The music department at Honiton Community College (HCC) now has two new recording studio facilities thanks to ‘The Beehive’, an award winning community and entertainment centre in Honiton. 

The college and The Beehive have been exploring ways to work together to provide the young people of Honiton with the best creative and performing arts opportunities.

When Victoria Davis, Programme and Events Manager of the Beehive, heard that the integral recording system in the HCC music department was no longer working and required a mixing desk to make it function again, she jumped into action. The Beehive team then kindly offered to loan a mixing desk to school and even came along to install it.

Thanks to the work of David Turner, the Head of CreATE and Music Teacher at HCC and the Beehive team, the integral recording system is now back up and running and students can record music from any room in the music department.

HCC’s newly introduced student music ambassadors were present to welcome the new equipment, which also included a drum kit donated by The Beehive, meaning that there is now a drum kit in every music practice room for students to use.

At Honiton Community College, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, the music department has undergone a real revival in recent months including through the introduction of a GCSE music course and the launch of a new music curriculum this academic year. There are now a wide range of enrichment opportunities for students including a house band, a taiko drumming group, a singing group, a balalaika ensemble, a song writing group and a rock school.

The college has also opened the Honiton Music Centre this term which allows primary and secondary aged children in the Honiton community to learn an orchestral instrument for just £4 a week. This initiative has been supported by the Devon Music Education Hub, the Department of Education and Arts Council England. 

Caroline Brothwood, Headteacher at Honiton Community College said: “We are so grateful to the Beehive team for their generosity and encouragement, from the loan of the mixing desk and drum kit to their continued support of our students. Their help has been a huge part of the recent revival in music at Honiton Community College. The take-up of instrumental lessons has already more than doubled since January, and we look forward to building on this momentum by hopefully hosting college concerts at the Beehive in the future.”

Victoria Davis, Programme and Events Manager at The Beehive said: “At The Beehive, we’re passionate about supporting creativity and giving young people the chance to shine. When we heard the music department at HCC needed help, we were more than happy to step in with a mixing desk and a drum kit. It’s fantastic to see the students making full use of the new facilities and we’re really excited about the opportunities this partnership will bring in the future.”