The Peterborough Music Education Hub was established as a result of the National Plan for Music Education and is funded by the Arts Council England. The organisation is dedicated to making an enjoyable and successful music education accessible to all young people irrespective of their ability to pay. The Music Hub also seeks to lift the barriers that arise through language, educational, social or cultural issues. Peterborough Music Hub’s work is guided by The National Plan for Music Education 2011. The plan states that: Children from all backgrounds and every part of England should have the opportunity: to learn a musical instrument to make music with others to learn to sing to have the opportunity to progress to the next level of excellence if they wish to.
Peterborough Centre for Young Musicians (PCYM)
In association with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, The Peterborough Centre for Young Musicians is an exciting music centre for the region’s talented young players aged 5-18 years
PCYM takes places on Saturday mornings during term time at Ormiston Bushfield Academy and has packages suited to all ages, abilities and instruments allowing young musicians to progress on their musical journey. Substantial bursaries and free instrument loans are available. All are welcome to drop in and visit any Saturday for a free trial of the sessions.
Since opening in October 2016 PCYM has risen from 24 to 82 students. The aim of PCYM is that no child is denied access because of their financial background. 95% of students are from State-funded schools including academies and Free Schools with 81% of students from Peterborough Schools. Around 40% of these students receive some kind of financial support to enable them to take part in these activities.
Provision includes instrumental tuition in strings, brass, wind, guitar, percussion and singing as well as composition. There are now two beginner sessions for 5-7 year olds, five musicianship classes, two singing groups and 15 ensembles (Beginner, Junior and Senior levels in piano, strings, percussion, wind, brass, guitars and a jazz ensemble). Young people spend a full morning taking part in a bespoke timetable of sessions allowing them to develop their musical skills in a broad and varied way.
