Torbay

Your Music Development Lead for Torbay

Tom Deam

tom.deam@devon.gov.uk

Music Centres and Ensembles in Torbay

Doorstep Arts

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Doorstep Arts runs groups across Torbay which bring together music, dance & drama. Groups which focus on music include: Early Years music sessions (0-4), Doorstep Arts Studio Courses (ages 7-20), Doorstep Youth Theatre (ages 14-20), as well as regular Open Mic opportunities. Opportunities to engage with musical theatre, write/compose their own music, and play in small ensembles to support live theatre performances. Some groups meet at Palace Theatre Paignton, others at key doorstep sites across Torbay. Visit our website below for more information.

Where

Torbay

Who

Children & young people aged 0-20

Doorstep Arts at polly@doorsteparts.co.uk

Web

www.doorsteparts.co.uk/takepart

Drum Devon

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Come and discover the vast and wonderful world of world roots drumming with Drum Devon. Immerse yourself in rhythm in these super-fun, interactive and accessible drumming workshops. Explore rhythms of the world, including from West Africa, South American and the Caribbean.

As well as term-time evening classes, we also run one-off taster sessions and personal/social wellbeing courses for the Devon Recovery Learning Community. Check the Drum Devon website for more info.

Where

Marldon, Brixham, Paignton, Teignmouth and Kingsbridge

Who

8 and above - no experience necessary

Web

www.drumdevon.co.uk

Moor To Sea Music Collective at ASRUS with Play Torbay

Beginner Intermediate

ASRUS is a weekly evening group for young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and their families.

The session runs as a youth club, with supported play focused experiences for all ages.

Since Jan 2019, Moor To Sea have been providing a music component for this group. Music has now become an integral part of ASRUS Wednesdays, with some of the young people spending the majority or all of their time at the group in music.

There are options for focused 1:1 work, for young people who benefit from that, and group music making sessions, which have expanded as the confidence and skills of the young people has grown.

We approach everything from a sense of Play, but from within that, young people (and their adult family members!) have learned instrumental skills – piano, ukulele, saxophone, clarinet, drums, guitar and vocals, as well as experimenting with digital music, composing and learning to improvise and create pieces of music together.

Many of our musical journeys at ASRUS begin with a young person saying something like – “I wonder what would happen if…..” and off we all go together, to find out what indeed does happen.

Where

Torbay

Who

ASRUS is a weekly evening group for young people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and their families.

Web

moortoseamusic.org.uk/moor-to-sea-at-asrus-with-play-torbay

Sound Communities

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Sound Communities works with disadvantaged young people in music production, DJing, lyric writing, rap and broadcasting. Young people work towards producing music videos, podcasts, releasing their own music digitally or events to allow their voices to be heard on bigger platforms. Rehearsals take place at 52A Hyde Road, Paignton TQ4 5BY. Located in Paignton (but also offering outreach sessions through their mobile Broadcasting Bus), they are equipped with a recording studio, broadcasting studio and workshop space alongside the latest digital tech.

Where

Torbay

Who

Aged 11-25

More information at info@soundcommunities.co.uk

Web

www.soundcommunities.co.uk>

Sound Lab Devon

Beginner Intermediate

Explore music through performance, technology and games at Sound Lab, a free weekly after-school creative music programme for young people aged 12 plus with ASC and/or additional learning needs, hosted at Glendinning Academy from 3.15-4.45pm on Thursdays.

Where

Newton Abbot

Who

Young people aged 12 plus with ASC and/or additional learning needs.

Catherine Browning at catherine@evolvemusic.org.uk

Web

www.evolvemusic.org.uk

South Devon Youth Jazz

Intermediate Advanced

The South Devon Youth Jazz project provides a pathway for the emerging musician into the world of jazz and improvisation. Its aim is to provide the young musicians of South Devon with an opportunity to play jazz together in a fun and encouraging environment.

Where

Totnes

Who

No minimum standard, but estimate that students need to be able to read music to a reasonable extent and be approximately a Grade 2 technical standard on their instrument (but no need to have taken exams).

info@sdyj.co.uk

Web

www.sdyj.co.uk

South West Music School

Intermediate Advanced

South West Music School offers music development and collaboration activities for talented young musicians aged 8-16. Our programmes are cross genre/cross instrumentation and are delivered across the South West region. They include 1-2-1 local mentoring, day workshops and residential weeks during the holidays. As a Centre of Advanced Training for the Music and Dance scheme we offer grants based on eligibility.

info@swms.org.uk

Web

www.swms.org.uk

Torbay and South Devon Music Centre

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Torbay and South Devon Music Centre provides the opportunity for musicians to enjoy playing instruments and improve musical skills by performing together. Orchestras and bands are led by experienced musicians and there are opportunities to try new and endangered instruments and to play in concerts as well as weekly rehearsals.

Where

Torquay

Who

There are groups for players of all standards and all ages, though our focus is on the under 25s.

Web

tsdmc.org.uk

Ungroup from Moor to Sea Music Collective

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Are you a young person who likes the idea of being in a band, but not sure where to start? Want to make music with others, but not face to face? Are you a fabulous musician keen to collaborate and experiment? A vocalist or songwriter looking to work with others? An aspiring producer or beatmaker wanting to influence? Come & build a musical UnGroup with us.

Where

Who

Free and open to all young people.

