Making music in your area

Find Music Centres and Ensembles in your area, using the filters below.

Ashwater Community Steel Band

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

The Ashwater Community Steel Band was set up as a project to bring together people of all ages. The youngest member is 6 years old and the senior members of the band are well into their 70s. They play a wide range of music, from traditional Caribbean to Status Quo.

Where Ashwater, Beaworthy
Who Beginners are very welcome and you don’t have to have any previous musical experience to join.
Web ashwatercommunitysteelband.wordpress.com

Axminster Rock’n’Pop Club (B Sharp)

Beginner Intermediate

At B Sharp make music, play, sing and create your own tracks. Musical games, singing, playing instruments, and making music, in a fun and friendly environment.

Where Axminster
Who Any level of skill and experience is welcome. Age 9-11.
Web bsharp.org.uk/weekly-music/axminsterpopnrockclub

Brass Class Ottery St Mary

Beginner Intermediate

Brass Class takes place on Monday evenings during term time 7.30–8.30pm. Brass learners participate with others to make music outside of a school environment, get involved in local community events and regularly combine with the Ottery St Mary Silver Band and other brass band opportunities. Brass Class aims to provide a safe and enjoyable experience.

Where Ottery St Mary
Who Beginner and intermediate level young brass and percussion players
Email Gail Denning at gaildenning@outlook.com
Web

Bushell Youth Community Orchestra

Beginner Intermediate

Bushell Youth Community Orchestra is an exciting youth orchestra for all young musicians in Newton Abbot and Teignbridge.

Where Newton Abbot
Who Aged 8 and above
Web

Chulmleigh Music Academy (Chulmleigh College)

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

At CMAc Brass, Woodwind and String ensembles are led by experienced instrumental staff.

Where Chulmleigh
Who KS2 to KS4
Email cmac@chulmleigh.devon.sch.uk
Web www.chulmleigh.devon.sch.uk/page/?title=Music+Tuition+%26amp%3B+Ensembles&pid=58

Crediton Youth Orchestra

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

CYO is an independent not-for-profit organisation with the aims of stimulating children’s interest in orchestral music and providing them with opportunities to enjoy playing a wide range of musical repertoire and to perform in public.

Where Crediton
Who Young musicians aged 8 to 14 who can read music.
Web www.creditonyouthorchestra.co.uk

Dartmoor Strings

Intermediate Advanced

Dartmoor Strings is a youth string ensemble for ages 10-18, Grades 4-8+. Run by string specialists, we meet on two Saturday afternoons each term in Ashburton from 2-4.30pm. Music and videos are sent in advance of each session to help you prepare and feel confident. Our aim is to help you develop your sight-reading, confidence, listening, performance skills, technique and have fun making music and friends in an encouraging atmosphere.

Where Ashburton
Who Young people aged 10-18
Email Lindsay Braga at theviolinden@gmail.com
Web www.theviolinden.co.uk/dartmoor-strings

Dartmouth Music Centre from Moor to Sea Music Collective

Beginner Intermediate

Fridays after school until 5pm at Dartmouth Academy. Drop in or stay as long as you like. You don’t have to play an instrument already – We’ll be working across all levels from beginner to more experienced musician. You can bring your own instrument to the session or use ours. We have a wide range of instruments to try, including electronic instruments, saxophones, clarinets, guitars, bass, unusual percussion and drums. We will expand the range of instruments on offer in response to the interests of the young people.

Where Dartmouth
Who Sessions are currently for Year 6 and up, with leading opportunities for older years.
Web moortoseamusic.org.uk/dartmouth-music-centre

Do Re Mi Devon

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Doremi Devon offers musicianship training for beginners, singers and instrumentalists. Inspired by the Kodály approach to music education, these classes prepare and practice musical skills suitable for becoming any type of musician.

Where Exeter
Who Ages 4-16
Email Rebecca Willson at rebecca@doremiconnect.co.uk
Web www.doremiconnect.co.uk/devon www.instagram.com/doremi_devon

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
Email 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

Exeter Young Strings

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Exeter Young Strings is a music organisation dedicated to the promotion of string playing in small chamber groups and quartets. We are also very keen for young pianists to join us.

Where Exeter
Who Children and teenagers aged 4 – 19.
Web exeteryoungstrings.org

Holsworthy Music Rebel Club

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Holsworthy Music Rebel Club has a dedicated music room and DJ booth in a very well attended and thriving Youth Club. Anyone from the Youth Club can book a slot in either music room, as an individual or as a group, for supported music making.

Where Holsworthy
Who First time and developing musicians aged 10-17.
Email Sam Lythgoe-Jones at salamity75@gmail.com
Tim Stokes at stokes-tim@hotmail.com

Honiton Youth Orchestra

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Honiton Youth Orchestra is aimed at children playing an orchestral instrument at Grade 1 level of ability or higher, performing a wide range of music - from Baroque to film music!

Where Honiton
Who Ages 7-18
Web www.hyoonline.wordpress.com

Ivybridge Music Centre

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Ivybridge Music Centre offers a range of musical opportunities: Ivybridge Junior Orchestra, individual and group tuition and senior college ensembles.

Where Ivybridge
Who Students attending our feeder primary schools and young musicians in the community.
Email musiccentre@ivybridge.devon.sch.uk
Web www.ivybridge.devon.sch.uk/page/?title=Primary+Music+Centre&pid=1373

Jam Buddies (The Turning Tides Project)

Beginner Intermediate

Accessible weekly Band meeting, music-making, song writing and musical exploration.

Where South Devon
Who Open to all
Web www.theturningtidesproject.org.uk

Jamming Station

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Jamming Station is a hub where artists can connect and grow creatively through crafting ideas, making music and performing.

