Activities for wind, brass and percussion
Tune-up Beginners Wind band
Saturdays
9.45am –10.15am
- The first step in wind band playing suitable for beginners upwards.
- Suitable for students learning to play the violin as part of a First Access programme in school.
- We play a wide range of styles whilst developing our ensemble skills.
- Rehearsals are in a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere with concerts in the autumn and summer terms.
Intermediate Wind Band
10.20am –11.10pm
- For woodwind, brass and percussion players, grade 2 or equivalent upwards.
- We play a wide range of styles whilst developing our ensemble skills.
- Rehearsals are in a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere with concerts in the autumn and summer terms.
Senior wind band
- Wednesdays, 5.30–7pm.
- For woodwind, brass and percussion players, grade 5-6 or equivalent upwards.
- To provide students up to A level standard the opportunity to experience and achieve a high standard of performance.
- Also includes work towards GCSE / A level ensembles and recordings.
Activities for string players
String Babies
Saturdays
11.30am – 12noon – StringBabies
- A fun and rewarding way for very young children (3-5 years old) to learn stringed instruments.
- The Stringbabies programme involves learning an instrument using games, toys and general musical skills.
- Structured home practice is gradually introduced as the programme proceeds.This will lead to being able to perform well, while confidently sight-reading and composing with conventional music notation.
A typical session will include
- playing, lots of singing and musical games, all with a strong emphasis on enjoyment!
Benefits of the Stringbabies programme:
- early violin playing
- early, confident sight-reading
- composing experience
- singing skills
- aural skills (listening)
- rhythmic skills
- posture, bowing and left-hand skills
- presentation and performance skills
String Baby Continuers
Saturdays,
9.10am – 9.40am
- For those who completed the first year of the StringBabies course.
Step-up Beginners Strings Group
Saturdays,
9.45am – 10.15am
- This group is aimed at those students learning to play the violin as part of a First Access programme in school.
Moving on Up Strings Group
Saturdays,
10.20am – 11.50am
- For grade 1–3, violin, viola, cello and bass players.
- To encourage string players in the early stages of their learning to have fun while learning how to play together in an orchestra.
- A group which extends the students orchestral skills of watching and listening and playing musically as part of an ensemble.
Stride-up Senior String Ensemble
Saturdays,
12.15am – 1.05pm
- For more experienced players, Grade 4+.
- A chance to cover ensemble repertoire and independent approaches to music making.
- Players are expected to take greater responsibility for themselves and their instruments.
- Players are encouraged to improvise and be more aware of their own performances.
- They learn to be sensitive to each other’s playing and develop their instrumental skills through listening and playing as part of an advanced ensemble.
Steel pans
Primary and Secondary Steel Pans
Tuesdays,
- 3.30pm – 4.00pm – Secondary Steel Pan Group
- 4.00pm – 4.30pm – Primary Steel Pans Group
- These groups are great activities exploring a range of repertoire from traditional pan music to more popular music.
- No previous experience is necessary as members will learn all the skills required in the weekly sessions.
Adult steel pans
- Thursdays, 7.30–9pm (currently postponed till further notice)
- A group for people who love the sound of the Caribbean. The group cover a wide range of musical styles with some performance opportunities throughout the year.
Songwriter
Weekly songwriting sessions
Listen to examples of what our young songwriters achieved:
I Believe in you
I can do what I want
Tuesdays,
- 5.00pm – 5.30pm – Primary Songwriter Group
- 5.30pm – 6.00pm – Secondary Songwriter Group
Songwriting workshop during school holidays
- Dates to be confirmed.
- A full-day songwriting workshop for young people aged 8-18.
- Meet other young songwriters and get tips and feedback from a professional songwriter.
- Learn how to write and perform a song within a workshop, or bring a song you'd like to work on.
- This activity is eligible for songwriter rewards. Find out more at songwriteronline.co.uk/rewards.
- Book now at songwriteronline.co.uk/workshops.
Musical activities for young children
Saturday morning music school
Adagietto: music group for 5–7 year olds
An introduction to general musicianship for beginners.
With varied, fun musical activities exploring a variety of instruments and aspects of music, this group aims to give:
- Chance to explore music in a safe environment with skilled guidance
- Exposure to wide range of music styles and genres
- Exposure to wide range of instruments and singinBuild children’s confidence in expressing themselves musically
- Develop readiness for, or compliment instrument learning, through:
- Musical games
- Instrumental work
- Singing skills
- Rhythmic skills
- Aural skills (listening)
- Composing experience
- Musical notation
Allegretto: music group for 8-11 year olds
- For children who have a particular interest in music or have just started to play an instrument.
- To provide a broad and balanced foundation course in musicianship, based on activities central to KS2 curriculum, but with the emphasis on the current and future needs of young instrumentalists.
Let's Sing Children's Choir
The Stevenage Music Centre ‘Let’s Sing’ project is a community initiative comissioned by Stevenage Arts Guild and funded by The Stevenage Community Trust.
The Let’s Sing Children's Choir is an all-inclusive, non-audition group. As well as performing at the Stevenage Music Centre on a regular basis the choir is also looking forward to regular performances in the community. The repertoire is varied and exciting and encapsulates all genres of music.
Members of all ensembles are strongly urged to join the choir which caters for children aged between 7–18 years.
As well as being a fun activity, choral singing stimulates a child’s musical and aural development while improving sight-reading and co-ordination skills. Singing is an essential part of our children’s musical education and enhances their learning of an instrument.
Ross' facts
Using a Capo can help to write songs using the open chords you may already know. This helps us to change the key of the strings, which then changes the sound of the chord
See how Ed Sheeran uses it:
Tom's tips
A recording of my favourite orchestra and conductor:
Victoria's focus