The Year Ahead

1700 local children will be at the Guildhall in Portsmouth on Tuesday 20 September to enjoy a concert given by the nationally acclaimed Swing Band, Jive Aces.

Produced by Portsmouth Music Hub, the concert marks the start of the Hub's new academic year that will be packed with music, education, ensembles and major productions designed to inspire the children and young people of Portsmouth.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub, said: "We wanted to begin a new academic year with a really exciting event, something that is spectacular both visually and musically, and Jive Aces really will be unforgettable.

In the year ahead the Hub Team will, as always, remain committed to delivering the very best musical opportunities for young people. Our ensembles will go from strength to strength, developing children's skills and their passion for music. We'll work closely with our Hub Partners to bring exceptional opportunities for young people to enjoy, experience and participate in workshops and productions delivered by professional musicians and performers.

On top of that we'll continue to encourage best practice, inclusivity, opportunities and the pursuit of excellence in music education. It's going to be a very busy and exciting year."

In the next few months Portsmouth Music Hub will be hard at work holding Ceilidh Days in schools across the City. There will be the explosive launch of a new songbook for children called 'Sciencescape'. The Hub will be working alongside Southampton Music Hub to deliver the prestigious Solent Cultural Conference. There will be music theatre workshops, the launch of a new choir and rock band, and a whole host of special Christmas concerts.

A New Adult Choir

Are you ready to take a deep breath and jump out of the frying pan and into the Choir?

Resonate is a new adult choir based in the heart of Portsmouth.

Resonate isn't about being a musical expert, it isn't about cutting a solo album or performing an opera at Covent Garden. Resonate is about fun, it's about meeting new people in a friendly environment, it's about familiar songs that everyone can sing and enjoy. Resonate is stress-free, with no experience needed and full of laughter.

The truth is singing is good for you. It's inspiring, it clears the mind, singing fills you with boundless energy and conjures up a little magic in life.

Resonate is free of charge for an hour a week. It's led by a professional musician from Portsmouth Music Hub. We'll be starting the new choir on Friday 16th September, and it will be running every week (term-time only) from 11.30am until 12.30pm. We'll be meeting in Room F, 3rd Floor, Portsmouth Central Library, and there's a café just outside the rehearsal room for tea, coffee and cake; it doesn't get much better than that!

So, if you've got a little time on your hands and a passion for singing then we'll be really pleased to see you, and you can join Resonate at any time.

Resonate is managed by Portsmouth Music Service. If you would like to know more or would like to join us please call 023 9237 5655, or e-mail us at portsmouthmusichub@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

First Cultural Carnival

A taste of Rio came to Portsmouth on Wednesday 6 July when 10 schools and 1000 primary-aged children came to the Guildhall Square in Portsmouth with drums, streamers, flags and whistles.

The children were there for Portsmouth's very first Cultural Carnival, and it was a chance for Portsmouth Music Hub to celebrate a successful year delivering music and culture to the City's young people.

The carnival atmosphere began immediately with 20 young cornet players from Arundel Court Primary School, Maypole dancers and the Pompey Pluckers Band entertaining the children as they arrived. After taking their seats on the Guildhall steps all the children sang 'The Carnival Song' which had been composed especially for the event by one of the Music Hub's composers.

Watched by surprised and smiling members of the public the Carnival procession took 1000 children around the Guildhall Square and into Victoria Park. There was laughter, singing, dancing, flags were waving and the children in masks and costumes walked around the park entertaining the public and ruffling the feathers of a few startled pigeons!

Willow Webber, aged 10, from Arundel Park Primary School, said; "It was like one big party. We were all having fun and celebrating. It was great being part of something with all the other schools."

Portsmouth Music Hub produced the event, and brought together arts professionals to celebrate the cultural diversity and creativity in the city.

The Carnival came to an end with a performance from Northern Parade Junior School's Steel Band, who finished off the morning of carnival by encouraging everyone in the Guildhall Square to clap and dance - even the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor of Portsmouth jumped up and joined in the fun.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub, said after the event: "The sun smiled on the children today. It's been a wonderful event, full of colour and song, and we plan to make the Carnival an annual event, and to encourage more performers from Portsmouth's cultural community to get involved."

Singing Storytime

The Music Service Team has been busy at the end of the summer term inspiring children to experience a range of musical instruments. 

Over 3 weeks more than 500 primary-aged children from schools across Portsmouth have enjoyed Singing Storytime. The new event uses words, props, puppets and musical instruments and the children take part in stories which link to the sounds of musical instruments, as well as learning a song with a connection to each story. 

Singing Storytime is a Music Service initiative that targets Early Years and Year 1 children. The programme aims to broaden young minds and links with the schools' language teaching. 

Some of the books that have been used at the event include Bunny Cakes and Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells, Slinky Malinki by Lynley Dodd, The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield and Zog by Julia Donaldson. The children have been enthralled by listening to musical instruments including guitar, ukulele, piano and clarinet. 

