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Ensembles

As a Music Education Hub, one of our four ‘core roles’ is to support the development of both in and out of school Ensembles.

SoundStorm and its partners, support the vision that ‘children and young people should have the opportunity to take part in vocal and instrumental ensembles’, offered either in school or by bringing students together from across the locality.

Within the conurbation there is a diverse array of in-school offers, from Rock bands and vocal groups to Jazz bands and percussion ensembles – out of school we have been working with our Partners to develop and enhance this, widening opportunities through projects, subsidising fees or offering grants to our community providers. 

IN SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES

In primary schools, we support all BCP member schools with Whole Class Ensemble Tuition (WCET), previously known as First Access, for at least one whole term free of charge on a wide range of instruments, including orchestral as well as more contemporary instruments. This is normally targeted at all year 4 students. They also get access to free musical instruments for the duration of the programme. Free-to-access digital resources also allow schools to deliver their own WCET programmes.

Once they finish their WCET programme, all primary schools also have an option to buy in highly subsidised small group lessons for those young people showing a particular interest in continuing music lessons. This hopefully will enable these young people to start learning an instrument for many years to come.

In addition to the WCET programme, SoundStorm supports a large number of starter ensembles, often at lunchtimes, which provide a first step into group music making.

At secondary school level, we support all BCP secondary schools with grants to help them enrich their music curriculum, including providing ensemble opportunities and providing subsidised lessons on “endangered species” instruments.

In special schools, we currently support 2 open orchestras, designed to include young people with physical or learning disabilities in group music making, as well as supporting more contemporary ensembles.

For more information about what we do in schools, click here.

OUT OF SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES

To see the current list of out of school ensemble opportunities, including a range of orchestral groups, our Creative Ensemble, Youth Guitar Group etc. click here