News
Song Source – keeping children singing wherever they are!
Launching today, Song Source features over 200 engaging songs for primary-aged children about life, the world and the universe, all at your fingertips.
Songs composed by Portsmouth Music Hub’s award-winning team are now available FREE for everyone with the launch of Song Source.
Here’s a taster: https://youtu.be/LaAn6bWypQY
With songs about keeping fit, the environment, all sorts of topics and themes, there’s a song for everyone to sing!
Vicky Head, St Paul’s Primary School said, “Song Source has transformed the way I teach singing – it’s simply brilliant and anyone can use it!”
The Song Source website has great karaoke tracks so children can learn songs easily and sing along with the words on screen. There are lyric sheets to help learn words, backing tracks so children can perform once they are confident and scores so children who can play instruments can join in.
Check out the site: https://www.portsmouthmusichub.org/songsource
Choose a song and get singing!
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said, “Our aim is to keep children singing where ever they are and Song Source does just that!”
Recycling Heroes to the Rescue
Portsmouth Music Hub has launched a brand new song to celebrate Global Recycling day.
The song has been specially commissioned to mark Global Recycling Day, which this year is 18 March 2020. Since launching in 2018, Global Recycling Day celebrates the importance of recycling in order to preserve and secure the future of our planet.
The theme for 2020 is Recycling Hereos. The Global Recycling Foundation, who launched this important awareness day, hope to 'recognise the people, pleases and activities that showcase what an important role recycling playing in contributing to an environmentally stable planet and a greener future which will benefit all'.
The song has been made available to all schools across the city for pupils to sing, with a creative and engaging video created to reinforce the message.
CHRISTMAS ROCKS!
Portsmouth Grammar School played host to future rock stars on Thursday (12 Dec), when young people from across the city took to the stage for Portsmouth Music Hub's Christmas production of Rock the Rooms.
The evening included performances from Portsmouth Music Hub's very own Actions Stations, Victory and Warrior Rock Bands, and with music from Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Ray Charles and KT Tunstall, the audience enjoyed powerful stage performances from soloists and singers.
The three rock bands, made up of different age groups at different stages of their development, meet every week during term time. Led by professional musicians they are encouraged to grow musically and to share their passion for music in a supportive environment.
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub, said: "We're lucky to have such a talented group of musicians, playing together and learning from each other, and then coming together for an incredible evening of live music. Portsmouth Music Hub firmly believes that giving young people an opportunity to get creative, to learn from each other and to have fun together will pay dividends in every aspect of young person's journey into adulthood. Increasingly the evidence tells us that music supports learning, develops confidence and supports communication skills. Actions Stations, Victory and Warrior Rock Bands are an exciting example of children and young people making a difference and performing at their very best."
MUSIC HUB CHRISTMAS FINALE
After a busy term of music-making, practice and rehearsals young musicians from Portsmouth Music Hub's choirs and ensembles came together on Tuesday (3 Dec) for a Christmas Concert at St. Mary's Church in Portsmouth.
For the young performers, at different ages and musical abilities, it was an opportunity to showcase their developing skills and passion for music to an enthusiastic audience of families and friends. A Christmas Medley, Jingle Bells, Let It Snow and All I Want For Christmas is You were just some of the songs celebrating the festive season, but the young musicians and singers couldn't resist performing the music from Fame and songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Portsmouth Music Hub runs a series of ensembles throughout the year. With choirs, a concert band, orchestras and rock bands the ensembles form an important part of the Music Hub's continuing commitment to engaging and inspiring children and young people with a diverse range of musical and cultural opportunities.
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said after the Christmas show: "Every child, no matter what their background, should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument or to be part of a choir. Music-making enriches the cultural life of every child and our ensembles aim to support young people as they develop their abilities and their passion for music. On top of high-quality tuition from our team of music professionals, and the chance to play in wonderful venues like St. Mary's Church, children have time to socialise with each other, learn, communicate and have fun in a creative environment. The concert tonight has been a celebration, not only of Christmas, but of the exciting ensembles that offer our children and young people so much.”
A NOISY NATIVITY!
The magic of Christmas came to Portsmouth on Wednesday (4 Dec) when primary-aged children from across the city came together for Portsmouth Music Hub's Special Christmas Concert; but it wasn't a quiet affair.
To celebrate the festive season children performed a production of the Noisy Nativity. This musical adaptation of the traditional story included all the familiar characters, with Mary and Joseph, the Angel Gabriel and the wise men making an appearance, but the Noisy Nativity also included bumpy camels, knocking on doors, a deafening donkey, excited sheep, chattering shepherds and of course a famous crying baby. For all the teachers, parents and guests the Schools Special Christmas Concert was most definitely not a 'silent night'.
Jane Smith, aged 6, from Cottage Grove Primary School, said after the concert: "Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I loved being part of the Noisy Nativity. I loved the costumes and the singing, I loved all the noisy animals, and it was amazing to have a band playing when we sang."
The children from Cliffdale Primary Academy, College Park Infant School, Corpus Christi Primary School, Cottage Grove Primary School, Mary Rose Academy, Northern Parade Infant School
St. Paul's Primary School were joined by members of the Citadel Salvation Army Band. The musicians gave up their time to perform Christmas favourites including Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
The Music Hub's Christmas Concert has been running for the past 16 years, giving children from mainstream and special schools the opportunity to work together and share their passion for music, dancing, drama and Christmas!
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "It really is impossible not to enjoy the special Christmas Concert, everyone leaves the Cathedral with a smile on their face. This concert is an annual highlight for everyone involved, and it's heart-warming to see so many children with many different needs and backgrounds coming together to perform, to celebrate and sing their hearts out. Children don't see barriers, they don't make judgements, and the purity of their joy and enthusiasm, working together, having fun together and being inspired by music, lies at the heart of everything we do at the Hub. The Schools Special Christmas Concert is Christmas, all wrapped up."
MUSIC HUB WINS GLOBAL AWARD
Portsmouth Music Hub has been recognised for its contribution to education at an awards ceremony in London.
Musicians and composers from the Hub, accompanied by teachers and a choir of 30 primary-aged children, took centre stage at The Green Apple Environmental Awards on Tuesday (25 Nov). The ceremony took place at the Houses of Parliament and the Music Hub was there to be recognised for its One World environmental campaign, which since September 2018, has been harnessing the power of music and the arts to highlight local and global environmental problems and solutions.
The Green Apple Environmental Awards recognises environmental best practices around the world. Winners for 2019 included Lloyds Banking Group, The Environment Agency and Network Rail.
Portsmouth Music Hub won two awards, the Green Champion for Innovation in Education and the Champion of Champions Award.
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "Tens of thousands of children, their teachers and parents have all played a part in our One World campaign. In the past year we've held beach cleans, art and poetry competitions, we have produced concerts and workshops in schools, and our composers have created a songbook that addresses a range of environmental issues. We've worked with environmental organisations and charities and even performed our One World song for the BBC. Music and the Arts have been a springboard to communicate important messages to children and young people, who are enthusiastically making the changes needed to save and protect our planet."
At the Awards Ceremony children from St. John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School and St. Edmunds Catholic School performed the One World Anthem, filling the corridors of power with the sound of 'planet-saving' voices.
Roger Wolens, the founder of the Green Apple Awards said: "I'm delighted by Portsmouth Music Hub's great success at The Green Apple Environmental Awards. The judges were hugely impressed by the Music Hub's One World campaign which has powerfully combined musicality and creativity, whilst highlighting important environmental issues with children and young people. Children are the next generation, they will inherit our planet and its precious resources, and the creativity of the Music Hub has asked them to stop and think and change behaviours."
Organised by The Green Organisation, The Green Apple Environmental Awards are part of the global Green World Awards, with entries from Governments, Ministries and Regional Authorities as well as companies and communities from across the private and public sectors.
BAND AND BUGLES OF THE RIFLES INSPIRE PORTSMOUTH'S YOUNG MUSICIANS
Musicians from the Band of Bugles of the Rifles inspired young musicians from Portsmouth Music Hub's wind bands by forming a joint ensemble for a day.
The event, which took place on Saturday 16 November, was created to motivate and inspire young musicians, enabling them to perform with professional musicians and experience the thrill of playing as part of a professional band.
Ellie aged 17, said "it was a fantastic day and I learnt so much playing alongside the professional oboist. I even got to conduct the band which was rather daunting, but the conductor was great and really helped me, so I felt very proud of myself."
From the Avengers, Deep Purple and the Greatest Showman to Pastyme with Good Company, the young musicians enjoyed a challenging and diverse repertoire that enabled them all to shine.
The army bands have been excellent supporters of the Hub and were in fact the very first partner to sign up to support Portsmouth's young people over eight years ago. The Band and Bugles of the Rifles perform at events around the world in a variety of settings including Sounding Retreats, Freedom Parades, Tattoos and community events.
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "Playing alongside the Band and Bugles of the rifles was an excellent opportunity for the Hub's young musicians. As the children's confidence increased, so did the standards and great progress was made throughout the day. We are very grateful to the Band and their conductor for supporting our young musicians and inspiring them on their musical journey."
AN EXPLOSION OF CREATIVITY
There was a touch of Strictly Come Dancing at the Kings Theatre on Wednesday (20 November) when professional and amateur dancers from across the region joined hundreds of local children for the very first production of Dance Explosion!
A thousand primary-aged children packed the Kings Theatre in Southsea, and for many of them this was the first time they had the chance to watch a range of dance performances live on stage. Dance Explosion! didn't disappoint, and the children were treated to tap, tango and street dance, musical theatre, jazz and ballroom, Indian dance and the mesmerising beauty of Chinese classical dance.
Dance Explosion was a collaboration between Portsmouth Music Hub and the Kings Theatre, with both organisations committed to developing cultural awareness and opportunities for children and young people in the city.
Sue Beckett, CEO of Portsmouth Music Hub said: "Children love to express themselves creatively, whether with music, art, or drama and most children love to dance. Engaging this creativity, harnessing it and offering opportunities for young people to watch, learn and develop, lies at the heart of everything we do. The challenge is to offer surprising, exciting and inspiring cultural opportunities that ignite a life-long passion for music and culture; and Dance Explosion! has, we hope, done just that."
Over the past 8 years Portsmouth Music Hub has been providing high-quality musical services for children and young people in Portsmouth. The Music Hub's goal is to transform lives with cultural opportunities, and to give young people the freedom to play, perform, participate and grow in confidence.
Sue Beckett continued: "This is the first time that the Music Hub has co-produced a dance show, and we have been delighted by the range of exciting performances, and encouraged by the positive responses from schools, parents and their children. The fusion of music and movement has been compelling to watch, and we hope that Dance Explosion! will unlock the imaginations and the creative potential of every child that came and danced along."