Guildhall Young Artists Norwich Music Course
Unleash your creativity with our Music Course for ages 9–18. Our most popular music programme will see you take part in a variety of weekly classes, tailored to your experience and interests.
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About the Music Course
Key information:
- Course dates:
- Saturday term time
- Course times:
- 9.30am–1.30pm (dependent upon class timetable)
- Age:
- 9–18
- Art form:
- Music
- Fees:
- £260 per term (£26 per week)
- Level of study:
- Short Courses & Summer Schools, Workshops & Saturday Centres (ages 4-18)
- Mode of study:
- In-person
- Venue:
- City of Norwich School, Norwich
- Contact details:
- gyanorwich@gsmd.ac.uk
Intro text
Whether you simply want to spend a few hours making music with likeminded friends or are thinking about taking your passion for music a step further, you can be sure to ignite your creativity and have lots of fun, whilst learning from top practitioners and industry professionals.
You will be put into a group depending on the interests stated in your application form to ensure that sessions are tailored to your experience. Sessions will cover multiple genres and styles, including classical, jazz, rock & pop and singing.
Timings for the Music Course are subject to the classes chosen. Most students following the Music Course attend from 9.30am – 1.30pm each Saturday.
Looking for private tuition with one of our expert tutors? Book a 30-minute instrumental or vocal lesson*, to be taken alongside the Core Programme. Register your interest when signing up for a course.
Fees
£260 per term (£26 per week)
With one-to-one lesson
Add an individual 30-minute instrumental or vocal lesson (subject to availability) for an additional £22 per Saturday + the cost of the Music Course
Payment Schedule
We ask you to pay termly and once you’ve settled in we ask for half a term’s notice if you decide not to continue.
Bursaries
We offer a large number of bursaries to attend GYA Norwich, including travel to our centre. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch and ask about these – it’s entirely confidential and we keep the application process as simple and quick as possible.
Autumn Term Dates 2022
Saturday 17 September – Week 1
Saturday 24 September – Week 2
Saturday 01 October – Week 3
Saturday 08 October – Week 4
Saturday 15 October – Week 5
Half-term – (no sessions on Saturday 22 & 29 October)
Saturday 05 November – Week 6
Saturday 12 November – Week 7
Saturday 19 November – Week 8
Saturday 26 November – Week 9
Saturday 03 December – Week 10
Holidays – (no sessions on Saturday 10, 17, 24, 31 December 2022)
Spring Term Dates 2023
Saturday 07 January – Week 11
Saturday 14 January – Week 12
Saturday 21 January – Week 13
Saturday 28 January – Week 14
Saturday 04 February – Week 15
Half-term – (no sessions on Saturday 11 & 18 February
Saturday 25 February – Week 16
Saturday 04 March – Week 17
Saturday 11 March – Week 18
Saturday 18 March – Week 19
Saturday 25 March – Week 20
Holidays – (no sessions on Saturday 01, 08 & 15 April)
Summer Term Dates 2023
Saturday 22 April – Week 21
Saturday 29 April – Week 22
Saturday 06 May – (no session due to the Coronation - this session will take place on Saturday 15 July)
Saturday 13 May – Week 23
Saturday 20 May – Week 24
Half-term – (no sessions on Saturday 27 May & Saturday 3 June)
Saturday 10 June – Week 25
Saturday 17 June – Week 26
Saturday 24 June – Week 27
Saturday 01 July – Week 28
Saturday 08 July – Week 29
Saturday 15 July - Week 30
We regret it is not possible to give refunds in the event of absence as the Centre has to continue paying professional tutors and overheads. GYA Norwich expects as close to 100% attendance as possible, to ensure you develop and get the most out of your membership.
Half a term’s notice is required to stop attending (except in exceptional circumstances). This notice period is required to fulfil obligations to the professional tutors, pay for facilities and to encourage you to be fully committed to the courses chosen.
Classes and Ensembles
You will be given a tailor-made timetable before your start date, which will be based on your interests and experience. This will be updated as you progress and develop your musical interests.
Classes and ensembles are offered in the following:
Music Workshop - Annely Viigipuu
This is an active workshop that is ideal for those aged 9 – 13 to gain a solid grounding in musicianship and knowledge whilst having lots of fun. Learn, for example, about notation, theory, composition and dynamics through fun, practical tasks with lots of creativity, group work and lively discussions. It is a great way to make new friends and is recommended for new joiners because it is so interactive.
