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Sound Foundation Somerset

Spring 2023

N E W S L E T T E R

Welcome to our termly newsletter!

Find out about all the great musical opportunities coming up for young musicians and how you can get involved...

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A quick message from the chair of SFS...

"Happy New Year!

Music Hub funding has been confirmed in its current form until August 2024 and this is great news. ACE are currently consulting on the geographical format of Hubs from September 2024 onwards and the outcome of this will be made known in the spring.

For now we wait in the knowledge that Sound Foundation Somerset has a superb track record in delivering high quality music education across the county and I am sure that our partners will continue to thrive and grow."

Richard Jones
Independent Chair
Sound Foundation Somerset

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Somerset Music

County Youth Choir Summer Course - Mark De-Lisser


Somerset Music are very excited to give advance warning of Mark De-Lisser returning to Somerset to work with the County Youth Choir in their Summer Course 24th – 26th July. Mark is a world renowned voice coach and choir director with a vast wealth of experience and enthusiasm.

To register your interest in this course please contact Sarah Alsop the Youth Choir manager:
sarah.alsop@somerset.gov.uk.
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Spaeda

Creative Leaders Network

When: 22nd February 2023
Time: 4:15pm - 6:30pm
Where: Online

Support and Skills for Creative Leaders working with SEND students.
This session includes a combination of updates and input to support provision, inspiring practical or exemplar resources and experiences to take back into the classroom.

This course is fully subsidised for Somerset Schools by Sound Foundation Somerset.

More info>

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Take Art

Sharing ‘SoundWaves’: Creating an enabling early years musical environment

Free online session
Date: Tue, 7th March 2023
Time: 9.30am - 11.30am

This training, facilitated
by Culture Bridge North East, will be interactive and aimed at both early years practitioners and musicians to support their early years music practice. Jane Parker will share takeaways learnt from working with the early years settings. The session looks at how we can create a musically inclusive and enabling learning environment for both very young children and adults.

Find out more and book your place here.
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Take Art

Building Confidence in using Music in EYFS:

a practical and interactive online Zoom course for anyone who wants to improve their skills and knowledge in early years music

Date and Time: 18th April 2023 to 23rd May 2023, Tuesday evenings 7.30pm - 9pm

This popular course is once again led by Jane Parker and is part of Take Art’s Early Childhood music programme SoundWaves Network SW, funded by Youth Music.

This 6-session evening course will provide an opportunity to develop your skills and confidence in delivering simple singing games, rhymes and instrumental work for 0 to 5s.
More info>

Book here: https://takeart.org/whats-on or email earlyyears@takeart.org to book a space!

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Somerset Music

Youth Choir


The Youth Choir is looking for singers to join them on Saturday 4th February & Sunday 5th February for two themed singing days:

‘World Tour – Songs from around the Globe’ & ‘Showtime – Song from the Shows’

More info>
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Somerset Music

County Youth Band


The County Youth Band is inviting woodwind, brass or percussion (either kit or orchestral) players at Grade 3 + standard to this year’s Easter Wind Band Course.

More info>
musician Chris Webb and a pupil from Three Ways school in Bath
Live Music Now

Count Me In!


Live Music Now has been piloting a new approach to inclusive music making for children with complex needs. Devised by Professor Adam Ockelford and linked to the Sounds of Intent framework, Count Me In! breaks down music into accessible parts before “reconstructing” the piece as a group performance in which every individual’s contribution is important and valued.

For more information, please see: www.livemusicnow.org.uk/count-me-in.

Live Music Now will be holding training sessions for teachers over the next few months – please contact sophie.dunn@livemusicnow.org.uk if you would like to be kept up to date with these.

[Image by Simon Powell]

Image by Simon Powell
Guildhall Young Artists Taunton

Performances galore at Guildhall Young Artists Taunton

Children and young people aged 5 – 18 at GYAT will be presenting music and drama in a wide variety of performances this term. They’re all free admission and all are welcome!

View the dates for each performance here.
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For more details email: gyataunton@gsmd.ac.uk or contact GYAT on 07754217993

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Guildhall Young Artists Taunton

Music Starts Here

Aimed at children aged 5 – 7 (Reception to Year 3) who are beginners, Music Starts Here is a fun weekly workshop of 45 minutes where children explore a wide variety of musical activities. Ideal for the start of their musical journey, before deciding on their musical instrument of choice.

Interested? Please email gyataunton@gsmd.ac.uk or contact GYAT on 07754 217993

Find out more about all GYAT programmes for children and young people aged 5 – 18 here.

[Image by Simon Powell]

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Guildhall Young Artists Taunton

Summer holiday course bookings are open

Back by popular demand! Guildhall Young Artists Taunton is now taking bookings for its Summer Holiday Course 2023 which will be from Monday 7 August to Friday 11 August, 9.45am to 4pm daily at Richard Huish College, Taunton.

An action-packed week of fun workshops in music, drama and much more for anyone aged 10 – 18.

Please register your interest by emailing gyataunton@gsmd.ac.uk or contact GYAT on 07754 217993.

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The Sound of the Streets

The Sound Invaders

The Sound Invaders is a youth street band based in Taunton. The band is open to all young people playing reeds, brass and percussion and meets at Castle School on Wednesdays from 6 to 7pm. They play a variety of styles and work on ensemble playing, improvisation and rhythm. Street Band music is a unique way to develop musical skills and confidence and a great way to learn about traditions of music making around the world.

Contact Tim Hill for more details: tim@thesoundofthestreets.com

Follow on Facebook!:
The Sound Invaders

Good News Stories!

The Sound of the Streets Festival

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The Sound of the Streets had a very successful year, the 2022 festival and programme reached a live audience of over 6000 and an online audience of over 16,000. It presented 23 bands, employed 53 technicians and artists and had over 500 people participating in education events.

Watch this short film celebrating the festival:
The Sound of the Streets are a non-profit organisation aiming to inspire and support young people to play wind, brass and percussion instruments and create resources for people to find out more about this vibrant and accessible music.

Find out more about The Sound of the Streets here:
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On Monday 5th December we were delighted to make a return to Wells Cathedral for our Somerset Music Christmas Concert.

This featured members of the Somerset County Youth Orchestra, Somerset County Youth Band, Somerset County Youth Ukulele Band and Somerset County Youth Choir as well as pupils from 11 schools and colleges from around the County. This concert is much anticipated in our annual music calendar and after a 3-year absence it certainly had a wow factor. Featuring choirs, bands and bell plates!, Please follow the link to see the Orchestra, Band and County Youth Choir in action.

The County Youth Orchestra and Concert band were also delighted to run their annual Christmas courses which culminated in performances at Temple Methodist Church in Taunton.

If you know of any pupils at your school who would be interested in joining any of our county youth groups, please contact us at somersetmusic@somerset.gov.uk

- Somerset Music
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