Starting today, pizza boxes of music activities arrive on the doorsteps of shielded children across the city. Including support for songwriting, beatboxing, and even turning the box in to the drum, the resources are designed to support music-making at home, with no extra stuff needed.

The boxes have been put together by Southampton Music Hub and are inspired by the incredible work of Solent Showcase Gallery and Southampton City Council’s art box scheme. They are part of the Covid-19 response from Southampton’s Cultural Education Partnership (SCEP), looking to help make sure children can access cultural experiences from a distance.

Matt Brombley, Development Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
”We’re delighted to be part of the SCEP’s response to COVID-19: helping children and young people making music at home. We know that for shielded children — those who are extremely clinically vulnerable, or who live with someone who is — the very strict social distancing restrictions are really tough. We hope that being able to make music and write songs will help them to work through the difficult feelings that such a troubled time brings.”

Southampton Music Hub is launching the first of a series of regular activity newsletters designed to support pupils, teachers and parents with a musical learning framework in the coming months.

This initial resource has a variety of activities for Key Stages 1–2 which are appropriate to complete either in school or at home. After Easter the hub will aim to provide two weekly newsletters created by the hub’s specialist curriculum team.

Each newsletter will follow a similar structure and include signposts to cross-curricular links. Activities will include guided listening; practical tasks; a research topic; digital and creative music making ideas; and music staves and notation worksheets.

The team would welcome feedback including ideas for genres, topics or types of activities pupils, parents and teachers would like to see included — get in touch and the team will do their best to take on board your suggestions.

Over the coming weeks, you may find yourself missing out on music lessons, or playing with your ensemble. Here are some things you could do instead.

1. Perform at home

   Pick pieces of music you know. Try new pieces of music. Come up with an exciting programme of music to share with those around you. Practice hard. Then invite the people you live with to watch the show. Make tickets and a programme with fun facts about the music and your instrument. Don’t forget to invite your pets.

2. Perform for older relatives with video chat

   We know many older people might be feeling lonely over the next few weeks or months. Why not perform a concert for your older relatives over Skype, or FaceTime, or Video Chat?

3. Write a song

   Composing your own music is a great way to understand your feelings, particularly in difficult times. It can also be a great way to forget your worries for a while, and focus on something more positive. You could write music inspired by our recent Mayflower 400 project. You could be inspired by your favourite songwriters and composers. You could write parts for any instruments you play. You could write lyrics to sing or rap. Anything is possible when you’re writing your own songs.

4. Download music apps and create music on your phone/tablet

   If you don’t have an instrument, or can’t play one, or just fancy trying something new, why not download free apps like GarageBand or Walk Band and make music on your smartphone or tablet? Why not get inspired with the free Synthesis eBook?

5. Create and share playlists of music you like

   Listening to music is a great way to change the way you feel. You could make a playlist of happy songs to pick you up when you feel down. You could also playlist of sad songs that you can listen to when you just want to feel sad for a while, that’s ok too. You can then make a playlist of songs that inspire you to sing, dance and jump around when you’re feeling in more of a party mood. Share your playlists with your friends, or even make one together.

However you do it, remember, making music is great!

This weeks sees the start of a new initiative providing music therapy for Southampton’s looked after children, delivered by the life-changing music charity Nordoff Robbins The pilot project is the result of a new partnership between Nordoff Robbins, Southampton Music Hub, the Virtual School Network and Sholing Technology College. Music therapist Anna Tyrrell will work with pupils who are, or have been, looked after by Southampton City Council, using music to break down barriers in their lives, and help them to find their voice.

Matt Brombley, Interim Manager at Southampton Music Hub says:
“It’s an incredible privilege to work with Nordoff Robbins to help children and young people in the city use music to help overcome the challenging circumstances they face in their lives. Thanks to the commitment of Ann Dyton at the Virtual School, and the support of Sholing Technology College and their feeder schools, we’re able to share this incredible opportunity with pupils from across the east of the city. With over 3,000 pupils making music with Southampton Music Hub every week, we know the huge difference music can make in the lives of children, young people and their families. For the city’s looked after children, music therapy with Nordoff Robbins will help them to experience the life-changing power of making music too.”

Fraser Simpson who oversees Nordoff Robbins South West services says:
 “The spirit of innovation is at the heart of Nordoff Robbins, and we embrace strong partnerships to help us achieve our mission – bringing the life-changing power music therapy to as many people as possible, including individuals, families and communities, using our renowned approach. We are thrilled to be teaming up with Southampton Music Hub and the Virtual School in an originative and exciting partnership, to enable young people in need of support to engage in the creative power of music-making, inspiring them to innovate and succeed."

As the new school year starts, Southampton Music Hub is working in schools and across the community to deliver its ambitious programme of life-changing music for the year ahead. Through first access, instrumental and vocal tuition and city ensembles, every child has the opportunity to perform and progress. Through the Stadium Tour, every child will have access to inspiring and inclusive music experiences, with world class musicians touring around the city's schools. Everybody Sing will help everyone to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of singing . The Family Music Programme — including Family Singing and a new Family Rock Jam, along with the return of the Family Orchestra — will help all families share the life-changing power of making music together.