Learn with Us
Explore the wonders of musical creation!
Let your creative curiosity run wild with our specially designed venue programme for children and young people! From our regular family shows like MiniBeats and Wild Words, to Q&As and showcase opportunities for young musicians, our programme has something to spark every imagination.
Family Events
MiniBeats and Wild Words – our flagship series for children
MiniBeats
A fun, accessible and interactive introduction for young children to the wonders of live music performance, produced and presented ‘in the round’ by Laura Tanner with musicians of the Bristol Ensemble. Featuring a rotating menu of Super Strings, Wonderful Woodwind, Brilliant Brass, Perfect Percussion and Krazy Keyboards!
Wild Words
Magical storytelling with music, plus a jolly mix of warm-up games and craft activity for starters! Produced and led by Michael Loader with a special guest artist each time.
You’ll also find other family and children-focussed events and activities taking place as the year progresses.
Browse our Family programme here
Schools at the Venue
We’re always keen to welcome school groups to St George’s! As well as a number of schools and Music Hubs staging their own concerts with us, here are just a few of the projects we currently offer:
Concerts for Primary Schools
A series designed for children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7 – 11), these are performances by some of our visiting musicians and often have a special focus on topics such as the science of sound and music in history. Recent performers include Connaught Brass and the Kyan Quartet.
Secondary School Offers
With our Under 25s Ticket Scheme, tickets are available for just £5 on a wide selection of evening and daytime events across our programme.
We also offer free tickets for state school students to concerts in our Lunchtime series, and wherever possible we organise post-lunchtime concert Q&A sessions with our artists for student groups.
In addition, we can occasionally offer performance and workshop opportunities to young musicians, and we are currently developing a ‘Creative Careers’ offer for groups of Year 9 – Year 13 students who are interested in learning about how our venue operates.
Please contact us for further information on any of the above, or to join our Schools Mailing List, where you’ll receive regular updates on our Learning & Participation programme and offers.
“I was pleased to see children who don’t normally listen carefully were very enthusiastic. Many went away wanting to learn an instrument!”
Teacher, after a MiniBeats school visit to Ashley Down Primary
Photo Chas Breton.
Music is for Everyone
We believe in the power music possesses to lift up and inspire anyone and everyone, regardless of personal situation, and that involvement in music can help children to thrive in all aspects of their lives. We fund the following work thanks to the invaluable help of funds brought in through our Membership Schemes, alongside the support of Trusts & Foundations.
Cosmos Singing Project
A long-term, free-to-access programme for children who love to sing. Currently active in two primary schools in Knowle West and Lawrence Weston, Cosmos runs as a series of after-school singing sessions, culminating in ‘singing trips’ to the likes of Tyntesfield, we the curious, and St George’s itself.
Artists in Schools
We bring thrilling live music experiences to many children each year by taking a selection of our visiting artists out to perform in primary schools, all located in socio-economically challenged areas of the city and often in collaboration with our partners at Preludes Music. Recent artists include Palisander (recorders), Nathan Amaral (violin), Lady Maisery duo (folk musicians), Rebecca Nash and Alex Merritt (jazz duo).
MiniTours
We take our MiniBeats teams ‘on tour’ to give informal, interactive and up-close performances in a range of settings, including nurseries, infant schools, schools for children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND), and hospitals.
Get Involved!
Our Learning programme is always developing and there are always new ideas brewing for future activities. If you would like to find out more, join our Learning mailing list, or share your ideas – whether you are a parent, student or teacher – you can contact us at learning@stgeorgesbristol.co.uk to start a conversation.
Are you a school representative?
Join our Schools Mailing List here
to hear about our brilliant activities and opportunities for students
(Family Arts Standards accredited)
Please note, our Heritage Play Space is located just behind our Box Office and is step-free accessible.
We have children’s ear defenders available; please ask one of our Front of House team if you would like to borrow a pair.
Click here to find out more about Accessibility at St George’s.
MiniBeats Brilliant Brass was nothing short of fantastic!!! My son and his friends loved every minute of it and came out bouncing up and down shouting ‘that was AWESOME’!!! It has also inspired us to encourage our son to take up an instrument ! We would love to come to more of these and we thought it was especially great that there was a good mix of families with children who have special educational needs and families who don’t all enjoying it together. Hurrah!
MiniBeats audience member
Age-Friendly Standards
We are delighted to be Age-Friendly Standards accredited. The Age-Friendly Standards are a national self-assessed accreditation for cultural organisations and a recognised and trusted symbol for older audiences and family groups, including older people.
Donate today
We believe the joy and inspiration that live music brings should be available to everyone; we want everything we do to reflect this.
Your support means we can continue keeping our base ticket price at just £10, wherever possible – we want to make sure there’s an affordable seat for anyone who wants to enjoy exceptional live music in Bristol. Your donation will also resonate beyond St George’s, enabling us to continue bringing live music to communities across the city, and creating performance opportunities for emerging artists.
Please join us in our mission by making a donation here online, today.
Thank you.