Hub Sounds is a new series of events aimed at providing opportunities for school groups to enjoy live music in a range of styles, fun music activities and sing with leading performers and music educators. Each term we will work in partnership with a secondary school to deliver a Hub Sounds event in a different area, with the aim of engaging children from local primary schools.
We are thrilled to announce that our next Hub Sounds event will take place at Bideford College on Friday 28 March 2025, you can choose to attend either the morning session starting at 10.30am or afternoon session starting at 1pm. Both the morning and afternoon sessions will involve performances from professional artists, interactive music through Hub organisations, live music from young musicians and a Big Sing!
Devon Music Education Hub would like acknowledge the generous support of our host schools for supporting these events.
Come and Play with National Children's Orchestra | Sunday 3 March
National Children’s Orchestras are coming to Devon on Sunday 23 March 2025 for a free fun day of music-making in partnership with Devon Music Education Hub and South West Music School, which will be generously hosted by Uffculme School.
There is space for a maximum of 50 young musicians to come and play The Jungle Book Medley with their super team of tutors and conductor Veronica Urrego. Young musicians will also have chance to create their own piece of music with trombonist and composer Richard Shrewsbury. This workshop is suitable for children aged 8–12 and playing at roughly Grade 2-5 standard.
NCO are looking for children from across Devon to join them on as many different traditional orchestral instruments as possible. Traditional orchestral instruments include all strings, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion and harp and we also include tenoroon, cornet, treble clef reading brass players and drum kit players interested in trying out percussion.
To apply please complete the online form. NCO will then get in touch to confirm your child’s place and provide further details and music. Deadline for applying is Friday 13 February 2025.
Nurturing Creativity in the Early Years Conference
Join Devon Music Education Hub and Take Art for an inspiring conference focused on the transformative role of music and the arts in early childhood development. Featuring a keynote address by Dr Susan Young and a series of hands-on workshops, delegates will explore the ways in which music, movement, and the arts can support young children’s cognitive, emotional, and social growth. Expert facilitators will provide practical, research-based strategies for using music to enrich early learning environments and foster creativity, self-expression, and imaginative play.
This conference offers music educators, early years practitioners, childminders, and students the tools and inspiration to integrate music and movement into everyday learning experiences. Whether through song, musical play, or storytelling, attendees will leave with practical techniques to create music-rich environments that spark curiosity and lay the foundation for a brighter future for young learners.
Training Objectives:
Explore strategies for creating music-rich environments that encourage exploration, self-expression, and play.
Learn practical techniques for incorporating music and the arts into early years education.
Understand the impact of music on early childhood development, including cognitive, emotional, and social growth.
Develop skills to inspire creativity and foster a love of music in young children.
Featuring interactive breakout sessions led by Jane Parker, Charlotte Gibbs and Rosie Walton.
An Introduction to Charanga Musical School CPD | Monday 3 March 2025
This FREE introduction to Musical School CPD & Training event is a practical session which will give you fresh, new ideas for your music lessons. Both the Musical School programme and this Introduction training event are perfect for specialist and non-specialist music teachers.
Charanga Musical School is a modern, exciting digital resource designed to help teach primary music. Access to Charanga Musical School is fully funded for all maintained schools and academies in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay by Devon Music Education Hub.
Music Theatre International (MTI) and Disney Theatrical Group have announced the winners of The United Kingdom of Frozen contest. Congratulations to staff and pupils at St Cuthbert Mayne School, Torquay who will be the first school or college in the South West to produce the musical Frozen in their local community. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, Disney's Frozen includes all of the film's beloved songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, along with new songs written exclusively for the stage. The eleven winning productions across the UK will mark the first ever school productions of Frozen anywhere in Europe. Rehearsals are now well underway and the show will run from 21-24 May at St Cuthbert Mayne School with tickets now on sale!
Devon Music Education Hub are delighted to be working with R&K Systems and Music In Devon Initiative (MIDI) to present the Devon Secondary Schools Battle of the Bands 2025.
Bands and aspiring artists from secondary schools/settings across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay can apply to join us at one of our regional heats, where they will get feedback on their performance from music industry professionals – our regional heats will take place at the following dates and locations:
Tuesday 4 February 2025 | Petroc College, Barnstaple
Thursday 6 February 2025 | King Edward VI Community College, Totnes
Tuesday 11 February 2025 | Uffculme School, Cullompton
Thursday 13 February 2025 | Plympton Academy, Plymouth
A selection of bands will be invited to the Battle of the Bands Final at Exeter Phoenix on 25 February 2025, and could win the chance to professionally record their music and perform at high profile festivals.
Devon Music Education Hub would like acknowledge the generous support of our host schools for supporting these events.
Glastonbury Festival have just announced details of their 2025 Emerging Talent Competition, which is once again supported by PRS for Music and PRS Foundation. The competition gives new UK and Ireland-based acts of any musical genre the chance to compete for a slot on one of the main stages at this year's festival.
Devon Music Education Hub are delighted to present this year’s BIG Jazz Day for young musicians on Saturday 15 March at King Edward VI Community College, Totnes with special guests the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Big Band!
Join us from 3.45-5.45pm for a Jazz and Big Band workshop with Ceri Rees (saxophone & RWCMD Big Band director) Dr Andrew Bain (percussion & Head of Jazz at RWCMD) and the Big Band from the world-renowned Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama supported by South Devon Youth Jazz, Lipson Cooperative Big Band and the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestras – it’s open to any students Grade 2+ (approximate level only, no exam needed) who are interested in playing jazz on any instrument.
This will be followed by a celebration jazz concert from 7-9:30pm, with the massed bands and masterclass participants opening the concert, which parents/carers/supporters are very welcome to attend. Concert Tickets (7pm-9pm) can be purchased here.
Due to demand, places are strictly limited and allocated on a first come first served basis. Members of DYJO or Co-operative Big Band have already had their places secured, so there is no need to sign up again here.
Please note: There is no charge for young musicians participating in the workshop and/or performance. Admittance to the evening concert at 7pm for parents/carers/supporters will cost £6/£4 concessions.
Devon Music Education Hub would like acknowledge the generous support of King Edward VI Community College for hosting this event.
Join Big Music Collective and Paddleboat Theatre Company for Big Dreams Live at Ashburton Arts Centre on Saturday 1 February. An immersive interactive story for children with puppets, live musicians and sing-a-long with Hendrix the roller-skating disco cat. Join us for a free pre show shadow puppet workshop (limited spaces booking essential) plus book launch where every child will receive a free copy of the book Big Dreams. This project has been developed from the music resource and scheme of work by Laura Loft available as a taster on Charanga or full package from the Big Music Collective website.
