● Activities
Saturday Music Centre
Our Saturday morning activities are open to all young people aged 5-18 who live or attend school in North Tyneside, and take place in term-time at John Spence Community High School.
Our Saturday Centre activities are run in partnership with Newcastle Music Service and are also open to young people living or attending school in Newcastle.
We offer a range of musical groups catering for beginner through to advanced instrumentalists, a children’s choir and drop in music theory support.
Click here to see our 2026-7 activity dates:
To find out more, email us at: music@northtyneside.gov.uk or register interest for an activity on behalf of your child by completing this form.
And to find out more about musical activities in other areas of the North-East, please visit North East Music Hub.
Saturday Centre Activities
Register your interest in an activity by completing this form. If you have any questions, please contact us at music@northtyneside.gov.uk.
Music Theory Drop-In
Time: 9.00-10.00am
Group Leaders: Abigail and Peter Tickell
Music Theory Drop-In is open to all students from beginners to those working towards Grade 5 theory and beyond. Join this session as a standalone, or as part of your wider Saturday morning experience. Register your interest by completing this form.
Beginner Orchestra
Time: 9.00-10.00am
Group Leader: Fran Harris, Gareth Miller and John Rudkin
Our Mixed Beginner Orchestra is suitable for any beginner instrumentalist who is keen to play in a group with others, even if they can only play a few notes! Register your interest by completing this form.
Beginner Recorder Group
Time: 9.00-10.00am
Group Leader: Sarah Teoh
Our Beginner Recorder Group is open to those with some initial experience of playing recorder in school and for those who have been playing for a while. Register your interest by completing this form.
Beginner Strings
Time: 10 to 12 noon
Group Leader: Rebecca Rawlinson
Beginner Strings is suitable for those just starting out on any orchestral string instrument up to around Grade 2 standard. Register your interest by completing this form.
Youth Training Strings
Time: 10.00am-12.00pm
Group Leader: Abigail Tickell
Youth Training Strings is for orchestral string players working between Grade 3-5 standard. Register your interest by completing this form.
Senior Strings
Time: 10.00am-12.00pm
Group Leader: Peter Tickell
Senior Strings is designed for orchestral string players working at around Grade 5 standard or above. Register your interest by completing this form.
Youth Training Band
Time: 9.00-10.45am Group Leaders: John Flood and Daisy Hayes
Youth Training Band is open to any young person playing between Grade 1-3 standard on a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument. Players then progress onto membership of the Concert Band. Register your interest by completing this form.
Concert Band
Time: 9.00-10.45am
Group Leader: Selwyn Thompson
Concert Band is a group for more advanced brass, woodwind and percussion players working at around Grade 5 standard and above. Register your interest by completing this form.
Children’s Choir
Time: 10.00-11.00am
Group Leader: Brittany Farrow and Gareth Miller
A choir for any young singer aged 6-11 who would like to opportunity to rehearse on a weekly basis with others and work towards performances and events. Register your interest by completing this form.
Jazz Training Ensemble
Time: 11.00am-12.00pm
Group Leader: John Rudkin
A training ensemble for young musicians working around grade 2 - 3 who are interested in playing jazz music and learning the basics of improvisation. Register your interest by completing this form.
Recorder Consort
Tiime: 10.30am-12.00pm
Group Leader: Sarah Teoh
This is a group for more advanced recorder players moving on from the beginner level. Register your interest by completing this form.
Symphony Orchestra
Time: 11.00am-12.00pm
Group Leader: Alex Lewis
Our flagship ensemble, performing orchestral music and suitable for young musicians working at Grade 5 standard or above. Register your interest by completing this form.