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

Summer Term 2025

Free Inclusive and Accessible Music Making CPD

with Alex Lupo and Octagon Music Hub’s Inclusion Lead

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

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.

A Reflective Meeting with Octagon Music Hub’s Inclusion Lead

Thursday 8th May 11:00 to 12:00 (Online)

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.

Autism, Neurodivergence and Music

Thursday 5th June 16:00 to 18:00 (Online)

Friday 6th June 09:30 to 11:30 (in-person) – funded by Live Music Now

Explore current thinking, language, and approaches to working with autistic and neurodivergent individuals. This session provides practical tools and insights to celebrate neurodiversity and create inclusive, empowering musical environments.

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.

A Reflective Meeting with Octagon Music Hub’s Inclusion Lead

Thursday 24th July 11:00 to 12:00 (Online)

Book your places here

Coming in 2025/26: Music Technology, Adaptive Instruments

Experience the transformative potential of adaptive instruments and music technology in this hands-on session. Dive into innovative tools and creative solutions that open the world of music-making to everyone.

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

Venues and dates:

All sessions will run from 18:30 – 20:00

20th May (session 1) and 19th June 2025 (session 2) – Dorset Youth Association, Dorchester, DT1 1QL

2025/2026

23rd Sept (session 1) and 11th November (session 2) – Sturminster Marshall Memorial Hall
10th Jan (session 1) and 26th March 2026 (session 2) – Sturminster Newton Exchange

Book your place here

YuStudio Music Technology training (Octagon Music Hub)

In-person twilight training with our music tech expert on how to get started with YuStudio, which is Charanga’s Digital Audio Workstation.

Ideal for music leaders, ICT leaders and class teachers in Primary and Middle schools.

All sessions will be 3:45pm to 5:00pm:

Thursday 5th June – Blandford Children’s Centre
Thursday 12th June – The Mulberry, Weymouth Children’s Centre
Thursday 19th June – Bridport Family Hub
Thursday 26th June – Leigh Park Family Hub, Wimborne

Training is FREE for all schools and can be booked here: Yu Studio Basics booking form.

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

Paid part-time training opportunity July 2025 – July 2026

Trainee Early Years Creative Practitioner: Little People Big Ideas

This career development opportunity is for anyone keen to develop their creative arts
practice with young children aged 2- 4. This role offers training and mentoring sessions with
two experienced creative arts practitioners as well as paid shadowing placements.

Through working alongside two experienced Take Art early years creative practitioners, you
will develop your knowledge, skills and experience of undertaking creative practice with
children, families and staff in early years educational settings in West Dorset and
South/West Somerset.

Applications from those already working in the early years sector who wish to extend their
skills and experience in creative practice are welcome.

Full details are available on the Take Art website and on this flyer:

Trainee Creative Practitioner Take Art 2025 Download

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.