We believe music education should be about more than learning notes on a page.
It's about creativity, confidence, collaboration and giving young people the opportunity to discover what they can do.
Through songwriting workshops and immersive band projects, Toucan brings professional musicians directly into schools to work with students, develop their musical skills and ultimately put them on stage.
Real musicians. Real experience. A real performance.
The Toucan SongLab
Turn ideas into songs.
Set in the beautiful rural surroundings of the Vale of Glamorgan, our songwriting workshops give students the space, time and freedom to make music together.
Working alongside professional musicians, students take an idea and turn it into a real song - exploring lyrics, melody, rhythm, chords and arrangement along the way. There’s no right or wrong way to write a song. The aim is to get creative, experiment and find your own sound.
And this isn't just about writing the song.
Depending on the group and the workshop, we can bring in a full live band to help bring the students' songs to life, giving them the chance to hear their ideas played with professional musicians.
We can also transform the space into a recording studio, allowing students to record their songs and take home a finished recording of something they have created together.
THE WORKSHOP CAN INCLUDE
Lyric and creative writing
Melody and song structure
Chords, rhythm and arrangement
Collaborative songwriting
Working with professional musicians
Developing performance confidence
Bringing original songs to life with a live band
Recording and producing original material
Every workshop is shaped around the people in the room. Whether students are picking up an instrument for the first time or already writing and performing, we adapt the day to suit their age, ability and experience.
The goal is simple: write something together, make it sound great, and leave with something you can be proud of.
WRITE IT. PLAY IT. RECORD IT.
The Toucan SchoolLab
From the first rehearsal to the final show.
This isn't a one-off workshop. For two weeks, our professional musicians become part of the school day, working with students every day to build a band, develop their musical skills and create a show from the ground up.
Each day builds on the last. Students have time to learn, experiment, rehearse and grow in confidence, with the whole project working towards one exciting goal:
A LIVE FINAL SHOW.
WEEK ONE – FINDING THE BAND
The first week is about getting everyone involved.
We introduce students to the musicians and instruments, discover who plays what and, just as importantly, find ways for students with little or no musical experience to get involved.
Through group sessions and rehearsals, students begin learning songs, developing rhythm and discovering how to play together.
We'll work with the school to create a setlist that suits the students, taking into account their interests, abilities and the instruments available.
There might be guitars, drums, keyboards and vocals - alongside percussion, rhythm sections and other creative roles that allow everyone to contribute.
WEEK TWO – BUILDING THE SHOW
By the second week, the focus shifts towards bringing everything together.
Students rehearse as a full group, refine their songs and develop their confidence as performers. We'll work on everything from musical arrangements and transitions to stage presence and performance.
Where appropriate, we can also bring in dance professionals to work alongside the musicians, creating choreography and movement that becomes part of the final show.
As the week progresses, rehearsals become more focused and the excitement starts to build.
THE FINAL DAY
The classroom becomes a stage.
Students perform the set they've spent the last two weeks creating, rehearsing and developing together - in front of their friends, teachers, families and the wider school community.
It's the moment where all the hard work comes together.
EVERY SCHOOL IS DIFFERENT
While we have a suggested two-week structure, the programme is completely adaptable.
We can work around your school's timetable, year groups, facilities and existing music provision. The project can be shaped around one year group, several classes or a wider school community, with the length and structure adjusted to suit your needs.
Whether you want an intensive two-week project, a shorter programme or something that runs across a different timetable, we can build the experience around your school.
Two weeks. Countless rehearsals. One big show.
