This project from Music in the Round introduces KS3 and KS4 students from all backgrounds to composition through extensive resources and visits from professional musicians and composers. Students will be supported by emerging and professional composers to create their own music which will be performed by one of our internationally renowned ensembles at the end of the project in a culmination concert at a local venue.

Timeline:

Autumn 2025: introductory films from composer Andre J Smith and PDF resources shared

Thursday 2nd October: ½ day INSET session at Portsmouth Guildhall (KS3 9am-12noon, KS4 1pm - 4pm)

Follow up Zoom meeting to tailor the project to your students

Week’s beginning 1st Dec, 19th Jan & 9th March: In school workshops with the composers

Tuesday 18th November: Phaedra Ensemble Introductory concert Portsmouth Guildhall

Monday 8th & Tuesday 9th June: Final concert of your student’s compositions at Portsmouth Guildhall

This project costs £150 but is significantly underwritten by other funding sources, however if this is a barrier to participation please contact nia@siowmusic.org to discuss support.

Sign up via the button below.

Take part in 3 online CPD sessions with music hub curriculum specialists utilising the London Sinfonietta Sound About resources through the year to develop your practice.

This is the ideal project for primary teachers of KS2 and particular those looking for some support with creative composition.

Dates for each term tbc but this will include a session with London Sinfonietta at the conference on 8th January  2026. Contact nia@siowmusic.org for more information

Schools choirs and music groups or a class of up to 30 children are invited to Osborne House on Monday 24th November for a carousel of Christmas activities!  You will have the opportunity to perform in the Durbar Room, have a tour of the ground floor of the house and take part in some Victorian Christmas craft activities.  If take up is high we will also offer the opportunity for schools to take part the following week on 1st December.

As part of this project we have commissioned two new songs from composer Pam Wedgwood which we will workshop with you prior to the day in school to learn and perform on the day alongside the other schools.  You can find the songs and resources in the Songbank from the end of September.  You are also welcome to perform another song of your choice to the other schools on the day which could be something you have prepared for Christmas concerts or anything you have been working on this term - all are welcome, although this is optional.  We will not have a full band or sound set up sadly due to the delicate nature of the Durbar Room but we will have a piano and be able to play backing tracks.  

Our proposed timings on the day would run from 9.30am - 2.15pm with the opportunity for parents to drop off and collect children on the day to save on transport costs where possible. 

Sign up for the visit and free vocal workshop in school spaces are limited to 3 schools per day via the button below (link to come soon)

We are delighted to be continuing to partner with London Sinfonietta as part of their composition challenge programme.  Their fantastic workshops leaders and composers will be visiting us again this year to deliver a small number of workshops in schools supporting the use of their fantastic online resources which you can find HERE

Next year they will be touring again and making use of the music created and submitted by your young musicians.  For KS3 pupils this is a great opportunity to work with some contemporary composers and for teachers to support your delivery of teaching composition too. 

Please also see the CPD offers for a year long programme of CPD sessions on creative composing utilising these resources.

We are excited to announce Playground Proms are coming to Southampton and the Isle of Wight!

This exciting musical opportunity is available for ten KS1 and KS2 schools and is presented in partnership with Playground Proms.  Playground Proms are arena-style classical music workshops delivered directly to primary schools by specially trained professional musicians. The comedy string quartet will perform classical music in a fun way to create an inspirational educational experience.

Including:

• 1 hour online CPD session for staff prior to the their visit

• Digital resources and activities to use prior, during and after the workshop visits

• 1 hour Dalcroze and singing workshop

• 1 hour performance for the whole school by comedy string trio Graffitti Classics including interactive elements learned in the workshop

Please note Playground Proms will cost £150 per school but please do let us know if this is a barrier to your participation so we can look for other sources of funding to support this taking place in your setting.  We will only have 5 spaces to offer in each region. Workshops will take place in March 2026 (date tbc).

Register your interest via the link below

Join us again for our junior prom event on the bowling green at Carisbrooke Castle!  Bring your students along for an opportunity to perform on the green with fantastic visibility for parents, friends and families to come along and watch on the raised areas around the green and bring a picnic.  This year this event will be solely focused on singing and our theme in 2026 will focus on local stories, myths & legends as part of our Songs of Place project. Suitable for KS1, KS2, KS3+ SEND The date is still tbc but will be in June.

A songbook including stories, myths and legends from the Island collected from young people will be produced by the music hub and workshops will also be available to support this.  As always we will run a site visit and meeting prior to the event to discuss logistics with teachers which will take place in early May from  4pm - 5pm at the castle as a twilight meeting.  In the case of inclement weather we will also have a reserve date.  Please use the form linked below to sign up for this event.

Approximate timings: 4pm - 4.30pm School ensembles/groups arrive , 4.30pm - 5pm Sound checks , 5.30pm - 7pm Concert