In all, over 130 concerts, gigs and events will take place during March, from large-scale, region-wide projects Big Sing, Big Play and Spotlight, to local TRY open days where families can try instruments and find out about local opportunities, and a wide range concerts and gigs covering an exceptional musical range from jazz to pops orchestras, choir and recorder festivals to orchestral weekends and rock and pop galas.

Big Month of Music is the first major project of West Midlands Music – a unique collective of all 14 of the region’s Music Services, and the largest of its kind in the UK. The project is designed to celebrate young people’s musical achievements and inspire and encourage them to continue their musical discoveries by signposting ongoing opportunities.

Local schoolchildren will be involved in the Big Play, filming One Minute of Music from their First Access music sessions which give all children the opportunity to learn an instrument in a classroom setting. All the ‘minutes’ from across the West Midlands will then be profiled in a virtual celebration via social media, one after another, throughout the day on Friday 27th March.

Meanwhile, young singers from local schools will be part of an 800-strong choir converging on the world-class Symphony Hall, Birmingham on Monday 16th March for the Big Sing. Mentored by Ex Cathedra, the Big Sing brings together youngsters from all 14 regions in a professional-standard concert to sing songs from communities across the world, taken from the British Council’s World Voice project.

Four regional Spotlight gigs will give young artists and bands the opportunity to come together to perform live in well-known music venues. Spotlight gigs take place at The Coal Vaults, Coventry; Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton; Malvern Cube and Redrum Stafford.

Families are being invited along to free regional try and ‘come and play’ open events to take their musical learning further. They’ll be able to try an instrument, discover local ensembles and chat to Music Service staff to find out what opportunities are available locally. eanwhile, a host of concerts, festival and gigs from jazz ensembles to choirs, symphony orchestras to rock and pop, will be taking place throughout the month to give a flavour of the many ensembles and opportunities young people can get involved in.

Last year, the fourteen Music Services in the West Midlands impacted 140,000 children every week, supported music making in 1,963 schools, loaned 79,789 musical instruments and created 776 events and performances across the West Midlands.

Chris Jones, Chair of West Midlands Music and Head of Dudley Performing Arts says, “Many thousands of people have learned an instrument, sung in a choir or played in an ensemble thanks to Music Services over the years. By working together as West Midlands Music, the region’s fourteen Music Services are able to maximise our collective impact, reaching more children and delivering a consistently high quality music education for everyone. Big Month of Music is a fantastic first major celebration of that collective impact and of our commitment for the future of the region’s music education.”