Where Totnes
Who Aged 13–21yrs
Web www.jammingstation.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

North Devon Music Centre

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

The North Devon Music Centre is a non-profit organisation that helps young (and young at heart) people who are learning to play an instrument to enjoy making music together through ensemble playing.

Where Barnstaple
Who All
Web www.northdevonmusiccentre.co.uk

North Devon Taiko Project

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Group Taiko sessions for any ability.

Where Barnstaple
Who Year 5 and up and school-based adults.
Email Gillian Ashcroft at ndtaiko@gmail.com

Okehampton Music Centre (Community Links SW)

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

The Okehampton Music Centre is an initiative to encourage young people to get more involved with music. They aim to make learning an instrument affordable for all and for young people to experience the thrill of playing in an orchestra, to develop players so that local, regional, and national orchestras thrive in the future.

Where Okehampton
Who Children and young people from 0-16
Email info@communitylinks-sw.co.uk
Web www.communitylinks-sw.co.uk/okehampton-music-centre

RootNotes

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

RootNotes offers a range of music groups and activities for all ages and abilities. There is a focus on learning and playing folk music as a band plus options for singing, song-writing and creative music-making. Instruments are provided for some sessions.

Where Bideford
Who Anyone!
Email Becki Driscoll at becki@rootnotes.org.uk
Web www.rootnotes.org.uk

Saturday Morning Music (SaMM)

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

An inclusive organisation offering children of all ages and musical abilities the opportunity to enjoy making music with others in a wide variety of ensemble workshops.

Where Totnes
Who Ages 4 to 18.
Web sammtotnes.org

Shumba Arts – Exe Community Rhythm

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

(For beginner, intermediate and advanced)
We run courses and workshops in African drumming and dance, percussion, ukulele and songs. Participate in learning new rhythms, exploring percussion and music making in a supportive group with our experienced teachers. We have just started a new group ‘Exe Community Rhythm’ for 8 – 15 year old’s in Exeter running on Monday afternoon at 4.15 pm.

Where Maketank, 3-5 Paris St, Exeter EX1 2JB
Who 8 – 15 years old
Email Shumba Arts at shumbaarts@gmail.com
Web www.shumba.org.uk

Sidmouth Town Band Training Groups

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Sidmouth Town Band Training Groups- Run by members of the friendly Sidmouth Town Band, we welcome beginner to advanced young brass players seeking to improve their ensemble musicianship, with fun and challenging music. You can progress form our Academy Band to Training band and then even the Senior Band! Even if you have never played before but would like to, we can also provide an instrument, music and basic tuition to get you started.

Where Sidmouth
Who No audition, everyone welcome
Email Josie Sherwood at info@sidmouthtownband.co.uk
Web www.sidmouthtownband.co.uk

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
Email 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.
Email Catherine Browning at catherine@evolvemusic.org.uk
Web www.evolvemusic.org.uk

Soundlaunch

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Soundlaunch is a platform that has been designed to help create, fine tune and develop emerging music and artists across the South West.

Where Exeter
Who Ages 12 to 21.
Web soundlaunch.co.uk

Soundtribe

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Soundtribe provides individual instrumental tuition for guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals, plus group sessions and performance opportunities for bands and solo artists at venues and festivals. It is a great way to meet other musicians and access the local music scene. Soundtribe is run by Music in Devon Initiative CIC

Where Exeter
Who Tuition and guidance for young musicians from experienced professional musicians
Email Nick Hall at info@musicindevon.org
Web www.musicindevon.org

South Dartmoor Primary Music Centre

Beginner Intermediate

Weekly Music Centre for children in years 4 - 6 attending primary schools in the South Dartmoor Community College catchment area, who play or want to learn an orchestral instrument. Open to children outside the area subject to available spaces. Junior Orchestra and musicianship is free to join. Group lessons in Violin, Trumpet and Clarinet are on offer at a subsidized rate.

Where South Dartmoor Community College, Ashburton
Who Children in years 4 - 6
Email For more information at primarymusic@southdartmoor.devon.sch.uk
Web www.southdartmoor.devon.sch.uk/primarymusic

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).
Email 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.

Email info@swms.org.uk
Web www.swms.org.uk

The Aubergines – Exeter Family Orchestra

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Run by BSO Associate Musician Hugh Nankivell and violinist Emma Welton, members of all ages shape the music, explore new ways to create sound and enjoy the social element of music in a comfortable environment. Family Orchestra provides a common meeting ground, regardless of musical taste, experience, or ability,. It promotes shared experiences across generations and provides a musical family for those living on their own.

Where Exeter
Who Anyone!
Email Nicky Green at NGreen@bsorchestra.co.uk
Web bsolive.com/projects/family-orchestra

The Big Friendly Street-Band

Beginner Intermediate

Beginner & Intermediate

The big Friendly Street-Band is performing live happy street music from all over the world, by heart and with some movements.
Composed by wind instruments, drums, and any other acoustic portable instrument. We do some theatre and choreography experiments as well as music and improvisation during the rehearsals.

Where Newton Ferrers
Who any musicians from Y2 to Year 12
Email Vincent Touret at vincentourix@orange.fr
Web vincenttouret.co.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

Ukulele Orchestra of North Devon

Beginner Intermediate Advanced

The Ukulele Orchestra of North Devon is an ALL AGE, ALL ABILITY ukulele club and occasional performance group. Ideally you'll have your own ukulele but there are a few available to borrow (ask in advance).

Where Ilfracombe
Who Everyone is welcome, even if you’re new to playing Ukulele. Recommended minimum age: 7 (under 12s should be accompanied by an adult).
Email Joe Steer at joe_steer@hotmail.com
Web

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 Sign up through the website and then Bandlab Edu.
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.
Email Info at info@weneedmusic.org
Web weneedmusic.org