Shonagh Stevenson

Education Support Officer (Music Service) South Ayrshire Council, Music Educator and Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG) Trustee

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

🎶 Happy New Year! 🎶

We look forward to welcoming all our young musicians back to lessons and authority music activities this week.

We have lots to look forward to in 2026 👏 🤩 🎶

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

📷 What a privilege it was for our South Ayrshire Chamber Singers to perform at the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales Carol Service in Paisley Abbey. It was a special occasion and our singers performance matched the stunning location!
@southayrshire

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

South Ayrshire Christmas Concert - Dec 2025
Enjoy the photos from our recent Christmas concert featuring our Senior Groups and special guests, Carrick Academy Show Choir! Our young musicians displayed musicianship and teamwork with plenty of Christmas Sparkle. Well done everyone!

[Bigger Better Brains @bb_brains]

Vocal training tunes more than your voice, it strengthens brain networks for language, emotion & multisensory integration. 🎙️🧠

🎼 Dive deeper into the research: https://t.co/fTtqjYlKV0

🎶 Join the BBB+ chorus (free): https://t.co/W7iJWbrI74

#MusicEducation

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

📣 Remember to sign up for authority music activities that begin next week, after the school holiday weekend 👏 Bands Tue 23rd, Percussion Ensembles, Ukulele Orchestras and Pipe Band Wed 24th and String Orchestras on 25th! Your instructor will have issued you with a letter

[The UK Association for Music Education: Music Mark @musicmarkuk]

📣 A new Music Mark Member subsidised rate is available! 📣

This bespoke leadership programme will enable your senior leadership team to find the best ways of working together, to create empowered, inclusive and thriving work cultures 💡

🔗See more: https://t.co/7K4lrqUbPR

[Carrick Academy Music @music_carrick]

It’s been a busy week here @Carrick_Academy
Yesterday, our school band entertained the audience for the YPI final, in addition to some superb solo pieces from Lucy, Finlay, Samuel and Elsa. 🌟👏 Thank you to @AbrahamClarinet and Mrs Paterson for their hard work! @SAMusicService

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

📣 What a day for us all 🥰 We are immensely proud of our young musicians! South Ayrshire Senior String Orchestra won ‘Class 500 - Senior String Orchestras’ at the Ayrshire Music Festival and are winners of the Walker Challenge Cup! We- couldn’t be happier 👏 🥇 🏆 🎶 🥹

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

📣 Tonight’s Showcase Concert in Ayr Town Hall - South Ayrshire Concert Bands 📣 Well done to all performers and soloists. Pupils from 17 primary schools and every secondary school in South Ayrshire took to the stage! Well done to you all 👏 🌟 🎶 🙌 More photos to follow soon 👏

[Shonagh Stevenson @Shonagh_MusicEd]

An important read about instrumental tuition in Scotland

[ScotGov Education @ScotGovEdu]

More than 65,000 pupils in Scotland took part in free instrumental music tuition last year - a record high.

Pupils have benefitted from no charges to music tuition since fees were removed almost five years ago, thanks to @ScotGov investment.

More ➡️ https://t.co/hmy5lvNYzv

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

Lots more photos to follow over the next few days, but we have had a very special night. Music at Christmas - what more could we want!

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

Great work @CoyltonPrimary! 👏 Did you know that music has the incredible ability to wire our brains for optimal learning? 🎶🧠🌟@bb_brains

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

🎵🎶 Very proud of our young musicians from Belmont, Kyle, QMA and Prestwick who showcased their skills at @ScotGovEdu Travelling Cabinet in Ayr Town Hall today. They spoke with @JohnSwinney and shared their experiences of music making in school and the local authority 🎵🎶

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

📣 P4-S2 who play/would like to play Ukulele! The *NEW* SA Ukuleles start Wed 25 Sep, Prestwick Academy. Just bring along your ukulele (and a 😊) We have instruments to try! All FREE, but please sign up to attend. 🎶 https://t.co/3IsLJrUOhi. Details below

[Shonagh Stevenson @Shonagh_MusicEd]

An explanation of one of the critical needs for music learning in all schools

[Bigger Better Brains @bb_brains]

What can music learning do for children in poverty? This thought-provoking #askanita question was asked recently during her trip to Scotland. What do you think?

#AskAnita #MusicEd #Neuromusic #BiggerBetterBrains #BBB #MusicMatters #MusicTrainsBrains

[Bigger Better Brains @bb_brains]

Do you ever wonder why making music feels so good? 🎵🥰

Essentially, when we create music together, our brains are engaging in a unique form of communication and shared emotion. This activity boosts our positive brain chemicals while reducing stress-related hormones.

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

📣 1/3 What a proud day for us at the final of @SYMusicians 2024 @RCStweets. Maria, from Belmont Academy represented us in the solo comp and Belmont Woodwind Ensemble performed and accepted their trophy as Winners of the Scottish Young Musicians Open Ensemble of the Year 2024 👏

[South Ayrshire Council Music Service @SAMusicService]

🎉Fantastic news!🎉Belmont Academy Woodwind Ensemble are the winners🥇of the Open Ensemble of the year in the @SYMusicians and South Ayrshire Brass Ensemble were runners-up in the @SYMusicians Brass Ensemble of the year competition 👏 So proud of our young musicians & staff! 👏

[Qualifications Scotland @sqanews]

Centres have been issued a solution relating to the National 5 Music Technology exam.

This has been sent directly to their SQA Coordinators and Chief Invigilators. Please contact [email protected] for any further support.