Training opportunities (external providers) - Dorset and Somerset Music Hub

Externally provided music education training opportunities are listed below. We are signposting these opportunities as we believe they are beneficial for music educators in Dorset and Somerset. However, we do not necessarily endorse the providers or the content of the training.

Available to book

Song writing workshops with Dorset-based musician, Elijah – as heard on BBC Radio 2, Radio 1, Xfm and on Absolute Radio. Elijah has developed a unique song writing workshop to engage and inspire song writing and creativity. Follow the link below for more details:

Songwriting Workshops Elijah

Spring Term 2025

Sounds of Intent webinars

The aim of these webinars is to provide a series of practical implementation ideas to support hubs and schools in inclusive music making. Professor Adam Ockelford, founder of Sounds of Intent and Sophie Gray, Services for Education, will share their experiences of planning and running inclusive programmes in education settings.

The remaining programme for Spring Term 2025 is:

9th April 4.30pm – Supporting practitioners working with visually impaired children (With The Amber Trust)

You are invited to sign up for the webinar series here https://forms.office.com/e/mvv2TU8Fgs.

Visit the Sounds of Intent website to see their latest music resources for supporting inclusive music making: https://soundsofintent.org/en/music-programmes/index

Take Art

Take Art continues to work with partners to bring you free or subsidised training opportunities to strengthen your skills, experience and understanding of creativity and how it supports child development. Our aim is to offer valuable, research-based training whilst enabling you to connect to the joy that creativity can release.

Coming up and open for bookings are:

Building Confidence using Music in Early Childhood

Take Art’s popular 6 session x 1.5 hours course via Zoom in the evenings

FREE places for people working in early years in Somerset (limited numbers available – grab your space as soon as possible).

This practical and interactive course is for anyone who wants to improve their skills and knowledge and connect to the joy of early years music.

For further information and to book go to the Take Art website.

Nurturing Creativity in the Early Years

A full day conference on music and arts in early years education

9.30 – 4.00 pm Friday 21 March 2025 at Exeter College, Future Skills Centre, Exeter EX5 2LJ

£55. Includes lunch, workshops and presentations.

For information and link to booking page click here.

Keynote by Dr Susan Young: Musical Play – What is musical play? Why foster it? What do children gain? Why is it valuable?

Take Art have teamed up with Devon Education Music Hub to bring you this conference which offers music educators, early years practitioners, childminders, and students the tools and inspiration to integrate music and creativity into everyday learning experiences.

Nurturing your Early Years Music Provision with Jane Parker

This will be an interactive session during which Jane will guide you through a number of tools that you can take back to your settings and share with your children. The session will include video examples, pedagogical explanations, and practical elements.

Thursday 27th March
Free
In-person in partnership with Yeovil College
Click here for more information and booking

Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood

Would you like to develop and enhance your skills in early years music?
Would you like to understand more about making music with young children?
Would you like to learn in a supportive environment?
Would you like to form a community of learning to explore with others?
Would you like a nationally recognised Level 4 qualification?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then the Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood is the course for you! Registration is now open for our 2025-2026 Cohort.

Full details and application information can be found on the website

Course fee bursaries of up to 100% available from Take Art (subject to their funding). For bursary enquiries email earlyyears@takeart.org

Free Inclusive and Accessible Music Making CPD with Alex Lupo

Alex is partnering with the Octagon Music Hub to provide CPD sessions for free for the music workforce during the Spring and Summer Terms.

Alex Lupo is a drummer and multi-instrumentalist who has played, recorded and written music all over the world. He has collaborated with and worked alongside PJ Harvey, Charlotte Harding (Faber), Charles Hazlewood and the British Paraorchestra. Alex is a member of the Terra Collective – a newly curated Bristol-based collaborative large-scale ensemble rooted in inclusion and innovation. He has written music for The BBC, Aardman Animations, Channel 4, Cartoon Network, Reflective Films, Treasure Tower Films, Lucky G, Rinse the Sync, Golden Mole, and Lift Music among others.

Visit https://www.alexlupomusic.com/ to find out more about Alex and to listen to some of his works.

Social Model

Wednesday 19^th of March 16:00 to 18:00 (Online)

Discover how the Social Model of disability can transform your music practice, fostering inclusion and accessibility for all. Gain practical insights and creative strategies to break down barriers and create a welcoming space for everyone.

Book your places here

Other sessions coming soon:

Autism and Neurodivergence (Creating inclusive, empowering musical environments)
Music Technology and Adaptive Instruments

Benedetti Mini Sessions

The Benedetti Mini Virtual Sessions are short, focused workshops designed to provide in depth and detailed exploration on a wide variety of topics. There are practical sessions concentrating on technique, physicality and wellbeing, as well as discussion sessions and a focus on personal and professional development for students and teachers.

