Practice material

This is our flagship orchestra. Children usually will have achieved Grade 7 – 8 on their violin and Grade 6 on violas or cellos to take part. We play some very challenging repertoire including works specially written for us, therefore…

Junior Orchestra

In the Junior Orchestra (for string and wind players) we aim to work on more advanced repertoire and therefore Grade 6 is expected from violinists and a good Grade 5 violists and cellists. Some of the repertoire includes wind players…

First Orchestra

This is a string orchestra made up of children who are usually about grade 5 standard on violin and viola and grade 4 on cello. By this stage they should have a good degree of ‘instrumental’ knowledge in all the…

Preparatory First Orchestra

This is an orchestra for string and wind players mostly made up of children around the ages of 8-11 and the standard of playing ranges from children who have a good working knowledge of 3rd position i.e. grades 3-4 on…

Introduction to Orchestral Playing

This is a string ensemble mostly made up of children 6-8 years of age. The standard of playing ranges from children who have just left their first year group lessons on violin, viola and cello to children who have taken…

Junior Musicianship

These are pre instrumental musicianship classes which are organised into small groups for our youngest YMC members between the ages of 2-6 years. These classes run every half hour through the Saturday morning arranged by age. The aim of the…

Instrumental beginner classes

These are group beginner classes for children from 5 years of age for violin, viola, cello and recorder or for flute from 7 years upwards. The classes start every September and run for one year only, after which children are…

String Ensembles

Run by Tanja Goldberg, Elsa Cusido, Sheena McKenzie and Fiona Nisbett These ensembles are smaller chamber groups (3 -8 players) of students from the same orchestra coached by one of our specialist teachers. Children who wish to join one of…

Wind Ensemble

The wind ensembles are aimed at players of all woodwind instruments of grade 3+ standard to give them a gentle introduction to the necessary art and enjoyment of ensemble playing. It should provide them with a solid base for future…

Voice / Aural training

These classes train general aural skills and voice production which is a good support for the preparation for aural tests in national grade exams. Children from 7 upwards are grouped roughly by age and experience and the classes will develop…