We have some excellent examples of good Early Years practise in the South East.   Pie Factory Music (the Thanet Youth Music Action Zone) has spent 2 years working with 10 local parent and toddler groups providing them with free monthly music workshops.   This year they will be starting 2 of their own music groups that will focus 100% on musical play for 4's and under, and training a member of staff to deliver sing and sign workshops.  
More information on the Youth Music Action Zones

Brighton and Hove City Library was awarded a  First Steps Open Programme grant in December 2006 for “Music and Rhyme Plus” – building and developing fortnightly sessions for 0 – 5 year olds based in seven community libraries as well as Hove and Brighton main libraries, and regular sessions at the new Brighton Childrens’ Hospital.

In 2005/6 the Dalcroze Society was awarded a First Steps grant for  “Stepping into Music -  an Early Years training project where participants received free music and movement sessions.The project trained and equipped Early Years workers and professional musicians with further music and movement skills, knowledge and understanding of Early Years development and relevant practical experience, thus enabling them to provide music and movement sessions in Early Years settings that could continue beyond the framework of the project.

I would like to see more opportunities developing over the next few months for early years music practitioners and am keen to hear about any work being undertaken with the under 5’s in my region so that we can perhaps set up a network  in the south east with a view to exchanging information and ideas.

If you are interested in becoming a part of this network then please contact me christina.mcquaid@youthmusic.org.uk

There is a wealth of choral singing opportunities across the South East with choirs and music services offering the chance for young people to sing together. Glyndebourne Music based in East Sussex has a very strong education programme which takes music to communities throughout the region.   Non Western and informal singing opportunities are also readily available, for example with Roots Around the World in Surrey and Music For Change in Kent .   West Sussex Music Services was awarded a Vocalise! Open Programme grant in September 2006 for “Voice and Movement” -  a wide reaching project working across eight rural and  coastal towns in West Sussex , which aims to create 16 choirs across the 7-18 year age range.  The project will run until May 2007.

If you are involved in singing or would like to develop a young peoples’ singing group please contact me … and keep an eye out for news on Super Singing Communities in the South East .

Singing news
Singing case studies

Youth Music is targeting the transition period between primary and secondary school as this is the key time when young people give up on their music-making. Youth Music has observed that many children give up because the practices, infrastructures and strategy needed to support music-making at this crucial stage is not always in place.  Music can also be used as a tool to ease the transfer from primary to much larger secondary schools.

Rhythmix  is currently running four long term pilot programmes in Surrey, East Sussex, Medway and Brighton & Hove to develop sustainable music programmes that support a relationship between secondary schools and their feeder primary schools. More than 800 young people have had the chance to take part so far, with work taking place in 17 schools to date.

Pie Factory Music provides music lessons in brass, strings, wind and singing and  supports regular local  events designed to raise safety issues for year 7's as they move into adulthood.

Transition news
Transition case studies
Youth Music's Transition policy and priorities

In the South East, young people can be deemed at risk for a variety of geographical and social reasons, from issues of rural living to coastal town deprivation.
Rhythmix is offering the chance to take part in a music making project to every young person excluded from mainstream education in Medway, East Sussex and Brighton & Hove. Work created during these projects will be put forward for release through MySpace, iTunes and other digitial services in July 2007.
 
Pie Factory Music in Thanet has a referral system in place for one to one work with the Youth Offending Team, the Early intervention Psychosis team and works closely with Pupil Referral units and local ACP's.  They are represented on the “Engage” Youth Forum for the crime and disorder reduction partnership.

In addition, Youth Music is currently funding three Make it Sound programmes working to the At Risk agenda in the South East.

1.  A Community College Project:   North Kent
This organisation is establishing a Community Youth Wind Band, which will bring together children from 8 to 18 years drawn from many of the most deprived wards in the area as well as surrounding villages.  Experienced music makers will work with younger members of the community who are either relatively new to music, performing music from traditional repertoire, jazz and popular music. The Community College is a registered Arts Award Centre and will encourage members of the Band to achieve Bronze and Silver Awards. The College will also consider using other accreditation such as ASDAN and Royal College of Music practical examinations.

2. A Youth and Community organisation – East Kent
Music for All aims to give excluded young people access to making music and also contribute to their achieving GCSE qualifications, with a focus on linking their musical culture to that of a wider world.

3.  Audio Active in Brighton:
Young Music Makers provides free, accessible and inspiring music courses for disadvantaged young people from Brighton and outlying isolated areas.

At Risk news items
At Risk case studies
Youth Music's Respect programme

Any Youth Music funded programme has to employ a paid trainee and offer professional development opportunities to strengthen and develop the workforce.  Through Youth Music’s Musicleader.net initiative, all music leaders across the UK have access to online information, advice and guidance.

In addition to the online resource, the South East and Southern regions will soon host a regional musicleader network and we are about to launch a six month research phase for these regions. MusicLeader South East is likely to provide networking and skills development opportunities from the new year.

Workforce development news
Workforce development case studies