A group of children with guitars sitting and playing and smiling

Create Music Academy: Short Courses for Aspiring Young Musicians

News

Get ready for three weeks full of music, creativity, and fun! 

Create Music’s summer term short course series for children and young people returns this summer, with three exciting weeks of collaborative music-making, skills development and performance opportunities for Years 2 and up at venues across Sussex. Read on to find out more about the courses available this year.

A child sits at a keyboard, smiling at the camera

Create Music is our music education service and Sussex Music Hub’s lead organisation, championing the power of music to transform young lives. Each summer, Create Music Academy offers a range of courses suitable for all ages and abilities, including singing, percussion and music technology, led by experienced Create Music teachers.

Two young people rocking out and playing guitars

Why get involved?

Create Music Academy offers the chance to meet, play and perform with other like-minded young musicians, encouraging collaboration and building creativity skills. 

All courses end with an informal onstage performance for family and friends — a great opportunity to build confidence and learn to perform together!

Two children sit with headphones on, playing on iPads

As well as instruments and vocals, Create Music Academy includes a range of tech courses for students of all levels and ages — from GarageBand for Beginners to Composing and Scoring for Film and Games.

Everyone can learn something new! Create Music Academy has courses suitable for all abilities, from very beginners up to experienced players. The Open Access courses require no previous experience – just sign up and come along! 

 

Create Music Academy is a brilliant opportunity for children and young people to explore their creativity, build confidence and connect through music. These courses open the door to new experiences, helping every young musician take their next step and realise their potential. — Peter Chivers, Director of Create Music

For this year’s Academy, Create Music is expanding opportunities for young singers and musicians:

Discover the joy of group singing in One Day One Voice. This one-day workshop invites children who took part in the One Voice project in December to regroup and build on their experience, exploring harmony, vocal technique and more. 

Explore your favourite tunes together in the brand-new Vocal Ensemble course. These two days offer secondary-age singers the chance to explore music from popular genres, musicals and folk traditions, while developing vocal technique, ensemble skills and performance confidence.

Experience rich and varied global sounds in the new Percussion Workshop — perfect for drum kit, percussion, piano and keyboard players of all ages (Grade 3+) who are ready to expand their ensemble skills. Discover exciting, new rhythms and sounds including Drum line, Brazilian Batucada, Junk percussion, electronic sounds and Western Classical Percussion. 

 

A group of children, one playing a flute and two playing oboes sitting behind. They are all looking at sheet music on stands in front of them.

Thanks so much for today, L had an amazing time. It was so emotional seeing them play and I was so impressed with everything they achieved. Thanks for creating such an inspiring day and enhancing their love and appreciation of music. — Parent of Create Music Academy 2025 attendee 

Create Music is sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter.