Join us for our latest Essex Music Spotlight Sessions!
Spotlight Sessions are the perfect place for young people to showcase their musical skills. Much like an open mic night, these sessions are relaxed, informal and free!
Audience members: we welcome supportive audience to watch all acts. There will be a bar where you can buy some drinks and show your support for all the performers. Admission is free and you do not need to buy tickets in advance.
It doesn’t matter which instrument you play, the style of your music, whether you are a soloist or part of a music group. We welcome performers up to the age of 21. If you do not get a place this time, we will prioritise you for our next Spotlight Sessions evening in March 2025.
For further details on this event, please contact us on the telephone 0333 013 8953 or email: musichub@essex.gov.uk
Our partners We Are Music in the Tendring district run free rock band provision in Harwich.
These run regular sessions on Saturdays between 11am and 1pm, these sessions run every week during term times and fortnightly during holidays.
The “open house” sessions will be for social gathering, jamming and rehearsal spaces open to current and former members from both Harwich and Jaywick.
This provides an opportunity for former members to re-join the local music community.
It enables them to play with other people not in their band, book rehearsal space, organise gigs and fundraising in the local community, form new bands and just meet up with friends.
Our partners We Are Music in the Tendring district run free rock band provision in Jaywick on Tuesdays.
New members are welcome – you do not need to be able to play, and you can join at any time.
They have three studios, fully equipped with drums, amps and PA.
They run after-school sessions on Tuesdays from 5.00-8.00pm at the Jaywick Martello Tower.
They provide all equipment and a one hour supervised session and all sessions are free.
Our partners We Are Music in the Tendring district run free rock band provision in Harwich.
New members are welcome – you do not need to be able to play, and you can join at any time.
They have three studios, fully equipped with drums, amps and PA.
They run after-school sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays.
They provide all equipment and a one hour supervised session and all sessions are free.
Join our professional Tutors who will support you in:
- Music technology and production
- DJ skills
- Songwriting
- General musicianship
- Completing the course requirements to study for an Arts Award
Attend each week to gain experience and explore your own interests in music.
An Arts Award qualification can be taken in an area that interests you and would involve activities such as:
- Learning a musical skill
- Researching artists that inspire you
- Creating art/music
- Sharing their experience with others
- Experiencing an arts event and reviewing it
- Passing on a skill to others
To register your interest, please contact melissa.brooker@essex.gov.uk directly.
Our Essex Music Schools work in partnership with the host school to develop music provision for the local area, particularly for primary school aged students who may be joining that school for Year 7.
Who is this for?
- Regular sessions take place on Wednesdays after school at Philip Morant School and College in the Prettygate area of Colchester.
- The Music School is open to students from across the North Essex region and further afield.
- It is ideal for any primary aged students looking to join Philip Morant School and College for their secondary school, to become familiar with the school and site through music learning.
- We welcome students aged 7 – 18.
What is on offer?
- As well as our 1-to-1 provision, we can also tailor learning according to your child’s needs.
- To view charges for our Community music venues, please click here.
How do I sign up?
- Use the ‘register your interest’ button below to get in touch as to your child’s musical learning and what you’re looking for, and we’ll come back to you with what we have on offer to help support the next steps in your child’s musical journey!
Our Junior programme for young people exploring and learning music together in the North Essex area, on Saturday mornings during term time in Colchester.
Our Colchester Juniors programme is held at Colchester County High School for Girls alongside our senior Community Music Centre programme.
Who is this for?
- Our focus is on group music-making – instrumental learning and musicianship is strengthened through learning with others.
- Aimed at primary-school aged students, our Juniors programme develops their musical skills in groups as part of the stepping stones to individual music lessons and joining ensembles.
What is on offer?
- Our Colchester Juniors programme offers instrumental learning through pTrumpets, singing, and group-drumming.
- To view charges for our Community music venues, please click here.
How do I sign up?
- Use the ‘register your interest’ button below to get in touch as to your child’s musical learning and what you’re looking for, and we’ll come back to you with what we have on offer to help support the next steps in your child’s musical journey!
Essex Music Service is the lead partner with Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden County High School for Saffron Centre for Young Musicians.
The Centre operates every Saturday in term-time for 30 Saturdays over the academic year, and is suitable for any young musician who is already able to sing or play an instrument. Places are offered on the basis of potential, taking into account the candidates age, musical education and experiences to date. Those with sufficient potential can be accepted at any stage of their musical development, and there is no minimum standard.
SCYM offers an enriching and focussed musical education from primary education right through to year 13. SCYM is committed to offering excellence in achievement as well as wider opportunities.
Click here to find out more about SCYM.
A combination of individual, small group, and ensemble music provision in Colchester on Saturday mornings during term time.
We also host our Colchester Juniors programme here at the same time.
Who is this for?
- Our focus is on group music-making – instrumental learning and musicianship is strengthened through learning with others.
- Regular sessions take place on Saturday mornings at Colchester County High School for Girls during term time, and our Centre is open to students from across the North Essex region and further afield.
- It is ideal for any primary aged students looking to join Colchester County High School for Girls for their secondary school, to become familiar with the school and site through music learning.
- We welcome students aged 7 – 18.
What is on offer?
- As well as our 1-to-1 provision, we also offer a wide range of learning, including Music Tech (Junior and Senior), Brass Band, String Group, Woodwind Band, Songwriting, and a Colchester Young Voices Choir.
- We also host the Essex Youth Jazz Quintet and the Essex Youth Rock Ensemble.
- To view charges for our Community music venues, please click here.
How do I sign up?
- Use the ‘register your interest’ button below to get in touch as to your child’s musical learning and what you’re looking for, and we’ll come back to you with what we have on offer to help support the next steps in your child’s musical journey!
