On Friday 1 July 2022, school children from across Southampton were delighted by performance musician, as well as music and wellbeing educator, Laura Loft. Invited by Southampton Music Hub, Laura and her team performed a live interactive concert version of her fantastic resource Big Emotions at MAST Mayflower Studios.

Big Emotions is a beautiful story book written by Laura which features songs which support children and young people to process and recognise their emotions. Laura has also created a fantastic scheme of work to go with this which covers the national curriculum for music and is suitable for children in Year R, Year 1 and Year 2. Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Hub were so impressed with this resource that we bought this in for our schools (along with some CPD from Laura) to use at the beginning of the academic year with a particular emphasis on health and wellbeing being such an important part of the recovery curriculum post Covid.  

The hub has followed up schools’ huge take up of this with the opportunity to come and hear some of the songs performed live with wonderful interactive musical activities sprinkled throughout lead by Laura other musicians. Five schools and around 150 attended the theatre to sing, enjoy and take part in a brilliant workshop performance which focused on; Excitement, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Happiness. The children left with a soothing feather in their hands to help them feel the emotion ‘calm’.

Nia Collins, Programmes and Events Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:

“Laura is such a brilliant educator and believes so fervently that music and wellbeing are intrinsically linked that she is able to put this across so clearly in the amazing work that she does with children in this area.  We have recently been successful in bidding for some additional money from Music Mark to continue this important work with Laura through partnership.  Next term we will have a new resource for Years 2, 3 & 4 called Big Dreams which will focus on growth mindset through creative musical activities”

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Southampton Music Hub had the privilege of working with local charity African Adventures Foundation this term on a very unique and special project.  

Via African Adventures the music hub connected children from schools in Southampton with The Walk Centre in Nakuru, Kenya which is supported and maintained by African Adventures Foundation. Over Zoom the children and young people got together to plan out a choral exchange concert, choosing songs that they would like to perform for each other and songs they would love the other group to perform. The young people involved also asked lots of questions about what life was like in the other country and a variety of brilliant questions which we set about answering as part of this too.

On Tuesday 14 June all the Southampton based schools came together to celebrate the project at Turner Sims Concert Hall and took part in a filmed concert performance which also featured some fantastic video footage of The Walk Centre Choir performing and answering the questions that were originally posed.

Participating Southampton schools are now going to start to help with fundraising for their new friends in Nakuru Kenya. A final video of this performance and the footage from our partner school will be available for participants friends and family to watch after making a small donation to African Adventures Foundation.

Nia Collins, Partnerships Manager, says:

“We are looking forward to getting some of our young people back together on a Zoom call with our counterparts in Kenya afterwards to see what they all thought of their performances and to continue to grow the connections between us.”

A participant says:

“ I loved hearing the children from Africa sing because it made me feel so happy. It was really great being able to do a concert with children from another country. I would like to do more of that.”

Kath Page, Hub Lead, says:

“This has been such an amazing project to be a part of, designed and led by the children themselves. This concert is really the tip of the iceberg and it will be fascinating to see what kind of music the children would like to perform in the future – their voices will be paramount in shaping the music hub offer in the future.”

Rachel Northover, Head of fundraising at African Adventures Foundation, says:

“African Adventures Foundation was delighted to collaborate with Southampton Music Hub on this fantastic event to celebrate cultural exchange and the power of music to connect children from different backgrounds. It was really special to see the enthusiasm and efforts of the pupils from the various schools involved, and they created an amazing atmosphere for the choral exchange. This has been an exciting project for African Adventures Foundation to be involved in and we are keen to maintain a connection with the schools to continue the exchange that has been initiated.”

On Sunday 6 June young performers from 13 different schools in Southampton came together for a special performance at the Big Platinum Festival in Mayflower Park. They opened the festival to an audience of thousands with a rousing rendition of the hub's own Jubilee song, 'It's Our Jubilee' written by Jo Downs. They then drummed along with Forever Queen to the ever popular 'We Will Rock You'.

