The Saturday Programme

HMDT Music’s Saturday Programme, a music school based at Bridge Academy in Hackney, serves close to 300 students aged 6 months – 25 years on 30 Saturdays during term time each academic year. The Programme offers exciting, high-quality and accessible opportunities for children of all ages to develop their musical interests and abilities by providing a spectrum of individual projects involving guest visits and work with leading artists, alongside the continually expanding regular classes and programmes designed to enrich the lives of young people through music-making.

Started in 1995, it remains a vibrant and unique Saturday offering and a source of local community pride, attracting students from across London and beyond. The Saturday Programme creates well rounded musicians and human beings, many of whom have gone on to perform in the West End, study at music colleges, build careers in music and the arts, and even become music teachers themselves.

The Saturday Programme staff are all experienced music educators and professional artists who foster a keen appreciation and understanding of different types of music in a fun environment, building confidence and encouraging success through a holistic learning approach of group learning and individual achievement. This, combined with a broad range of performing experiences within the Programme and at concert halls and theatres, nurtures the Programme’s buzzing community spirit, making it an exciting place for students to pursue their music studies.

Applications are open all year round and a Financial Aid Programme is available for those who need it.

Saturday Programme

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Music TreeHouse

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Our Programmes

Students follow a guided progression route beginning with Early Years programmes, The Music Box and The Fledglings, before progressing to the I Can Sing! Minis Programme (for students in Year 1 and Year 2). Here, they learn the fundamentals of musicianship through instrumental sessions and gain performance experience in the group Music Theatre and Movement sessions. After the Minis programme, students then choose to continue focusing upon music theatre (I Can Sing!) or further their instrumental training (CYMH) through one-to-one and group lessons in a variety of ensembles, orchestra and choir classes.

For those interested in Jazz, our Jazz Blues Programme and the prestigious Julian Joseph Jazz Academy are designed for students to get the most out of their musicianship and themselves. Additionally, our SEN/D programme, Music Treehouse, offers sensory storytelling and song to those in Primary education, and creative composition to those in Secondary education.

See more by visiting each of our programmes below!

A first musical adventure

Designed for under 4s and their family. Each week sees a guest artist performing for your enjoyment, introducing children to a variety of musical genres and cultures in a fun and interactive way.

An introduction to music

A Foundation programme for Reception class children, building their confidence in singing and movement leading to end of term performances.

Don’t just dream about the stage...

Students ages 4-16 have the opportunity to experience the excitement of musical theatre training and performance, while building confidence, teamwork and presentation skills.

Find out more about The Music Box