We hope that you have enjoyed a relaxing break and have been able to make the most of the glorious weather over the Summer.
A reminder that Coda returns for the Autumn Term on Monday 5th September.
Invoices for our music lessons next term were sent out by email on 9th August but if you have not received yours, please let us know. If you don’t plan to return for lessons this term, please contact us as soon as you can so that we can offer your space to our waiting lists.
We are welcoming new one-to-one students and have a number of new courses and groups running in the Autumn Term, so if you’d like to try something new, there is still time to sign up!
We can’t wait to welcome you all back for the Autumn Term. 
ARE YOU (OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW) LOOKING TO LEARN?
Our one-to-one Tuition returns on Monday and if you are thinking about learning an instrument – or would you like to go back to an instrument – we are currently welcoming new students.
We have (limited) availability for Guitar, Vocals, Ukulele, Mandolin, Woodwind, Drums, Piano and Classical Guitar tuition.
We offer 20 minute taster sessions for just £5 (subject to availability) in vocal and instrumental tuition – please get in touch if you would like to arrange a trial lesson.
CODA SWING SOUNDS VENUE APPEAL
Prior to the Pandemic, the Coda Swing Sounds Jazz & Swing Band were performing fortnightly at The Shelley Theatre, where they built up a regular following of music enthusiasts at their ‘Coffee & Jazz’ gigs. The Shelley has, unfortunately, closed its doors and looks unlikely to re-open anytime soon.
All of the band members are volunteers and valuable fundraisers for Coda Music Trust and, over the years, have raised hundreds in donations for Coda at these gigs.
Swing Sounds are now rehearsing again and attracting new bookings with some local clubs and events – but we are looking for a new venue where they can perform on a regular basis (monthly or bi-monthly), similar to the events at the Shelley.
If anyone knows of any suitable venues (preferably in the New Milton, Christchurch or Highcliffe areas), who might be looking for a regular band, please get in touch (email marina.tucker@coda.org.uk) with any suggestions. Thank you!
25TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION
As part of our 25th Anniversary celebrations, we are creating a brand new exhibition in the Coda Cafe to open at the start of the Autumn Term.
The exhibition celebrates our Home, Work & People and we hope that you will enjoy looking back over 25 years of Coda – as well as seeing some of our future plans.
We would like to extend enormous thanks to everyone who contributed words or images. We have loved sorting through them all and tried to use as many as possible in the space we have. If you have anything you would like to add to the exhibition, let us know as it is a work-in-progress and we will be adding to it over the course of the term.
Thanks also to those who provided audio or video – we will find a way to use and share these as well in the coming months.
Please come and take a look next time you are at Coda. 
WEBSITE MAINTENANCE
Our website is currently undergoing some essential maintenance, so there are some areas of the site which have not yet been updated for the start of term. Please bear with us – we hope to have it fully updated by the end of the first week of term.
NEW FOR THE AUTUMN TERM
NEW GROUP SESSION
CODA CAMPFIRE SESSIONS
Mondays 1 – 3pm, starting Monday 5th September
Coda Music Centre
£8 PAYG
The best way to learn how to play music with other people is to just do it!
The Coda Campfire Sessions, led by Chris Hopgood, are designed to ease you into playing with a group and prepare you for joining a jam session or singalong around a campfire.
In these sessions, you will learn and play a host of classic songs that are perfect for playing on such occasions. Songs will be from artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Green Day, Johnny Cash and more – and include such classics as Irish Rover, Whisky in the Jar, American Pie, Take Me Home, Country Roads, Redemption Song, No Woman No Cry, Blowing In The Wind, Ain’t No Sunshine, Folsom Prison Blues and Good Riddance (Time of your Life).
You can bring along and play any acoustic stringed instrument you like: guitar, ukulele, mandolin, violin, etc. Alongside learning the songs, there will also be discussions about improvisation, rhythms, picking patterns and more.
Places are limited and we only have a few spaces left, so if you would like to join the Coda Campfire Sessions, please get in touch to book.
NEW COURSES
ADULT BEGINNERS GUITAR
Thursdays 1.30 – 3pm, starting Thursday 8th September
£120 for a 10 week course
at Coda Music Centre
On Thursday 8th September, we are launching a new Adult Beginners Acoustic Guitar Course (age 16+). This will be a ten week course suitable for complete beginners (or people who know a few basic chords).