Brass Ensemble with Tom Carr
A brass group for young players to try out some fun pieces whilst developing the skills needed to play together to produce a great band sound. All Brass instruments are welcome.
Brass Quintet with Tom Carr
This is a more advanced group for 5 players and entrance is by audition.
GYA Norwich String Quartets and String Chamber Music are coached by Emily Sheldrake, who has performed, recorded and toured Europe with many of the country’s leading baroque orchestras including the Academy of Ancient Music, Gabrieli Consort and players, Hanover Band and Fiori Musicali.
Choir with Laura Morgan
The emphasis for GYA Norwich choir is on having fun whilst students develop their vocal skills, covering a range of repertoire and styles and learning to sing together in harmony and different parts. It is also the perfect opportunity to mix with other students from outside their own instrumental groups.
Chamber Choir with Laura Morgan
Aimed at more experienced singers, Chamber Choir offers students the opportunity to receive high quality vocal training. Repertoire is varied and during rehearsals students are encouraged to develop part singing and sight-reading skills.
The Composition classes are run by David Stowell, a classically trained award-winning composer that now spends most of his time writing for TV and Film. This includes the 2021 chart-topping film Ashens and the Polybius Heist, for which he composed the music score. He has won awards in Spain, Canada, Japan, France and South Korea as well as the UK.
Opportunities for composition can be difficult to find for young musicians so we have highlighted this as an area for development at GYA Norwich.
David Stowell offers both individual and group sessions, and composition students have the luxury of over 100 instrumentalists and singers to work with, giving them the opportunity to hear their works both in progress and final performance!
Guildhall also supports young composers through the Guildhall Young Artists scholarship and strong links with the composition department.
These sessions are led by Helen Barber and are open to Guitar, Woodwind, Strings, Piano and Percussion with the emphasis on learning and playing by ear.
GCSE/A Level Support – with Leo Grant
Come along to get extra tuition if you are studying GCSE or A’ Level Music. It might be that you need some time and guidance as you work on composition or some tips around exam technique or a particular part of your specification. Or maybe it is helpful to have some time to revise or work through Music homework with an expert Music Teacher on hand.
Music Theory - with Leo Grant
Develop your Music Theory knowledge and skills and prepare to study for Music Theory Examinations. You can join this class on an ongoing basis or if you need to work towards a Theory Exam e.g. Grade 5.
Music Appreciation – with Ewan Duffus
Learn what to listen for and how to understand a wide range of music, its context and how it was created and engage in lively discussions around it too.
HE Application Support & Mock Auditions with Geraldine Evans
These classes are designed to support students who would like to find out more about music history and styles. They may be taking exams at school or perhaps GCSE/A level classes are not available to them. The emphasis is on working with local schools and individual students to establish where extra tuition would be beneficial and then supporting young musicians to improve their knowledge and grades.
Music Exam Preparation – with Polly Fenn
Maybe you have a Music Exam coming up and you’d like a chance to get some coaching in what to expect or to practice your pieces or sightreading. Or maybe you have some feedback from an exam you’d like to work through in a supportive way ready for next time. Or maybe you’d like to work on your confidence in a Music Exam situation. Whatever will help you prepare for and learn from the Exam process can be catered for in this class. You are welcome to join for the longer-term or drop in to talk through preparation/feedback in the weeks around your Exam.
Aural Skills - Polly Fenn
Put simply Aural Training is 'ear training': a set of exercises designed to develop and improve listening skills. It broadens a student's overall musical awareness, but it is also of particular use when the student is preparing for an exam (usually at least one term ahead of an exam is recommended, according to need: more for higher grade exams). The session is led by the tutor from the piano and involves the student responding verbally to set questions put by the tutor, after having listened to extracts of music (they won't need to play their instrument for these exercises).
Guitar Group with Kit Cecconi
Guitar Group is open to Guitarists of around grade 2+ standard. It is a great opportunity to meet and play with other Guitar players in a group to perform a range of music from Dowland to Bowie!
GYA Norwich offers a great opportunity for musicians to develop their ability to improvise and compose their own music. Under the direction of Simon Limbrick students develop composition and collaborative skills working together to produce an improvised performance using their chosen instrument/voice.
