Junior Guildhall Electronic & Produced Music Course

Electronic & Produced Music Course students have 40-minute first study lessons with professors who are highly experienced in the field.

Topics covered include writing for film, games and other media.

• Students receive 30 individual EPM first study lessons during the academic year, for a minimum of 40 minutes per week with a specialist teacher. An extension to this lesson time can be requested at an additional cost.
   
• Students receive 30 individual classical composition lessons for 30 minutes a week for 30 weeks a year as part of the course.
   
• Weekly Musical Awareness classes will help to develop aural and musical notation skills for those who are not fully fluent in reading music.
   
• Constructive feedback through Formal Assessments and workshop-based classes.
   
• Optional Alexander Technique lessons or classes, with a focus on posture and well-being, can be requested at an additional cost.
   
• Career advice and guidance is provided by the Senior Management Team.
   
• Masterclasses and workshops are given by distinguished visiting artists and by members of Junior Guildhall professorial staff. They include guest performances, masterclasses, ensemble coaching and composition projects. Recent guests have included Louis Dowdeswell, Alan Thomas, members of the London Symphony Orchestra, David Waterman and members of the Royal Opera House, The Endellion Quartet, Schubert Ensemble, Thomas Adès, Oystein Baadsvik, Jeff Bradetich, Iain Burnside, Charles Castleman, Peter Donohoe, Philip Fowke, James Galway, Bernard Haitink, John Harle, Paul Harris, Andrzej Jasinski, Jens Lindemann, Frank Lloyd, Ronan O’Hora, Gregg Patillo, Michael Seal, Dominic Seldis, Bobby Shew, Weidong Tong, Raphael Wallfisch and Mark Wigglesworth.
   
• Details of public concerts by Junior Guildhall are included here. 

For each department there are specialist classes, workshops and ensembles. For the Electronic & Produced Music Course, these will include:

• EPM Workshop
• Rudiments of Music

• There is a dedicated studio set aside exclusively for Principal Study students. This provides for the front and back end of the production process (recording and mixing/mastering) and can be booked online from outside the school. We run Quested, Genelec and PMC monitors and have a collection of high quality microphones and mic preamps.
   
• A multi-use studio is also available providing 8 individual editing workstations that are compatible with our main studio. We use Macintosh computers with the following common software: Pro Tools, Logic, MaxMSP, Sibelius, and IRCAM Forum Software. Our main studio also has Cubase, Ableton and a growing collection of other software to aid compatibility with student’s own equipment.
   
• The School's recording studio incorporates an advanced industry standard Pro Tools recording and production system. Most concerts are recorded for archiving purposes and parents may obtain recordings of concerts in which their children have performed. There are also two elaborately equipped electronic studios, which boast a comprehensive range of synthesisers, samplers, effects units and computer systems. Raphael Wallfisch and Mark Wigglesworth.
   
• Junior Guildhall has an extensive library of ensemble music which students are able to benefit from. Students may then sign out individual parts for pieces their group is rehearsing. Junior Guildhall students may also join the Barbican Library which is open on Saturdays. The Barbican Chimes Music Shop is located on Silk Street from which sheet music can be bought and ordered. Junior Guildhall students are entitled to a 10% discount on music bought through the shop.

These notes are taken from the Agreement parents sign when accepting a Junior Guildhall place. If you would like a copy of the Agreement please contact the Junior Guildhall office.

• Junior Guildhall students are not permitted to participate in masterclasses or take instrumental lessons outside the School (unless with the student’s Junior Guildhall teacher) on instruments studied at the School unless permission is granted by the Head of Junior Guildhall.
   
• The full annual fee will vary according to any timetable requests made and the first instalment of fees must be paid prior to the commencement of tuition.
   
• Students are expected to remain at Junior Guildhall for a full academic year (or remainder of the academic year if tuition commenced after the start of the year). If a student is withdrawn from the course at any time during the year, the full annual fee (or proportion of annual fees if the student started after the commencement of the academic year) will still be payable unless dispensation has been granted by the Head of Junior Guildhall. If a parent wishes to withdraw a student at the end of the academic year, notice must be given in writing to the Head of Junior Guildhall no later than 1 April.
   
