If you're new to making music, there are several ways to get involved with music at Cambridge which don't require any prior experience.
Music can be a great way to take time out from the pressures of academic life, to have fun, to develop valuable skills, and to form friendships which could last a lifetime.
Information about any opportunities listed on this website is provided for informational purposes only. The CMP does not endorse, and is not responsible for, any of the external opportunities listed. Any queries or concerns regarding any such opportunities should be directed to the provider of the opportunity in question. Persons engaging with external organisations do so at their own discretion and at their own risk.
UniVox is the CMP’s brand new non-auditioned contemporary choir. We meet in the Palmerson room at St John’s College – come along on Wednesdays from 5.15pm-6.30pm from 12 October onwards and find your voice! We’ll be covering songs from many genres including Pop, Soul, Rock and Musical Theatre. Led by talented piano-vocalist Carrie Rawlings you’ll be welcomed into this new singing community with open arms – it’s all about feeling good, belting out well-known tunes and having a lot of fun. What’s not to love? Take time out to unwind, have a great time and meet new friends.
Places are limited so book in here.
Arco Iris, Cambridge’s hottest and loudest Samba band, is a community group open to students and local residents, and they love welcoming members who haven’t played before. Explore Brazilian and Cuban rhythms in a party atmosphere, meet new people, and discover the perfect way to blow off steam! Rehearsals take place on Wednesday evenings and you can join at any point in the year. The cost is £1 per session for students, and the first session is free.
Visit arcoiris.org.uk to find out more.
If you’re interested in producing or songwriting, the CMP is offering fortnightly introductory workshops in partnership with the Cambridge University Music Production Society – no prior experience is required. Click here to find out more and to register for workshops: numbers are very limited owing to the capacity of the computer room.
We’re also teaming up with Clare Sound to hold an introductory workshop on Tuesday 11 October at 7pm in Clare Cellars for those interested in learning how to use sound equipment for live events – there's no need to book, and beginners are warmly welcomed!
Cambridge Gamelan is a tuned percussion ensemble comprisiong of bronze gongs and metallophones that plays traditional and contemporary Javanese gamelan music. It meets on Thursday evenings from 7.30pm - 9.30pm at the Faculty of Music and gives performances in and around Cambridge. The Music Director is Robert Campion, a member of Southbank Gamelan Players, Ensemble-in-Residence at Southbank Centre, London. No previous musical experience is required and all are welcome, however spaces are limited so email Rob to secure a place. Gamelan Society subs are £25 per term.
See more information about Cambridge Gamelan here.
The Cambridge University Steel Pan Society (CUSPS) welcomes all, regardless of musical skill level! They teach members how to play the steel pan from scratch, and play music ranging from Stevie Wonder to ABBA and Clean Bandit. Steel Pan practice runs every Monday evening at the Jesus College Pavilion, and every year they perform at May Balls and various other events. Find out more and sign up to join via www.cusps.org.uk.
The Cambridge University Samulnori Society is thrilled to announce that with the support of the University of Cambridge's Global Humanities Fund, the Faculty of Music, and the newly established Centre for Music Performance, we will be holding a week-long intensive Samulnori Workshop with world-renowned Samulnori teacher JANG Hyun Jin in the last week of September 2022!
This workshop will take place in the Recital Room of West Road Concert Hall between September 26 and September 30 (Mon- Fri) from 10am to 5pm daily, and no experience is required to participate. In addition to learning the fundamentals of Samulnori performance, participants will prepare a family-friendly showcase concert to take place on Sunday 2 October at 4pm in the West Road Concert Hall (poster attached).
Samulnori is a virtuoso Korean percussion genre rooted in p’ungmul (famers’ band music). It is performed by four different instruments (small gong - kk’waengwari, hourglass drum - janggo, barrel drum - buk and big gong -jing). Samulnori translates into ‘four things play’ and has gained rapid popularity and recognition both within Korea and internationally since the late 1970s.
This special workshop is FREE and open to all members of the public. As we only have TWO free spaces still open, please contact us ASAP if you are interested in joining! Our email is samulnori@cambridgesu.co.uk, or you can contact Nami Morris at nm383@cam.ac.uk or 07710 848 949.
