Plymouth Youth Music Service

Calling all young woodwind players (especially Clarinets and Flutes!), WE NEED YOU!

Here's Helen Smith, our wonderful ensemble leader looking out for you wonderful people!

We had a fantastic first rehearsal together yesterday with our Summer Concert Band. A good time was had by all and we were really impressed by the amazing young players who came along. We really want to welcome even more young musicians to the band, so please share this with any other young musicians looking to do something really wonderful together in the summer holidays!

Mondays 2.30-4.30 throughout August!
Mount Gould Church, Farringdon Rd, Plymouth PL4 7FD

Contact Helen on email for more info, and see our other posts for the details: [email protected]

Many thanks to Devon Music Education Hub Arts Council England Plymouth City Council



🎺🎼🎷😎

We are feeling excited about starting our Summer Concert Band 2026 workshop series on Monday next week!

Here's the music all ready and prepared in its colourful glory for the band. Of course the Feline Music Assistant has been helping out beautifully with getting everything ready!

Please see all details on the poster below.

You can also contact Helen Smith on email: [email protected] or [email protected] to register your interest / reserve a place or simply come along on the day!

We love to share some of the magic of music making that goes on within our termly programme at PYMS. Here's a little story from Riverside Community Primary School and Nursery, Plymouth who have been receiving Ukulele lessons with PYMS tutor and ensemble leader, Helen Smith:

On Tuesday 7th July, Riverside's Y4 children got the opportunity to show off their ukulele skills - and enthusiasm! Their audience were the Year 3 class, who will be starting their lessons in September. The performance was such a lovely showcase by the Year 4 children to show all that they have learnt this year.

Although there were many 'concentration faces' on display, the children's smiles after completing a song communicated perfectly how proud and satisfied they were. The wiggles and boogies throughout reflected the joy they've experienced and the confidence they've developed!

Some quotes from the Y4 children:

RW: It's been so much fun! Every Tuesday has been brighter than the sun because I knew it was ukulele time!

KR: It's made me beg for a ukulele for my birthday!

RR: Thank you for teaching me a new instrument and letting us show off our songs - even ones we wrote ourselves!
PS: I feel really proud of myself for learning an instrument - I can't wait to join our new lunchtime club when I'm in Y5!

LT: Although I don't like standing up in front of a crowd, I started to - during ukulele lessons - because it felt fun to do it - I got lost in the moment!

CW: I looked forward to every Tuesday and I now love instruments. Miss Smith you always put a smile on my face!

The children have loved learning the ukulele so much this year that many children have purchased their own instruments, so next year one of the teachers, Miss Babcock will be hosting a lunchtime club for the current Year 4-finishers so they can continue to refine their musical skills. What wonderful commitment and enthusiasm!

We are hugely grateful to Helen Smith for her dedication to supporting so many young musicians in Plymouth.

Many thanks also to our wider PYMS team and those behind the scenes setting up various opportunities across the city. If you haven't heard about us before and you're a parent / school / teacher / music tutor interested in what we do, please just get in touch or visit our website for more information:

https://www.pyms.org.uk

Many thanks as always to Devon Music Education Hub Arts Council England Department for Education Plymouth City Council

********** REMINDER to sign up now and reserve your places as these sessions are starting very soon on Mondays throughout August! **********

🎺🎷 Calling All Young Woodwind & Brass Players! 🎶

Looking for something fun to do this summer?

Join our friendly summer holiday concert band and spend your Monday afternoons making music, learning new pieces, and meeting other young musicians.

Whether you play flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, cornet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, baritone, or tuba, drums, bass etc. we'd love to welcome you!

🎼 Every Monday throughout August 🕝 2:30pm – 4:30pm 📍 Mount Gould Church, Farringdon Rd, Plymouth PL47FD

No matter your experience (although we're suggesting roughly grade 2/3), come along, build your confidence, improve your playing, and have fun in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Bring your instrument, bring a friend, and come and see what it's all about!

📩 Send us a message for more information and to register your interest. Alternatively, simply come along!

If you have any access needs or anything you want to let us know to help us make you feel welcome and supported, please feel free to tell us.

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

It's hard to capture the energy of such a wonderful event, but here's a glimpse of last week's partnership event in Methodist Central Hall with schools from Plymouth, The Legacy Choir and young musicians all the way from Massachusetts, USA.

Thankyou to Devon Music Education Hub for your brilliant post from the event. Special thanks to Jess Rowe who has done an exceptional amount of work behind the scenes (as well as at the front!) to bring everything together. She truly is amazing!

Much of our work is about raising aspirations and encouraging young musicians to try different instruments to help them find their musical voice. In the spirit of this, here are Plymouth City Brass last Friday at Wembury School giving taster sessions and performances. Wonderful!

If you're interested in joining the band or finding out more, please contact us (PYMS) or use the QR code in the first photo to get in touch.

Many thanks again to the tutors, musicians, volunteers and young musicians who are keeping brass band music very much alive in Plymouth.

We couldn’t be more proud of our Plymouth Youth Symphony Orchestra following their brilliant performance opening the musical celebrations with a 30-minute set. It was an honour to perform for one of the most special days in Plymouth's calendar.

The ensemble played soundtracks and themes from 'Moana' to 'Eye of the Tiger' and everything in between. Who knew that an orchestra could rock this music so brilliantly? Such wonderful energy and commitment from everyone - thankyou!

We would like to give a special thanks to orchestra leader Helen Smith who is a passionate advocate for young musicians as well as newly taking on the ensemble. This was her first performance as PYSO's new conductor and leader, so we are hugely proud of her. The young musicians said that she’d helped them feel relaxed and well prepared for their performance, so this was just wonderful to hear!

Thanks to all the musicians who stepped in to fill additional parts on the day and to our regular volunteers who really help to make the orchestra a quality experience for all its members.

Were you there on the day? Please let us know what you thought!

Of course, if you’re interested in joining PYSO or our other ensembles, please just get in touch!

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01752308672

Many thanks to Devon Music Education Hub Plymouth City Council Arts Council England Department for Education

More photo memories of the Lipson Co-operative Academy Big Band set at Armed Forces Day 2026 on Plymouth Hoe. What a beautiful day it was too!

A light breeze brought everyone some respite after the exceptionally hot weather. On that breeze were carried the extraordinary sounds of these young musicians who delighted the audience!

Huge thanks again to Gav Martin and the team who help bring their magical music recipes that enable this extraordinary ensemble to thrive!

PYMS are proud to support the band and long may the musicians continue on their musical journeys.

Many thanks to Devon Music Education Hub Arts Council England

Many thanks to the brilliant Lipson Co-operative Academy Big Band who smashed their 30minute set on The Hoe on Saturday.

PYMS are very proud to support the band and we are extremely grateful to Gav Martin for his commitment to this wonderful group of young musicians as well as all the tireless support from additional staff and volunteers.

The energy of the band was bouncing from the walls of the citadel behind the stage and there was a sea of hugely appreciative smiles and tapping feet!

Congratulations to all the musicians once again for sharing your joyous music and talent!

Many thanks also to: Devon Music Education Hub Arts Council England Department for Education Plymouth City Council

Fantastic turnout on the Hoe on Saturday! We were extremely proud of the Plymouth City Brass musicians performing in front of the large crowds and service personnel and it was an honour for PYMS to support this wonderful annual event.

Many thanks to our young musicians, volunteers and band leaders who are the Plymouth City Brass community. We know that a huge amount of preparation and work went into preparing for the performances.



Many thanks to Devon Music Education Hub Arts Council EnglandDepartment for Education