Big Jazz Band with Geraldine Evans & Ewan Duffus
GYAN Big Jazz Band is a full Big Band line up open to all players and vocalists of who have reached a suitable standard (approx. grade 4+). They play a wide range of music from the greats such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie to more modern works.
Jazz Piano with Ewan Duffus
The Jazz piano course is aimed at those who already have some proficiency on the keyboard and introduces students to a wide range of styles and useful techniques from Boogie Woogie to Blues to Rock ‘n Roll and Stride.
Advanced Jazz Band with Ewan Duffus
A chance for our more advanced players (Grade 5+) to play a wide range of music in a smaller group.
GYA Norwich has a dedicated pathway which supports students from a young age as they develop the skills necessary to reach the concert platform.
GYAN Orchestra with David Stowell
Saturdays 12:50 – 1:35pm
GYA Norwich Orchestra meets weekly and offers the perfect space to learn how to play together in an orchestra. Students usually join around grade 4+ standard and many will have played in other ensembles first. The orchestra play a wide range of music which sometimes includes original compositions by GYA Norwich staff and students!
Norfolk County Youth Orchestra with Andrew Morley (conductor)
Norfolk County Youth Orchestra was established in 1959 and is recognised as a vibrant and successful county youth orchestra. Working closely with GYA Norwich the orchestra offers workshops and courses for all players in Norfolk of around grade 6+ standard.
To find out more and to apply for a place please visit to the NCYO page here.
Percussion with Simon Limbrick
Percussion is a great opportunity for those wanting to develop their tuned percussion skills. The group includes a large range of orchestral instruments (including piano) and is a brilliant opportunity to improve rhythmic and sight-reading skills. This group is also beneficial to other instrumentalists, particularly pianists, who want to play in an ensemble.
The art of performance requires many skills. Steve Gebbett draws upon his years of experience and his continuing development as a performer at the highest level and uses wide ranging interests in a number of fields to inspire students.
Piano lessons with Steve Gebbett, Ewan Duffus & Karen Smith
GYA Norwich has several piano teachers offering a range of styles and options from beginners to young professionals. Students are allocated to an appropriate tutor depending on their stage of learning and interest in musical style.
Piano Accompaniment with Steve Gebbett
This class is aimed at pianists who already have a reasonable level of fluency and wish to develop their sight-reading and ensemble skills. Grade 6+.
Jazz Piano with Ewan Duffus
The Jazz Piano course is aimed at those who already have some proficiency on the keyboard and introduces students to a wide range of styles and useful techniques from Boogie Woogie to Blues to Rock ‘n Roll and Stride.
Prelude Strings with Ingrid Perrin
Prelude Strings provide an introduction to ensemble playing for young students of approx. grade 1 and above and the emphasis is on performing together to develop ensemble skills whilst having fun. Students are encouraged to be responsible for making sure they learn their own parts and develop good technique.
Intermezzo Strings with Helen Barber
This group is aimed at students who are around grade 3 and above. The music is varied and includes lots of fun arrangements of favourite tunes.
Senior Strings with Emily Sheldrake
Senior strings invites students who have a level of grade 6 and above. Professional violinist Hannah Perowne introduces players to favourite works for string ensemble by well-known composers.
String Quartets with Emily Sheldrake
Students will need to audition for quartets which are for more advanced string players. As a guest artist with the internationally acclaimed Henschel Quartet, Emily introduces students to some of the most loved and established string quartet repertoire as well as more modern works.
Intermediate Wind with Grace Duthie
Intermediate wind is a woodwind group for players who have a level of grade 1 and above. The music is varied and includes lots of fun arrangements of favourite tunes.
Senior Wind with Rachel Cannon
The emphasis is on Players in this group are mostly at grade 4 and above. The emphasis is on developing ensemble and listening skills using a range of music and styles, which include some established and familiar wind repertoire alongside special arrangements for the group.
Flute Choir with Vicky McCardel
Open to all Flute players from approx. grade 2 standard, Flute choir covers a whole range of musical styles all specially written for a choir of Flutes.
Saxology with Geraldine Evans
Saxology is open to all Sax players of approx. grade 2 and above and offers the chance for you to play some great repertoire with fellow saxophone players.
Advanced Clarinet Choir with Rachel Cannon
Weekly classes for advanced clarinet players. Suitable for Grade 5+ students.