Web

moortoseamusic.org.uk/come-and-build-a-musical-ungroup-with-us

We Need Music CIC

Beginner Intermediate

We Need Music offers inclusive music making and interactive listening opportunities aimed at connecting people; enabling creativity; and building self esteem and confidence. Current opportunities include a Young Carers music making project, Lullabubbas music groups for 0-5 year olds, school and nursery music workshops and special events such as Open Mic nights for young people, pop up singing circles and percussion workshops within community settings.

Where

Torbay and South Hams

Who

Infants, children, young people and adults of all ages. No experience necessary.

Info at info@weneedmusic.org

Web

weneedmusic.org

County Groups

Devon County Junior Choirs

Intermediate Advanced

The Devon County Junior Choir is Exeter Cathedral’s Junior Choir for singers in years 4-8. The Junior Choir, directed by Andrew Downton, receives high quality musical training and the opportunity to perform in a wide range of musical styles. As part of the Junior Choir singers have access to exciting performance opportunities. Recent performances have included singing alongside the English Touring Opera, Exeter Philharmonic Choir and classic rock legends Jethro Tull.

Where

Exeter

Who

Boys and girls aged 7 to 13 (DCJC) and girls aged 13 – 18 and boys with unchanged voices aged 13 and above (Schola Exe).

Web

www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/music/choirs/junior-choir/

Devon County Youth Brass Band

Intermediate Advanced

Devon County Youth Brass Band gives young brass and percussion players from across Devon the opportunity to learn and perform traditional and contemporary brass band music with people of their own age – regular gathering days, performance opportunities and residential courses.

Where

Okehampton

Who

No auditions, open to intermediate and advanced level young musicians from Grade 3-8+ ability.

Web

www.dcybb.org

Devon Youth Chamber Brass

Intermediate Advanced

The Devon Youth Chamber Brass ensemble is a new Devon-wide group for all brass players of approximately Grade 5 standard and above to give students the opportunity of higher level chamber brass ensemble performance experience with like-minded individuals, with a mix of traditional repertoire and popular arrangements.

Where

Totnes

Who

Brass players of approximately Grade 4 standard and above.

Sam Massey at sam@sammasseymusic.com

Web

dycb.co.uk/

Devon Youth Choir

Intermediate Advanced

Take your singing to the next level with Devon Youth Choir! Devon Youth Choir is aimed at young singers aged 11-18 from across Devon and Torbay. Our expert vocal practitioners Anthony Chamberlain and Hannah Stephenson will be delivering workshops in local schools and establishing regular gathering days for young singers in venues across the region. Sign up now to get involved - a parental contribution of £30 per term applies.

2025 Spring term gathering days are as follows from 10am-4pm:
4th January 2025
25th January 2025
8th February 2025
17th-19th February 2025 Residential
8th March 2025
29th March 2025

26th April 2025
10th May 2025
17th May 2025 County Show
7th June 2025
28th June 2025
12th July 2025 New Creation

Where

The Chapel, Exeter School, Manston Terrace, Exeter EX2 4NP

Who

Young singers aged 11-18

musiceducationhub@devon.gov.uk

Web

forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=gzehjWjLP0S7S5l_d_1b-3VxR-agsWFOrjvko37OwyBUNERHTEhYVk9KMUo3RjhWQjhCU1kyUElWRi4u

Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra

Intermediate Advanced

Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra is the place to learn jazz in Devon – regular gathering days, performance opportunities, residential courses and international tours.

Where

Exeter

Who

Intermediate and advanced level young musicians from Grade 4-8+ ability. Sit in with the band at the first rehearsal in September, auditions for instruments with limited places.

Web

www.dyjo.org

Devon Youth Orchestras

Intermediate Advanced

Experience playing in a full orchestra in a safe and encouraging environment, exploring a wide range of styles with expert instrumental coaching through regular gathering days, performance opportunities and residential courses.

Where

Exeter

Who

Devon Youth Concert and Symphony Orchestras provide opportunities for intermediate and advanced level young musicians from Grade 4-8+ ability.

Web

www.devonyouthorchestras.org

Devon Youth Wind Orchestra

Intermediate Advanced

Symphonic wind orchestra for young musicians across Devon – regular gathering days, performance opportunities, residential courses and international tours.

Where

Budleigh Salterton

Who

Intermediate and advanced level young musicians from Grade 4-8+ ability.

Web

www.dywo.co.uk

Wren Music Devon Youth Folk Ensemble

Intermediate Advanced

Wren Music Devon Youth Folk Ensemble is an opportunity for young singers and instrumentalists to learn and perform folk and roots music from different cultures all over the world, with expert tuition from professional leaders, write new songs and arrangements, perform live and record an album.

Where

Exeter

Who

No auditions and you don't need to read music! Instrumentalists should be an intermediate level of ability on their instruments, no entry requirements for singers.

Web

www.wrenmusic.co.uk/what-we-do/devon-youth-folk-ensemble

What’s On in Torbay

Concert

Sat 12 July 2025 | 7:00 pm

Summer Concert: A New Creation Saturday 12 July 2025 at 7.00pm in Exeter Cathedral. *Please note this is an early start time.* With Haydn’s The Creation and associated music

CPD | Networking event | Networking event for Teachers and Music Educators | Presentation with Q&A session | Talk

Mon 1 September 2025 | 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

Whether you are an experienced visiting music teacher, or only just considering a career in teaching music, we warmly invite you to join us for

Concert | Workshop

Thu 6 November 2025 | 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Fri 7 November 2025 | 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

This is a fantastic opportunity to inspire and support young people’s music education through a dynamic and interactive live concert experience. Designed for students currently

Your Music Development Lead for Torbay

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