• Students are accepted into Junior Guildhall on the understanding that they make satisfactory progress and that they attend regularly. When students wish to be absent, permission must be requested in writing the Head of Junior Guildhall. Students should not arrange other activities on a term time Saturday or concert day until permission for absence has been granted by the School.
   
• Please note that we do not give students permission to miss concerts/performances or important rehearsals.
   
• Leave of absence will normally be granted for days when a student is not involved in a concert/performance, an important rehearsal, an internal assessment or other important event. Repeated absence can be detrimental to a student’s musical progress and very disruptive to ensemble work. For this reason, the Head of Junior Guildhall will normally only grant a student one absence per term. Absence from Saturdays may reduce a student’s chances of participation in Chamber Music. Written requests for absence should be made as early as possible.
   
• In the interest of all students, Junior Guildhall concerts and performances must have priority over any outside engagements that students may be offered. Principal concert dates are available from the Administrator more than a year in advance.
   
• The Office should be informed as soon as possible if a student is ill so that relevant teachers can be notified.
   
• The School occasionally arranges for photographs to be taken of the students. This is carried out in an unobtrusive manner and may be used for record and archival purposes. Junior Guildhall will seek separate permission if the images are to be used in the prospectus or in other published material and/or multi-media relating to the School.
   
• 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. Our own internal examinations are kept to a minimum, giving preference to platform performance. All students, except those in Year 13, or in their first year of study, are expected to perform each year. 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.

These notes and conditions are subject to change from time to time. Parents will be notified in writing in advance of any such changes. On accepting a place, parents will receive a Handbook which details Junior Guildhall’s procedures and policies.

For the 2026-27 academic year, we will only accept applications from those in school years 11-13 for this course.

Entry is by competitive interview. Applications are accepted from early January for entry the following September and the closing date for applications is 11.59pm, 1 March each year. The main audition period is from March to April for entry in September but applications for entry at other times of the year will be considered if spaces are available. All audition dates are made at the discretion of the Head of Junior Guildhall to allow the convening of specialist panels.

While interviews are highly competitive, the panel will be looking for potential as well as achievement and dedication. Pre-audition Advice Sessions can provide prospective applicants with guidance. These sessions are chargeable and to book, please email Junior@gsmd.ac.uk.

Late applications will generally be considered if spaces are available. However, there may be a delay in arranging an interview date. We do try to review all applications but cannot guarantee a place even if the student is of our entry level. In such cases, students may be placed on a reserve list.

Applications for entry in September will open during the first week of January and close at 11.59pm, 1 March. 

Please get in touch if you have missed the deadline.

EPM Candidates should submit three of their recent compositions as part of their completed application form. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview. Questions will be asked and tests given to ascertain a student’s level of general musicianship. EPM candidates are assessed according to their creative potential and the evidence of previous work via an interview and their submitted portfolio.

Audition results are sent directly to the parent/carer as soon as possible after the audition period.

Pre-Audition Advice Sessions are charged at £80 per hour. 30 and 40-minute sessions are also available, charged pro-rata. Sessions will take place on Saturdays, either in person or online, subject to availability.

If your child meets the interview requirements outlined on our website, a Pre-Audition Advice Session may not be necessary. Pre-Audition Advice Sessions are not consultation lessons and are only designed to assess whether a student is a suitable standard for audition. Receipt of a Pre-Audition Advice Session will not in any way influence the decision of the Junior Guildhall audition panel.

Pre-Audition Advice Sessions are offered subject to availability and early booking is recommended (i.e in the Autumn Term). This will ensure that you have the opportunity to act upon any advice given before your prospective audition date.

Please note that a Pre-Audition Advice Session may be delivered online via Zoom.

Consultation lessons with a member of the School’s teaching staff can be arranged for students who have been offered a place on the Music Course. There is a charge for this facility.

Should you need further information please email Junior@gsmd.ac.uk.