HMDT Music

We're delighted to receive a 3 year Catalyser grant from Youth Music to support ‘One Spirit’, working with young offenders in custody, the community and those at risk in PRUs to ignite sector change through its therapeutic effects of combining music and mentoring in custody.

This Remembrance Day, the HMDT Music team would like to pay our respects and commemorate the service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives for their country in wars around the world to defend the freedoms that we enjoy today.

We would particularly like to remember the contributions made by ethnic minority soldiers of the Indian Army, British West Indies Regiment and Black British soldiers, whose stories live on in our Trench Brothers project and continue to be shared in schools through our commemorative workshops.

Are you a practicing artist, musician, drama practitioner, dancer, or an artist in another discipline, looking to support diversity and inclusion in schools?

Our free Art of Inclusion Training Scheme can help you make a difference! Develop skills in supporting cross-curricular learning in schools through the arts to underpin diversity, inclusion and equality, and learn from expert workshop leaders and gain paid practical experience.

Visit our website to find out more information and apply by 22nd November:

https://www.hmdt.org.uk/hmdtmusic/inschool/2025-art-of-inclusion-training/

At HMDT Music’s Saturday Programme, we aim to nurture young people’s love of music from early childhood all the way through to young adulthood. This we are spotlighting our ‘Fledglings’ programme for Reception children, where they are encouraged to grow their confidence and develop their creativity through song and performance, preparing them for learning their first instrument!

“She can’t wait to teach me the songs at home!” – ‘Fledglings’ Parent

Applications for 'Fledglings' are open throughout the term but join before 19th October and get our Special Offer of 25% OFF the term’s fees!

To learn more about 'Fledglings' and the rest of our Saturday Programme and how to join, visit the link below or get in touch with us at [email protected] or 020 8882 8825.

https://zurl.co/Gdlq

Start your child’s musical journey as a Fledgling at HMDT Music’s Saturday Programme! The Fledglings Foundation year for Reception aged children encourages them to test their wings with the fundamentals of music through movement and...

Congratulations to our 2 longest standing Saturday Programme students, who have been learning with us for over 10 years, who achieved 100% in their A-level performance music exam!

We will miss them at the Saturday Programme and wish them the very best in their future ventures!

This , we’re delighted to share our annual update on our community-based project, One Spirit. Since 2013, One Spirit has helped young people caught up in the criminal justice system to develop skills and knowledge that will give them a better chance to access further education, gain employment and lead a more productive life once they are released from custody.

"HMDT Music offer a vital service to young people at HMYOI Feltham. The project […….] allows them to express and process their emotions connected to their experiences in a meaningful way. HMDT Music are one of the only (if not the only) agency currently able to offer ‘through the gate’ support to their participants [……..] the value of this cannot be underestimated at what is a potentially highly vulnerable time for a young person, enabling continuity with established relationships" – KH, Child and Family Psychodynamic Psychotherapist HMYOI Feltham A.

Read the annual update here:

https://zurl.co/Zm0n

This World Music Day, we’re celebrating our Saturday Programme students who are working incredibly hard for their Summer Term performances in the next few weeks, and their ABRSM Exams tomorrow!

We are committed to providing high-quality music provision in Hackney to ensure that every child has access to music-making, and it is a joy to see the transformative power of music for the young people in our Saturday Programme.

If your child is interested in Music Theatre or plays a musical instrument, we’d love to have them come and join the fun at our Saturday Programme in our Autumn Term!

Apply now to secure your place:

https://zurl.co/nRB8

On this day in 1799, historical palaeontologist, Mary Anning, was born. In HMDT Music’s STEM Sisters palaeontology workshops, KS1 and KS2 children explore the world of fossils through the lens of a palaeontologist, engaging in interactive, hands-on activities which are complimented by our body of online resources supporting your curriculum.

This week, Mary is visiting schools in Lytham St Annes and Stoke-on-Trent, who will be celebrating her birthday with her! To organise a visit from Mary Anning to your school or celebrate her birthday with her next year, visit our website and fill in the workshop application form :

https://zurl.co/rjr1

Happy ! Did you know that our family learning programme, ‘The Music Box’, offers a great introduction to music for children aged 6 months - 4 years? These sessions, which feature a different guest artist every week, enable children to explore basic rhythms and melodies, and help parents gain the confidence to experiment and enjoy music making with their children.

There’s still time to join the Music Box this Summer Term at our Saturday Programme in Hackney, so don’t miss out, apply now:

https://zurl.co/wKJL

This , we’re celebrating the children that join us each week at our Saturday Programme. If you’re looking for a space which not only encourages your child to progress as a musician and performer, but also provides an environment where they are able to socialise and make new friends, then come and join us at the Saturday Programme in Hackney!

Applications are currently open for our Autumn Term. To learn more or apply, visit:

https://zurl.co/qbke

We’re extremely proud to share that our Senior Manager, Gavin Stewart, has completed his PhD, and is now officially Dr. Gavin Stewart! Follow the link below to read more about his research:

https://zurl.co/TdUy

HMDT Music’s Gavin Stewart completes his PhD | HMDT Music We’re extremely proud to announce that our Senior Manager, Gavin Stewart, has completed his PhD, and is now officially Dr. Gavin Stewart! Here’s what he has to say on his research:

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend [us] your ears”… With today marking Shakespeare’s 460th birthday, we’re delighted to be celebrating The Bard’s timeless works at the Saturday Programme in our upcoming I Can Sing! production, ‘Much Ado About Shakespeare’! Rehearsals have just started and we’re so excited to see the show come together throughout the term.

Happy birthday Shakespeare!

We are incredibly grateful for all of your donations which have enabled us to reach BEYOND our goal of raising £10,000 for Music Treehouse and raise £10,459 so far!

Your donations all make such a difference for the children and young people in Music Treehouse by helping fund 1:1 Music Therapy sessions, creative music-making workshops, and travel to and from the programme for those in need.

Please remember that you can continue to donate to our fundraiser until midday TOMORROW, 26th March, through our Big Give donation page:

https://zurl.co/AkEo

We’re so grateful for all of your donations and support so far and we’re so close to reaching our £10,000 target! Let’s see if we can reach the finish line over the weekend at the Saturday Programme, where we’ll be holding a Tutor Concert and a Raffle in support of our fundraiser.

You can make a donation in support of Music Treehouse through our donation page by following the link below:

https://zurl.co/X33p

Big thanks for all your donations - we are so grateful for the generous support we have received so far for Music Treehouse, raising £4,320 towards our goal of £10,000!

“When we first brought my son in 6 years ago, we weren’t sure if he would be able to stay in the room for the 40 minute sessions, but he was immediately happy there. Tim [Music Treehouse workshop leader] has been a huge inspiration for him throughout his time here. Music Treehouse has given him a huge confidence boost and we’re hugely grateful as this has been life changing for him” – Music Treehouse Parent.

Help us ensure that we can sustain this transformative programme for children and young people with SEN/D by making a donation through our Big Give campaign page, which is ONLY open until midday on 26th March:

https://zurl.co/HpkY