Kath Page, Hub Manager, says:

“We are thrilled to be a part of the Jubilee celebrations. This is a brand new festival choir that has been put together specially for this event, but thousands of children have been involved in singing the jubilee song in the run up to the Platinum Jubilee as part of our own Jubilee Celebrations. Huge congratulations to Unity Radio for putting together such a great party!”

One of the young performers says:

“ I can't believe there are so many people here!! It's a bit scary, but I'm so excited to be singing and to have made new friends with people. I'm going to carry on singing after this!”

On Sunday 22 May the newly formed Music Hub Festival Choir performed at MAST Mayflower Studios’ big birthday bash. The choir performed  'It's Our Jubilee' , the hubs newly commissioned song to celebrate the queen's jubilee. 

The choir was formed of community members and representatives from 14 schools across the city. 

Composer Jo Downs, who also sang in the choir says:

“It was wonderful to see my song coming to life. I loved the inclusion of signing in the performance and I was blown away by the standard of singing after two rehearsals.”

Akindu, one of the singers, says:

“It was really good fun to sing at the concert. I really liked the jubilee song.”

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"

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.

10 Minute Sign & Sing

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!

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:

Health and Wellbeing Songs

Emotional Literacy Songs

Growth Mindset Songs

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”

This term Southampton Music Hub is offering as many people as possible the exciting opportunity to join in with Big 10 Minute Sign & Sing — no matter where you are in the country!  Whether you’re a school bubble, or an individual learning at home. or a whole school participating, everyone can get involved.  

Those taking part can choose any song from the Song Bank to participate in this project (you can find songs on the website or YouTube channel), use the 10 minute Teaching video to learn the signs and/or body percussion and practise with the performance video.  When you are ready you can submit videos of your class bubble in school, multiple bubbles and pupils learning from home can submit their own individual videos to be included.

The hub’s brilliant digital team will stitch together the videos and premiere them as part of a national event, on YouTube on Monday 29th March at 1.30pm.

Monday 29th March Online workshop and Premiere

Join the music hub on the afternoon of 29th March at 1.30pm over on the 10 Minute Sing & Sing YouTube channel to participate in a new Pop Medley Sign & Sing workshop and watch the live premiere of your performances!

Find out more about the event at https://www.southamptonmusichub.org/big10

Nia Collins, Music Hub Relationship Manager, says:
“We know many of our schools are using 10 Minute Sign & Sing as part of their in-school and home learning activities during the current lockdown and that we are all missing the opportunity to take part in events and performances. What better way to build community and connect with each other than to combine all our activities into one nationwide project – so excited to see the final performances!” 

Schools, children and families across Southampton and Isle of Wight have been enjoying joining in with last week’s “10 Minute Sign & Sing” videos:

I did 'Try Everything' with the whole school on Friday… They absolutely loved it!!

It was fantastic standing at the front and watching the concentration on their faces as they signed along with Kelly.. she was really great - so clear.

— Jill (teacher at Beechwood School)

Sandra, is a music teacher at Great Oaks, a secondary school for young people with a range of complex learning difficulties including autism and speech and language difficulties, and she says:

I really like this new song… thank you for your hard work in putting these songs and the signing together. I like the fact the signing is Makaton!

And for schools who are seeing disruption to their usual music making, the videos have helped to create new, exciting shared music experiences:

These are fab!  That's fantastic as we can't do our Christmas Nativity do want to do something different for parents…

— Laura, teacher at Newchurch & Nettlestone Primary schools

This week Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Hubs launch a new “10 Minute Sign & Sing” series — weekly videos to help children enjoy making music safely in class, and at home.

All the songs include step-by-step instructions to help everyone enjoy singing along, as well as signing along using fun and easy Makaton signs.

Whilst Covid-19 restrictions mean that, for some, whole-school singing assemblies may not currently be possible, these quick ten minute videos can keep music at the heart of daily school life in a new way — as part of class or year group “bubbles”. As an added bonus, videos can be sent home to children self-isolating, so that no one misses out on making music this year.