Kate Barrett, who led the event, said: "Music is a universal language for all to enjoy. The Arts add enormous value to each child's wider education, and Singing Storytime has been wonderful opportunity to share an interactive musical experience with young children." 

Musical Celebration of Sport

The New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth had a stage full of probably the healthiest looking young singers ever seen in the theatre's long history.

On Friday 24 June, in front of proud parents, the public and the Deputy Lord Mayor of Portsmouth primary-aged children from schools across the City were there to perform 'Singathlon', a concert celebrating healthy living, keeping fit, and working hard to achieve goals.

There was every possible costume on display, from footballers, to dancers to tennis players, and even the teachers got in on the act performing a song about weightlifting which included, to the delight of the children, a teacher 'struggling' under the weight of a set of plastic dumbbells.

The concert, produced by Portsmouth Music Hub, saw more than 200 hundred children perform a range of songs written by the Music Hub's team of composers, which included 'Triple Jump', 'Live a More Active Life', and a firm favourite with the audience 'Losers Like Me'; which made the point that without losers there are no winners.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub, said after the show: "In this Olympic Year it was the perfect time for a celebration of sport and keeping fit. The children gave some fantastic performances, and the Schools worked really hard to make the event such a success. Concerts like these are full of talent and enthusiasm and they are completely unforgettable, not only for the audience, but for the hundreds of children who took to the stage."

Young Rock Bands Perform Live

On Tuesday 21 June young musicians from Portsmouth Music Hub's Rock Bands could be seen gigging at the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth.

'Rock the Rooms' was a special concert marking the end of the school year and it was a chance for the musicians to perform at a professional music venue in front of a packed auditorium.

The concert brought together enthusiastic young singers, guitarists and drummers, aged from between 12 to 17 years of age, and there was a real mix of music on offer, including hits from Coldplay, and songs including 'Heart of Glass' and 'Sweet Child of Mine'.

Stu Brewer, who leads the Portsmouth Music Hub's Rock Bands, said: "It was an amazing night and a gig the musicians will never forget. The Bands invest a huge amount of time and effort into their performances, and when you see them on stage you can't help but be inspired. They have a passion for the music and the Hub is committed to giving them the skills, the freedom and opportunity to perform."

Portsmouth Music Hub runs Rock Bands, from beginners to more advanced young performers, each week during term time. To find out more call 023 9237 5655.

Harbour School Children Visit Royal Marines

On Tuesday 21 June children from the Harbour School in Tipner paid a visit to the Portsmouth-based Royal Marines School of Music, the training home of the Royal Marines Band Service.

The 9 children and staff were given a tour of the Royal Marines School, and saw a concert band rehearsal, the Corps of Drums and took the opportunity to make as much noise as possible on various drum kits inside the Percussion Training Room.

The visit began with a walk around the private practice rooms which are housed inside the former Naval Detention Quarters which were closed in 1996 when the Royal Marines School of Music moved from Deal in Kent. There are almost 200 practice rooms, still known as cells, over three flights, and the children couldn't help but be impressed by the size of the building, and the thought of all the prisoners that were once housed there.

Throughout the visit the children had many questions. They wondered why everyone had to march, they were curious about the military rank structure, and when they discovered the long hours in a Royal Marines day they were very surprised.

The children watched more 30 trainee musicians rehearsing music from Les Miserables in the Concert Hall. After they gave a round of applause WO2 Bandmaster Tim Carter invited the children to conduct the Band, and it was probably the first time 'A Life on the Ocean Wave', performed by the Royal Marines, has ever been conducted by a 13-year-old.

Young Performers Take to the Stage

Portsmouth Music Hub has been busy giving young people in Portsmouth the chance to take to the stage.

On Wednesday 15th June the Hub held a performance evening given by children aged 5 to 15 years of age. Portsmouth Music Hub runs a range of music ensembles throughout the year, including a jazz band, rock bands, a wind band and orchestra, and the performance evening was a chance for the young musicians to show off their skills. The concert was compered by 13 year-old Reuben Honeychurch who introduced a range of different acts, including a spectacular solo cornet performance from Freya Leon.

A day later, on Thursday 16th June, more than 100 children from schools across Portsmouth came together for a Recorder Festival held at Northern Parade Infant School. The primary-aged children rehearsed all morning and later that day they performed a concert, with songs including 'Winklepickers Carnival', 'Strolling in the Park' and the children's favourite 'Recorder Rock', which had been specially written by Music Hub composer Jonathan Cook.

At the end of the Recorder Festival Charlotte Bouckley, aged 8, said: "Today has been exciting and fun, and I loved seeing all the different sizes of recorder. The best song was 'Recorder Rock'. It was great!"

In the next few days the Music Hub will be busy with more concerts. On Tuesday 21 June the Hub's Rock Bands will be performing at the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth, followed on Friday 24 June by 'Singathlon', a concert at the New Theatre Royal, with hundreds of children singing about sport and healthy living.

Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub, who conducted the Recorder Festival said: "There's an enormous amount of musical talent in our city, and it's wonderful to see progress and passion. When children and young people get the chance to develop their creative skills and perform to an audience they really are inspirational."