Sessions will run from 1.30 – 3pm on a Thursday at Coda Music Centre and will be taught by Chris Hopgood.
This Beginners Acoustic Guitar course will cover all of the basic skills and techniques required to play a number of songs and instrumental pieces. It will focus on techniques for strumming rhythms, finger style picking patterns, flat picking melodies and improvisation.
There will be guitars available to borrow for anyone who doesn’t yet have one, although we recommend buying or borrowing one so that you are able to practise at home.
ADULT BEGINNERS UKULELE COURSE
Thursdays 6 – 7pm , starting Thursday 22nd September
£110 for an 11-week course
The Acoustic Room, Coda Music Centre
This 11 week course for adult beginners, led by James Arthur, will start with the basics, working up to everything you need to know to progress to an intermediate course.
The beginners course will teach you the best way to hold the ukulele, chords (starting with the majors and minors), strumming, how to get a clean sound, jamming with others, but most of all, how to have FUN with the ukulele!
If you are interested in any of these new sessions or courses in the Autumn Term, please contact the Coda office on 01425 276161 or email contact@coda.org.uk
CODA KIDS UKULELE BAND – FREE TRIAL SESSION
We would love to encourage more young people to join our Kids Ukulele Band. if you have a child aged 6 – 11 who would like to give it a try, we are offering a free trial session for new students on Thursday 22nd September.
We have some spare ukuleles for anyone who needs to borrow one for the session.
If you would like a free taster, please get in touch (we do need to book your free session so that we know numbers).
The Kids Ukulele sessions run on a Thursday from 4.45 – 5.45 at Coda Music Centre. For more information click here
ACTIVITIES FOR LEARNING DISABLED ADULTS 
BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS
This term, we are making a few changes to our Beautiful Sounds sessions.
From September, our Monday Beautiful Sounds sessions will be hosted by Chris Hopgood (rather than Stuart). These sessions, led by Chris, will be slightly quieter, more acoustic workshops.
Monday sessions with Chris will offer an opportunity to explore different music and instruments for self expression and may be beneficial for those who find our regular Beautiful Sounds sessions just a bit too overwhelming.
Our Tuesday and Thursday Beautiful Sounds sessions will continue to be led by Stuart Jebbitt and will be the regular lively, entertaining sing-alongs that you will be used to.
We are inviting our Monday regulars to swap to a Tuesday or Thursday (or vice versa) to ensure everyone is attending a session which suits them best. Please get in touch to let us know if you would like to change your Beautiful Sounds session.
Spaces are limited for all of our Beautiful Sounds sessions, so we do need to know if you plan to move sessions or would like to give a different one a try.
Our Beautiful Sounds sessions start back the first week of term (from Monday 5th September).
Both our Club Create & Be Creative sessions for learning disabled adults of all abilities will also be returning in the Autumn Term. 
CLUB CREATE
‘Club Create’ sessions in partnership with hArt will be returning to Coda on Friday 16th September.
These arts and crafts sessions for learning disabled adults are fun, active workshops led by professional art facilitatorKaren Blake.
Sessions take place in Coda Music Centre’s Café on a Friday morning from 10.30am to 12pm throughout term time and we are still welcoming newcomers.
Email contact@hart.works or telephone 07999 492808 if you would like to come along. 
The Be Creative Drama and Arts & Crafts sessions will also be returning in September.
ARTS & CRAFTS with hArt: returns on Wednesdays 10.30am to 12pm from
14th September, weekly at Forest Arts Centre, Old Milton Rd, New Milton, Hampshire BH25 6DS
DRAMA with Forest Forge Theatre returns on Thursdays 2pm to 3.30pm from
15th September, weekly at Forest Forge Theatre, Endeavour Business Park, Crow Arch Lane, Ringwood BH24 1SF
All are only £5 per session with free parking and fully accessible venues.
If you would like further information or to book onto any of these sessions, please contact Coda on 01425 276161 or email contact@coda.org.uk
We hope you all enjoy the remainder of the Summer break and we look forward to welcoming you back next week.
