Ensembles

Monday 17.15 - 18.15

Beginner to Grade 2 (Year 3 upwards)

All string players including, violin, viola, cello and double bass are welcome to join Junior Strings. As well as having fun, a focus is placed on posture, and an opportunity to develop bowing and sounds away from their instrumental lessons. Children need to bring an orchestral pencil, as they will learn how to annotate the music with bowing markings, dynamics and things to remember when playing in an ensemble. Children can join usually when they have been learning for one term and can confidently play open strings.

Monday 17.00 - 18.00

Beginners (Year 3) upwards

This is a fun group for children to develop their ability to play chords and melodies in a supportive and encouraging environment. Children can join once they have been learning for a half a term and can use all the strings and 3 chords.

Monday 18.15 - 19.15

Year 3 - Year 6 Pupils

Junior Voices is open to all children in KS2 wanting to sing and perform with others. Sessions cover training in how to control their voices and improve their listening skills while working in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. Pop music, world music, part songs and specially commissioned songs for junior voices are all used to encourage a high standard and develop the children's confidence when singing. There are often opportunities to perform outside of the regular Concerts. All children can join, there is no audition process, and this ensemble is free of charge to attend, although regular attendance is required to keep membership.

Monday 18.30 - 19.30

Year 7 upwards

Youth Voices, a new ensemble, is designed for Secondary age children or those transitioning from Junior Voices, fostering the joy of singing. The repertoire will be diverse and challenging, encompassing Pop, World, Part songs, Musical Theatre, Classical, Soul, Traditional Folk, and Beat Boxing, providing a rich exploration of genres to nurture their developing voices.

Tuesday 16.30 - 17.30

Beginner to Grade 2

Wind, brass and percussion players are invited to join this ensemble especially if they are new to ensemble playing, regardless of how many or few notes you can play. You will be made welcome and fully supported in rehearsals by tutors. The music played is a range of modern up-to-date pop, film and TV themes and popular classics. Children can join once they can confidently play 5 notes on their instrument.

Tuesday 17.15 - 18.15

Grade 3 upwards

Anyone with an interest in Jazz should join this ensemble and will be introduced to a variety of techniques and stylistic practices associated with Jazz including improvisation. There are opportunities for solo spots for those who would like them. If joining the Jazz Collective, there is an expectation that full notation can also be read with ease. More traditional instruments are encouraged to join as well as anyone who has an interest in jazz and is confident on their instrument.

Tuesday 18.30 - 20.00

Grades 2 - 6

Intermediate Wind Band is a great steppingstone up from either Wind Band or Junior Brass Band or for anyone who never played in an ensemble before but is of the required standard. Rehearsals are fun and the repertoire varied to include pop, film, folk and popular classics. The focus is on developing ensemble skills to be able to perform together and improving dynamic range, listening skills and the ability to balance within an ensemble.

Tuesday 18.30 - 20.00

Grades 6 - 8

This is the highest-level Wind Band with members expected to be able to learn quickly, sight-read to Grade 5 level and be able to tackle the more challenging repertoire including longer selections from musicals, shows to classical pieces aimed at the highest levels. Students often leave this at the end of Year 13 and are able to move on to wind bands and life outside of Music Centre, but they will have all the foundations and capabilities to make the move into the adult world and continue their musical journeys.

Thursday 16.30 - 17.30

Beginner to Grade 3

Brass and percussion players are invited to join this ensemble especially if they are new to ensemble playing. You will be made welcome and fully supported in rehearsals by tutors. The music played is modern up-to-date pop, film and TV themes and popular classics. Children can join once they can confidently play 5 notes on their instrument. Trumpets, cornets, french horns, tenor horns, baritone, euphonium and tuba players are all welcome to join.

Thursday 17.30 - 18.30

Grade 3 upwards

Intermediate Brass Band is a great steppingstone up from either Wind Band, Junior Brass Band or for anyone who has never played in an ensemble before but is of the required standard. Rehearsals are fun and the repertoire varied to include pop, film, folk and popular classics. The focus is on developing ensemble skills to be able to perform together and improving dynamic range, listening skills and the ability to balance within an ensemble.

Friday 18.30 - 20.15

Grades 2 - 4

Intermediate Strings is a great stepping stone up from Junior Strings for players who have reached the standard required and are ready to play more challenging music. The weekly rehearsals are supported by tutors and students are challenged to play their own parts and work together to develop ensemble skills, bowing techniques so they are able to perform classical, film and popular classics in the termly concerts.

Friday 18.30 - 20.00

Grades 3 - 6

Sinfonia is an ensemble for children who wish to play in a full symphony orchestra. The repertoire ranges from classical to film and pop whilst still developing technical skills. Players will already have the skills of playing together as they will progress from Intermediate Strings or from one of the brass / wind bands. Sinfonia is a training orchestra for players to move on to Philharmonic when ready.

Friday 18.30 - 20.30

Grades 6 - 8

Philharmonic is our top level orchestra for mainly older students who are Year 9 upwards. The orchestra tackles challenging repertoire from the Classical genre although pop and film music are also featured in the Concerts. Students are challenged to work together to develop their technical ability along with becoming really competent musicians that allow them to step straight into amateur and student orchestras or move on to Music College or studying music at University.

Saturday 10.30 - 11.30

Grade 1 to Grade 3

Saturday Guitar Ensemble is a great starting ensemble for anyone who has been playing guitar for a short while and is ready to play as part of a group. The ability to play simple melodies and some chords will help as the parts in the ensemble are varied depending on ability. The music covered ranges from classical to rock and pop music so the variety will be to all tastes.

Saturday 1130 - 12.30

Grade 3 upwards

Senior Guitar ensemble is for players who are ready to progress from Junior Guitar ensemble or who are older and more advanced but have not participated before. The music becomes technically more demanding, therefore the skills acquired at the lower grades are essential to allow the group to learn music more quickly and easily. The repertoire is varied and covers a wider range of styles and genres. Previous performances have included works by guitarist/composers such as Brouwer and Assad as well as well-known rock/pop arrangements. This ensemble is also ideal for students studying GCSE/A-level music.

Saturday 09.30 - 10.30

Grade 1 to Grade 2

This is a training orchestra for those who have not been playing their instrument very long and want to play in an ensemble. It is aimed at children from Year 3 up to Year 7 looking for their first experience performing in a full orchestra. Rehearsals are designed with younger students in mind and repertoire is arranged for individual players so they feel confident and supported to start their musical journeys as well as playing fun recognisable music.

Saturday 10.40 - 1140

Grade 3 upwards

This orchestra is aimed at secondary school children who have reached Grade 3 standard and wanting to further develop their orchestral skills and experience. These students play longer, more challenging repertoire or which includes a range of classic, pop and film music. With a focus on developing technical skills, students who progress from this ensemble are fully equipped to move on to the advanced level ensembles.

Saturday 11.30 - 12.30

Year 3 upwards

This is a great ensemble for students to join if they have had very little experience of playing an instrument or are new to starting their musical journey. They will be taught basic ensemble skills and taught how to understand rhythm and pulse whilst still having fun. Djembe drums, various other percussion instruments are used as well as junk percussion to provide the opportunity for anyone to take part and get involved.