Makaton Foundation says:
”For those not familiar with Makaton, it is a unique language programme that combines signs, symbols and spoken word to aid with communication and understanding new ideas. Using Makaton with Singing is a fun and easy way to learn to use signs with singing for young children. Signing and singing have been shown to encourage the development of communication and language skills and are beneficial for vocalisation, confidence, social skills, emotional development, well-being and self-esteem.”

Each week the team will be creating video resources covering two songs: one for Early Years and Key Stage 1; and the other suitable for Key Stages 2–3. Children with Special Educational Needs can join in with whichever song they like best — all the songs come with Makaton signs and instructions, and can be enjoyed by everybody.

The music hub has partnered with Welsh National Opera as part of this project and their fantastic vocal practitioners — opera singers and workshop leaders Emily Rooke and Dalma Sinka — will be creating the videos for Early Years and Key Stage 1.

Nia Collins, Music Hub Relationship Manager, says:
“By keeping videos quick and accessible we hope to encourage regular, short singing, to take place on a daily basis in a well-ventilated classrooms and homes throughout the year. As government guidance outlines, singing a little and often is absolutely possible and we believe the health and wellbeing benefits that come with this are absolutely vital to children and young people.”

10 Minute Sign & Sing is part of the Everybody Sing Song Bank:

Coronavirus has has a huge impact on all our lives. For families up and down the country, the past half term has been unlike any other: learning at home, and keeping a social distance from others. With schools looking to start welcoming more pupils on site, starting with some of the youngest first, this is a challenging time for everybody.

For children, as this half term ends, and they look ahead to the big changes coming soon, there are lots of confusing thoughts and feelings to try and make sense of. That is why Southampton Music Hub has created a brand new song called, ‘The Greatest Friend’.

We Need You!

With some very silly lyrics, fun actions, and sign language translation too, the song is fun for all ages. So there really is no excuse not to sing, dance or sign along.

The song also has a very important message hidden inside: it’s ok to feel sad and confused sometimes; everybody feels that way, but, it’s not forever.

What better way to show that we’re all in this together, than a video of everybody joining in? That’s why we need YOU!

Send us your videos and video clips either through the music hub website, or on Twitter, and you could be part of a huge, exciting, community video version of the song.

Tickets are now on sale for 'Southampton: A Musical Odyssey' — presented by Southampton Music Hub in partnership with Mayflower Theatre.

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020, the whole family can set sail for an epic evening of entertainment as over 600 young musicians from across Southampton commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower Ship: a pioneering journey which created connections that changed the world.

Led by Southampton Music Hub, in collaboration with Mayflower Theatre, and hosted by Soweto Kinch, the evening will feature musical performances from bands and orchestras of all different shapes and sizes from across the City of Southampton and celebrate the life-changing power of music, including, the premiers of Mayflower 400 inspired projects Big Sing: The Journey and Symphony 400: The Voyage. 

Tickets cost just £10 and are available from the Mayflower Theatre Box Office.

Today Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Hubs bring another brand new song to the Everybody Sing Song Bank. ‘Take a Walk Outside’ focusses on mindfulness and encourages singers to treat themselves with kindness. The song takes singers on a journey from negativity, frustration and anxiety through to finding a calm and peaceful mindset.

The song is accompanied by another new podcast episode, helping teachers and music leaders to teach the song to young singers with vocal warm ups , games and other ideas to bring the song to life.

In a bumper edition of the Everybody Sing Song Bank, Southampton Music Hub brings you two new health and well being themed songs this month.

The two songs — ‘Resilience’ and ‘Tell Me What Emotions Are’ — were written by Jo Downs: ‘Resilience’ encourages young singers to keep on trying at whatever they do; and ‘Tell Me What Emotions Are’ helps singers to use their voice in different ways, to express different emotions.

Both songs are accompanied by a short podcast episode for teachers and music leaders: each one including a new vocal warm up (the Warm Up of the Week) and a singing game or round (Simple Silly Starters) alongside hints and tips on how to get the best from each song.