Sonic Arts with GYA Norwich tutor Simon Limbrick, focuses on the 'live' use of electric instruments.
Topics include sound processing and editing, sampling and control of ‘live’ music technology interfaces.* Students will get hands-on experience using a range of hardware that includes effects pedals, sound boards, computers, samplers and loopers.
The ‘live’ aspect of the sessions means that musicians who are focussed on music technologies to create and perform their ideas, will be able to integrate into other musical activities and ensembles. For example, someone learning about an electronic instrument could also play as part of a jazz ensemble, or a perform on a laptop with a string ensemble.
*Software includes Ableton Live, Audacity, Ocenaudio, Reaper, Pure Data, Logic, Cubase and MaxMSP.
Fusion Band with GYA Norwich Tutor Simon Limbrick provides an opportunity for music-making that combines many different disciplines, musical styles and genres.
Students will get to try out instruments that are not as commonly used, such as the Ukulele and Indian Tabla. The repertoire will focus on music from a range of cultures, as well as a wider view of Western music, such as Classic Progressive Rock, Electronic Pop, and experimental scores that incorporate music technologies.
So far, the Fusion Band has performed music by the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Alan Holdsworth, Herbie Hancock, Gary Numan and Jean-Michel Jarre, with other pieces composed and improvised by the participants. The choice of repertoire is influenced by the ideas of the performers and their enthusiasm and interests guide the artistic direction of the band sessions.
Students do not need to read music in order to participate, and can use guitar-tab and other graphic methods when necessary. They can play any instrument when participating in Fusion.
Music Course Timetable Examples:
| Intermediate Wind | ||
|---|---|---|
| Choir | 10:30 | 11:30 |
| Break | 11:30 | 11:45 |
| Flute Choir | 11:45 | 12:30 |
| Impro | 12:30 | 13:15 |
| Flute (Individual Lesson) | 13:30 | 14:00 |
| Intermediate Percussionist | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percussion (Individual Lesson) | 10:00 | 10:30 |
| Percussion | 10:30 | 11:30 |
| Break | 11:30 | 11:45 |
| Big Jazz Band | 11:45 | 12:45 |
| Orchestra | 12:50 | 13:35 |
| Grade 6 Clarinet/Piano Player | ||
|---|---|---|
| Clarinet (Individual Lesson) | 09:00 | 09:30 |
| Composition | 09:30 | 10:00 |
| Senior Wind | 10:30 | 11:30 |
| Break | 11:30 | 11:45 |
| Wind Quintet | 11:45 | 12:30 |
| Jazz Piano | 12.45 | 13:30 |
| Grade 3 Violinist | ||
|---|---|---|
| Aural Training | 09:00 | 09:30 |
| Music Appreciation | 10:30 | 11:30 |
| Break | 11:30 | 11:45 |
| Intermezzo Strings | 11:45 | 12:30 |
| Orchestra | 12:50 | 13:35 |
| Trumpet Player Grade 6 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Music Appreciation/GCSE | 09:30 | 10:30 |
| Brass Quintet | 10:30 | 11:30 |
| Big Jazz Band | 11:45 | 12:45 |
| Orchestra | 12:50 | 13:35 |
Ensemble Only Timetable Example:
| Saxophone Player Grade 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Saxology | 12:45 | 13:30 |
Join the Music Course
Sign up or book your free taster session today
"The tutors are friendly and enthusiastic, we get to be creative, learn lots and have fun with improvisation!"
–
Finty
"To have been awarded the Leverhulme bursary (by Guildhall School), has assisted me to no end in my musical career. The opportunities it opened has led me on a diverse musical journey... none of which would have been possible without the support of this bursary, which I truly believe has shaped my path as a musician and composer, and pushed me to achieve the highest level I can.”
–
Chris
"Having a Guildhall Young Artist bursary has enabled GYA Norwich to be affordable for my family and having visits from students at Guildhall has made sessions very engaging and inspiring."
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Grace
"Guildhall Young Artists Norwich has helped me to discover countless pieces of classical music, and increase my playing ability."
–
Billie
1 of
Benefit from Guildhall Young Artists membership
As a member of GYA Norwich, you can expect exclusive opportunities, performances and workshops, including competitions, invites to concerts and gigs and performances from students at Guildhall School.
