About Our Project
Bandit started small a spark in a school lunchroom in 2002, Kevin Howlett trading a free school dinner for the chance to run a ragtag songwriting club at Maidenhill School. A handful of kids, a few guitars, and a dream to make noise. Then the idea grew, go bigger, louder, wilder. Dartington Plus rolled in with amps and tape machines, and the thing got its name: BandiT.
What began as two days of writing and recording turned into something else entirely. Why just record a song when you can throw the kids onstage, lights in their eyes, guitars screaming at the Subscription Rooms? From that first gig the momentum was unstoppable. Professional musicians, teachers, and local legends joined in, turning a school project into a living, breathing workshop of chaos and creativity. Two decades later, Bandit has become a rite of passage. Fifty to sixty young people aged 8 to 17 gather three times a year for four long, wild days of writing songs, building riffs, learning chords, wrangling microphones, setting lights, managing stages, and finally burning it all down with a full-blown gig. The Green Room hums with interviews, guest speakers drop truth about the industry, and cameras roll to capture every spark.
Bandit isn't just a workshop. It's a community, a tribe, a highway that keeps rolling. From one school to many, from one project to twenty years of them, it has built a network of musicians, technicians, teachers, and dreamers all shaping the next wave.
It's not polite. It's not quiet. It's music as it should be: messy, alive, necessary. That's Bandit Music Projects.
The Bandit Music Projects
Bandit is a four-day rock and pop workshop for 50 to 70 students aged 7 to 17. Young people from across the community come together to form bands, write songs, and perform. The workshop's core aim is to give students from all backgrounds the chance to develop musicianship, creativity, songwriting, performance skills, confidence, and teamwork.
Music and creative Skills
- Song writing
- Chord structures
- Creation of melodies
- Building of riffs
- Harmonies
- Stage presence
- Sound checking
- Sound recording
Resource Skills
- Communication/teamwork skills
- Brain storming
- Confidence
- Life skills
AIM: To develop the musical skills of young musicians and for students to have a lasting experience in a fun and creative environment.
OBJECTIVES
- To develop song writing techniques
- To develop musicianship skills
- To develop music performance
- To provide access to professional and experienced practitioners.
- To provide public performance opportunity.
- To create an enjoyable and supportive environment in which to explore artistic ideas, develop skills and produce work.
**Over four days, students dive headfirst into music with the support of a team of professional musicians. Each day is packed with opportunities, structured so that everyone gets their moment to shine. Bands are formed, themes are chosen, and songs begin to take shape: from first words and raw riffs to full choruses, chords, and arrangements.
Rehearsal rooms buzz with energy as ideas come to life, while tutors are always on hand to guide, encourage, and push each band further. Performance sessions keep the momentum rolling, with bands playing to their peers and tutors, gaining feedback and confidence along the way.
It all builds to the final night: a full-scale gig at a prestigious venue, where every band takes the stage and brings their music to life. Students leave not only with their songs, but with the thrill of performance, new skills, and the unforgettable experience of four days of creativity, collaboration, and music.**
Having run for over twenty years and worked closely with local primary and secondary schools, Bandit has built strong roots in the community. The project has helped to launch young bands, inspire creative school projects, and guide the development of countless young musicians. The workshop continues to grow year on year, with rising numbers and increasing expectations. The future for Bandit is exciting, positive plans are in place to keep it evolving and reaching even more young people.
Supporters