For Instrumental Teachers:

Instructing, Teaching or Coaching – Creating a Positive Learning Environment – Stewart Wilson | Wednesday 12 March | 7:00-8:00pm (UK)

Building Strong Foundations (2-Part Series) – Andrea Gajic | Session 1: Wednesday 19 March | 7:30-8:30pm (UK) Session 2: Wednesday 26 March | 7:30-8:30pm (UK)

Open for Observation:

Introduction to Creating Musical Arrangements & Using Loop Pedals – The Ayoub Sisters | Thursday 27 March | 6:00-7:00pm (UK)

For more details visit: https://www.benedettifoundation.org/mini-sessions

Summer Term 2025

Free Inclusive and Accessible Music Making CPD with Alex Lupo

Alex is partnering with the Octagon Music Hub to provide these CPD sessions for free for the music workforce.

Visit https://www.alexlupomusic.com/ to find out more about Alex and to listen to some of his works.

Reflective Practice

Wednesday 23^rd April 16:00 to 18:00 (Online)

Deepen your understanding of inclusive music-making through reflective practice. Explore how self-awareness and critical thinking can shape your approach and help you grow as a practitioner.

Taking a Flexible Approach

Tuesday 20^th May 16:00 to 18:00 (Online)

Explore why taking a flexible approach is important in inclusive music practice. This session offers fresh perspectives and actionable ideas to adapt your methods and meet the diverse needs of your participants.

Understanding and responding to behaviour

Thursday 19^th June 16:00 to 18:00 (Online)

Explore effective strategies for understanding and responding to behaviour in inclusive music settings. Together we will explore ways of creating an environment where every participant feels supported and understood.

Book your places here

Other sessions coming soon:

Autism and Neurodivergence (Creating inclusive, empowering musical environments)
Music Technology and Adaptive Instruments

Developing musical opportunities for young children

Come and find out how you can nurture the musicality of young children in your care…

Early Years music practitioner Cathy Murray is partnering with the Octagon Music Hub to give practitioners ideas, tips and resources to develop musical opportunities in Early Years settings. Suitable for Nursery practitioners, childminders and Reception class teachers.

This course has two sessions and we recommend attending both to get the full benefits of the training.

Session 1- Musical environments and musical play
Session 2 – Songs, rhymes and lycra activities
Time: Both sessions will run from 18:30 – 20:00
Cost: £10 (to cover both sessions)
Venue: Dorset Youth Association, Dorchester, DT1 1QL
Dates: 20th May (session 1) and 19th June 2025 (session 2)

Book your place here

The same course will be run in East Dorset in the Autumn term, and North Dorset in Spring 2026. (Venues and dates TBC)

Take Art Early Years training

Take Art continues to work with partners to bring you free or subsidised training opportunities to strengthen your skills, experience and understanding of creativity and how it supports child development. Take Art’s aim is to offer valuable, research-based training whilst enabling you to connect to the joy that creativity can release.

Fact-checking in Music Education with Dr Susan Young

In this session, Dr Susan Young will ‘fact check’ research claims that frequently crop up in early years music education discussions. She will demonstrate how they are not as reliable or accurate as we are led to believe.

Wednesday 30th April
Online
£5.00
Click here for more information and booking

Movement Play for Early Years with Hannah Lefeuvre

This practical and imaginative workshop will draw insight into movement explorations from over 60 settings, spanning almost 30 years of practice.

Thursday 1st May
Free
In-person in partnership with Yeovil College
Click here for more information and booking

Music, communication, language and literacy with Kate Comberti

Through a mix of guided, self-directed and adult led strategies, this session will explore some approaches that support musical behaviour and creative play in the EYFS.

Monday 19th May
Online
£5
Click here for more information and booking

Early Years Music: Nurturing children and staff

During this session you will gain insights into how music is recognised, valued and can be embedded in the everyday. Hear directly from early years staff and music practitioners on their experience of working collaboratively together over a period of 10 weeks.

Led by Vicky Trevithick, Hayley McDonnell and staff from nurseries in Southampton
Tuesday 20th May
Online
£5.00
Click here for more information and booking

The Power of Music: Supporting Children’s Wellbeing with Rosie Walton and Jane Parker

Wellbeing is currently a key priority for the early years sector, children and adults alike. In this session, Rosie and Jane will offer you a toolkit of ideas to help you engage, support and build on everyone’s innate musicality to promote their wellbeing and confidence.

Wednesday 11th June
Online
£5.00
Click here for more information and booking

Fostering your Early Years Music

With Rachel Crane, Shelley Wood and staff from reception classes in Bournemouth and Poole
Thursday 26th June
Online
£5.00
Click here for more information and booking

Sounds of Intent webinars

The aim is to provide a series of practical implementation ideas to support hubs and schools in inclusive music making. Professor Adam Ockelford, founder of Sounds of Intent and Sophie Gray, Services for Education, will share their experiences of planning and running inclusive programmes in education settings.

The programme for Summer Term 2025 is:

7th May 4.30pm – Exploration of the Count Me In resource in Special Schools (Professor Adam Ockelford, Sophie Gray)
4^th June 4.30pm – Supporting practitioners working with hearing impaired children

You are invited to sign up for the webinar series here https://forms.office.com/e/mvv2TU8Fgs.

Visit the Sounds of Intent website to see their latest music resources for supporting inclusive music making: https://soundsofintent.org/en/music-programmes/index.