Music course

"A must for aspiring musicians."
Nick Betts, co-principal trumpet, LPO

Junior Guildhall’s Music Course offers advanced training for young people between the ages of 8 to 18 (singers from mid-teens). This comprehensive programme is carefully designed to give pupils a balanced exposure to the discipline of music through individual instrumental lessons, chamber music, orchestras, choirs, workshop activity, classes and frequent performance opportunities. Pupils receive the type of considered personal attention that young musicians really benefit from with the timetable tailored to their individual needs. An exciting curriculum, combined with the School’s modern facilities and professional staff, creates a unique environment for aspiring performers.

Entry to the Music Course is by audition where we look for musical potential and commitment.  Students travel to Junior Guildhall from across the UK enabling them to live at home and continue their general education during the week travelling to London on a Saturday for their specialist musical education.

There are approximately 240 students who attend the Music Course which runs from 8am to 6pm on Saturdays.  All students receive an individually constructed timetable. There are compulsory activities and a number of optional classes and lessons. The length of each student’s programme will, therefore, depend on the number of optional activities chosen.

The students receive 30 lessons in each subject divided between three terms over the academic year. There are also a number of extra Saturdays each term which are used for rehearsals, workshops and events.

The minimum requirement of the Music Course consists of:

  • A 40-minute Individual lesson (this can be extended at an additional cost)
  • Ensemble or related workshop activity
  • Musical Awareness Class

Individual Lessons

Students automatically receive a first-study lesson lasting 40 minutes. This may be extended to one hour or longer for which an extra charge is made. Students are expected to devote a considerable amount of time to regular private practice during the week, which is essential if a student is to make good progress. Additional lessons can often be arranged with teachers, for example during the holidays or midweek.

First study lessons can be provided in the following:

  • Violin
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Double Bass
  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • Clarinet
  • Bassoon
  • Horn
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Tuba
  • Euphonium
  • Piano
  • Harp
  • Voice
  • Guitar
  • Recorder
  • Saxophone
  • Jazz Saxophone
  • Jazz Piano
  • Percussion
  • Composition

Organ

Junior Guildhall is unable to offer first study organ lessons. However, we do have an association with the St Giles International Organ School which is a 5 minute walk away from the Guildhall School. In the first instance application should be made to the St Giles International Organ School: tel. 020 7638 8285. (Further information can be found under How to apply.)

Extra Study

As well as extensions to the first study lessons students may request to have extra study lessons in any of those subjects available as first studies, for which an extra charge is made.

Alexander Technique Lessons

These consist of 15 individual sessions per annum with a specialist Alexander Technique teacher. Each session lasts for 30 minutes.

Ensemble & Workshop Activity

For each subject there are specialist classes, workshops and ensembles. All students are expected to attend at least one ensemble or workshop activity which is directly relevant to their first-study subject. These include:

  • Junior String Ensemble
  • Intermediate String Ensemble
  • Junior Guildhall String Ensemble
  • Symphony Orchestra
  • Viola Club
  • String Chamber Music
  • Junior Choir
  • Chamber Choir
  • Boys Choir
  • Wind Orchestra
  • Wind Academy
  • Wind Chamber Music
  • Brass Band
  • Brass Quintet
  • Brass Ensemble
  • Trumpet Class
  • Recorder Ensemble
  • Guitar Workshop
  • Baroque Ensemble
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • Jazz Workshop
  • Vocal Workshop
  • Composition Workshop
  • Saxophone Ensemble
  • Piano Ensemble
  • Piano Workshop
  • Harp Ensemble
  • Percussion Ensemble

Musical Awareness

Musical awareness is a one hour class taught in small groups to develop aural perception, creativity and general musical knowledge leading to our Higher Certificate in Music examination which is usually taken in Year 11. There is a flexible syllabus divided into levels to ensure progress and continuity. In special cases, supplementary theory and aural training classes are available. Students in our Upper School (mainly in Years 12 & 13) are offered a range of optional classes including an A-Level Support Class, Jazz, Conducting and an Electronic Studio class.

Examinations

Although no great emphasis is placed on graded examinations we recognise that many students like to take them. Students may take graded examinations or diplomas of any recognised board although we do encourage our teachers to use Trinity Guildhall.

Our own internal examinations are kept to a minimum, giving preference to platform performance. All students, except those in Year 13, are expected to give one platform performance each year which is assessed by either the Head of Junior Guildhall or Head of Junior Music Courses and students in Years 12 and 13 are encouraged to give a recital. As part of their Musical Awareness course, all students take regular aural assessments and submit examples of their creative work for marking. Students are given the opportunity to perform their compositions and arrangements in concert. All students in the top level of our Middle School (usually Year 11 students) take our internal Higher Certificate in Music examination (further details are available on request from the Junior Guildhall Office) and all students in Year 11 take a formal performance assessment.

Students in their first year at Junior Guildhall have their place reviewed during the summer term by taking a formal performance assessment.

Detailed progress reports on every student are issued annually during the Summer Term.

Performance Opportunities

Performance is a central part of our work at Junior Guildhall and there are over 80 concerts a year including Public Concerts, Student Recitals, Chamber Concerts, informal Open House Concerts and Second Study Concerts.

Students have given television and radio recordings and external performances have taken place at the Barbican Hall, Fairfield Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, Wales Millennium Centre, St James’s Piccadilly, St John’s Smith Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Snape Concert Hall, the South Bank Centre, St Lawrence Jewry, Bishopsgate Institute and West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge.

Advanced students are given the opportunity to give concerto performances with one of Junior Guildhall’s ensembles or to give solo recitals.

Concert tours are sometimes organised, the most recent being to Spain and Scotland.

Details of public concerts by Junior Guildhall are included on the School's Events page.

View a list of artists who have recently visited Junior Guildhall