WHAT IS SOLENT MUSIC?
Solent Music was set up in September 2000 as a joint venture between Southampton Music Services, Portsmouth Music Service and the Isle of Wight Music Service.

Aims & Objectives:
The aim of Solent Music is to improve access to high quality music provision in our schools while raising standards of achievement in music.  It also aims to broaden the range of musical activity, including music of non-western cultures, by enhancing the range of current provision (both in the music curriculum and beyond) and by the development of resource packs.  Finally, it aims to make the most cost-effective use of staffing and material resources by working collaboratively.

Resources:
Solent Music consists of three jointly owned and managed music curriculum resource packs:

• A Javanese Gamelan
• South Asian instruments from India and Pakistan
• A set of Caribbean Steel Pans

In addition, each authority has:

• 2 sets of mini Steel Pans
• A set of mini Djembes / Tubanos
• A set of 9" Djembes 
• A set of large Djembes 
• A Samba Kit
• A Balinese Angklung Gamelan
• A set of 40 Boomwhackers
• A set of Tonechimes
• A set of Handbells
• A set of Junk Tubs

The three joint resources rotate each term between the three authorities.  Each pack includes sufficient instruments for thirty children, teaching resource ideas, pupil resource materials, a video of effective practice and a CD.

	Southampton	Portsmouth	Isle of Wight
Spring 2009	Steel Pans	South Asian	Gamelan
Summer 2009	Steel Pans	South Asian	Gamelan
Autumn 2009	Steel Pans	South Asian	Gamelan

Each resource remains with the authority for the following holiday so allowing schools to programme intensive courses for parents or students, as appropriate.  The resources are also retained by the authority during the summer break and for the following autumn term, so allowing extended access to the resources.

Resources have also been sent to every school in the three authorities.  These are:

• Solent Music Handbook - information and units of work for African Music, South Asian Music, Gamelan, Samba, Large Steel Pans and Mini Steel-Pans. Boomwhackers & Junk Percussion
• Compact Discs - for African, South-Asian, Samba, Gamelan Music, Angklung, Mini Steel Pans & Boomwhackers
• DVD's - for Angklung Gamelan, Large Steel Pans, Mini Steel Pans, Boomwhackers & Junk Percussion
• Video - for African Drumming

Training & Events:

Solent Music Conference -  TBC

In addition, training courses and a programme of live workshops allow schools and centres to plan an intensive session of activities based on each pack.
Schools are encouraged to make full use of the Solent Music resources and to contact Lynn Beckwith to book instruments (free of charge) for school use.

Contacts:

As Solent Music is jointly owned and managed by three authorities, please contact your local representative for any additional information.

Southampton City Council:  Christine Ward, Senior Manager for Southampton Music Services, would be happy to come into any city schools to discuss the range of resources available and ways in which they could be used effectively within the music curriculum, or more generally as part of an arts project.  If you would like to arrange this, please contact her at