On Monday 21 January, the Mayflower 400 project was officially launched in Southampton, and as part of the prestigious and very well attended event in Central Library, Richard Taunton Sixth Form College (RTSFC) Choir was invited to perform by Southampton Music Hub. The choir performed two pieces: Blow the Wind Southerly and I am Sailing. 

The Mayflower 400 commemorations seek to unite the Southampton community and surrounding areas, inspire creativity, drive economic growth, enhance the visitor experience and promote understanding and education of this pivotal moment in history. Driving this is the need to engage with young people and help them to understand Southampton’s relationship with the sea. 

Kath Page, Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
“The Mayflower project is about a journey and what better start to our present Mayflower journey than to engage with the wider community through listening to young people singing about the sea. The choir performed beautifully and they should be extremely proud.”

Miriam Kenny, Head of Music and choir leader for RTSFC, says:
“We are delighted to have been asked to perform. I asked the pupils to research songs about the sea and these were two of the songs that they found through their research. One of our singers, Rosie Mellett, wrote and taught the arrangement of We Are Sailing. When asked why she had chosen this particular piece, Rosie said she loved the lyrics, and felt it represented how the Mayflower story is ongoing in Southampton and how culture will keep on going. It was fun to teach and everyone helped out.”

The fantastic Richard Taunton Sixth Form College choir kicking off the @Mayflower400SC commemorations at Central Library. pic.twitter.com/UGSJMc4MmC

— SouthamptonLibraries (@SotonLibraries) January 21, 2019

This is exciting! Many partners present to launch Mayflower 400 Southampton. Richard Taunton music students got us voyaging. 2020 will be very busy. Volunteers from the city required so are you on board?@Mayflower400SC@Mayflower@RT6thForm@ParisSmithLLP pic.twitter.com/aoV9Vnw4dN

— Mayor of Southampton (@TheSotonMayor) January 21, 2019

For half an hour this evening — Monday 10 December — St Johns School choir filled Southampton City centre with the beautiful sounds of singing, bringing festive feelings to a busy crowd of parents, shoppers and onlookers. The street concert is the first of five organised in collaboration with Go Southampton and Southampton Music Trust, and will see four city centre spaces play host to music from schools and other young musicians in the lead up to Christmas.

From 5.30-6pm, 30 young singers performed a delightful mix of festive classics, carols and family favourites.

Matt Brombley, Projects and Partnerships Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
“It is a pleasure to work with Go Southampton on this project. Music is such a magical part of the Christmas season, and this is a great way for young musicians to share their talents with the city.”

Our SHREKtastic new trailer is here and we're coming to a swamp near you! https://shrekthemusical.co.uk/

Thursday 6 December was the first event in the year long collaboration programme between the Mayflower Theatre and Southampton Music Hub. Pupils and teachers from across Southampton took part in music and drama workshops, getting to know the characters and themes of the show before watching the matinee performance.

Kath Page, Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
“The musical theatre days are one of the highlights of our hub calendar. Being able to bring children into the theatre to both perform and be performed to is magical and they really feel involved having learnt a song from the show. The Mayflower support in making the theatre accessible to these young people is invaluable.”

Shrek will be at the Mayflower until 8th December.

Released today, ‘A Hundred Years’ is the latest free song in the Everybody Sing Song Bank: written by Jo Downs to remember a hundred years since the guns fell silent on the world’s first truly global war.

The song is a moving tribute to those who gave their lives in World War One, reflecting on the sacrifices made by those that took part, and the freedoms they won for generations to come.

The song is can be sung by all ages, with simple melodies that can be followed even by very young or inexperienced singers, and harmonies that can be sing by more confident or experienced ones.

Included with the song is a new episode of the Everybody Sing Podcast: helping teachers and music leaders get the most out of the song with warm ups, singing games and helpful tips for learning the song.

As Space Week launches today, Thursday 4 October 2018, it is the perfect chance to sing one of the exciting free songs from the Everybody Sing Song Bank. ‘Out of This World’ takes you on a journey to explore the galaxy inspired by the pioneering women and men who have led the way. The song comes with two episodes of the the Everybody Sing Podcast, including a whole episode with percussion ideas to get you drumming along with the song.