workshops and more. But, we want to hear from the young and aspiring producers, songwriters and artists out there, so that they can shape, and even lead, the music-making opportunities the project offers.
Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS) is the training orchestra for the Southampton Music Hub’s flagship Southampton Youth Orchestra (SYO). Since September they have been having weekly online rehearsals and during February, they worked with composer Patrick Bailey, from the London Sinfonietta, on a composition project.
For this project, players from SYCS have jointly composed a new piece and have recorded themselves playing their parts. SYCS’s recordings will then form part of a larger composition performed by musicians from the London Sinfonietta in their live streamed school’s concert, “Sound Out 2021”. from the Turner Sims on Tuesday 23 March 2021.
Below is a conversation with joint directors, Anna Robinson and Kevin Withell, and young musicians from SYCS. about online rehearsals and the composition project.
What have been your aims for running SYCS rehearsals online?
AR: The primary aim for running SYCS rehearsals online has been to sustain the SYCS community through this unusual time. In addition to this, we have been wanting to use this time as opportunity to explore new projects and repertoire which we may not have explored if we were rehearsing in person. This has included exploring large scale works through the BBC ten pieces series such as Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, running an introduction to Alexander Technique with trained osteopath and Alexander Technique teacher Ian Traynar and an exciting compositional project with musicians from the London Sinfonietta.
Anna Robinson in rehearsal with SYCS.
What have you enjoyed about online rehearsals?
Player A: We still got to see each other and play pieces, like the video of A Million Dreams that we put together. Having the video altogether made it easier to share with friends and family.
Player B: Not feeling so embarrassed when you make a mistake. When you are online, no one can see or hear you.
What have been the challenges of achieving these aims?
KW: Being online affects ease of communication, and creates a difficulty in 'reading the room' - deciding whether to have a play through rehearsal or a nitty gritty rehearsal, what tone to strike and when to finish or move on from a section are largely down to guesswork. Not being able to help individual players and sections like we normally would makes us worried that certain players may be feeling left out.
What has impressed you the most about SYCS players taking part in online rehearsals?
AR: The continued positive attitude, humour and dedication that all players have bought to rehearsal which makes this orchestra so special! The enthusiasm and resilience of the members in this unusual situation has been amazing. If this situation has reinforced anything for me as a director, it is how incredible the young musicians of Southampton are. Their support for their peers and also their directors has been invaluable and as a result the community feel that SYCS is known is still very much present.
KW: The enthusiasm shown by all members coming along, and their willingness to accept the situation for what it is and help us to make the best of it.
What do you miss most about not being able to rehearse face to face?
Player C: I miss being able to follow a conductor, hearing and staying in time with the other musicians.
Player D: Playing as a group and being in contact with friends.
SYCS players in rehearsal.
Anna and Kevin why did you put SYCS forward to the Composition Challenge Project with London Sinfonietta?
AR: As a director, I received the information about the project and thought it was such a fantastic opportunity to work with professional musicians and work on a something completely different which ultimately will allow us to perform virtually with the London Sinfonietta at the end of March, an opportunity too exciting to pass up!
What do you think the group has gained from taking part?
KW: This has been an opportunity for SYCS players to access a part of their creativity that they normally wouldn't be encouraged to access in normal rehearsals. It has also been invaluable to GCSE and A-Level music students, and any younger students who are considering higher level music qualifications, who have benefitted from being introduced to new and different ways of approaching composition.
What have you enjoyed about the London Sinfonietta Composition Challenge project?
Player C: I have had a lot of fun contributing ideas into a composition and seeing how they develop.
Player D: We get think of our own tunes. It was tricky to think of it the mathematical way, but it was was interesting.
Have you done much composing before?
Player A: No, but I might try to compose something in the future for a school project (like when you do a video in IT and you need to add music, I can add my own). Making music with numbers was also really fun.
Player B: Yes. It was nice to be faced with new/different opportunities and challenges.
SYCS concentrating during a SYCS rehearsal.
What are your online plans for the rest of this term.?
AR: We are going to continue to explore a range of repertoire from BBC Ten Pieces including West Side Story’s Mambo. We also have a rehearsal which lands on St Patrick’s day, so we are going to take the opportunity to explore folk music with a folk specialist. We will round off the term celebrating the range of repertoire and styles we have explored and watching our London Sinfonietta performance as an orchestra.
KW: To continue providing varied and exciting musical projects for the students, exploring a range of musical styles, and keeping their passion for the orchestra alive while we wait to come back to normal.
Young musicians taking part in a music project with Portsmouth Music Hub
Children and young people who are currently missing out on making music will have the opportunity to take part in, and even lead, new music-making activities thanks to an exciting new project from the South West Coastal Music Hub Alliance, made possible thanks to new funding from Youth Music.
The five music hubs in the alliance — Southampton; Isle of Wight; Dorset; Portsmouth; and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole — are working together to reach out to children and young people who are missing out on learning and making music because of their background or life circumstances.
Thanks to the support of five new “Youth Voice Engagement Workers”, the initiative will help these young people to shape and lead exciting “Action Research” projects: testing out new ideas and approaches which will help more children and young people access music in the future.
This initiative is supported by Youth Music, using public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Matt Brombley, Development Manager at Southampton and IOW Music Hubs, says:
“This is an excellent opportunity, and we are so grateful to Youth Music for making it possible. It might be because of where they live, their background, or the challenging life circumstances they find themselves in, but we know that too many children and young people miss out on the incredible power of music to make their lives better. This initiative will help to change that. We want to hear the voices of the children and young people who miss out on music, and, more importantly, we want them to help us shape and change the music making opportunities available to them, and others like them, in the future.”
The music hubs that form the South West Coast Music Hub Alliance are looking to recruit Youth Voice Engagement Workers to help make our music hubs more inclusive, by engaging, listening to, and responding to the voices of under-represented young people: helping them shape, and lead, the music-making opportunities available to them.
