The Music Department offers individual (and in some cases group) lessons on a number of instruments. Each student will be given a lesson time agreed upon by the class teacher (in the Lower School), the relative school heads, the instrumental teacher and the Music Department Head (Mr. Biggs).
| Lessons available on: (please note that Electric Keyboard is not available) | ||
| Piano | Violin | Suzuki Violin** |
| Viola | Violoncello | Harp |
| Flute | Clarinet | Saxophone |
| Theory of Music | Classical Guitar | Singing |
| Modern guitar | Drum-kit | |
| NEW INSTRUMENTS | ||
| French Horn | Double Bass* | Electric Bass* |
** For all ages, Suzuki violin consists of one private 40 minute lesson and one group lesson of an hour. The weekly charge will be of Euro 40.00. This course is intended for Lower school pupils, especially beginners.
All lessons are open to pupils from year 2 and above except Suzuki violin which is open to all ages.
Important Advice for parents of Lower School children (especially Year 3 or below).
Starting an instrument at a very young age needs careful consideration. Whilst the Suzuki violin course is specially designed for younger children, other one-to-one instrumental lessons have different implications.
Children will need to be followed AT HOME by parents on a regular basis. If interest flags after a time there is a great risk that the child loses interest, drops the instrument and never returns to it. Many a musical child has started too early and sadly suffered this fate.
I recommend the following points to be considered and asked:
- Is the child REALLY keen, or is it the parent wishing to fill his/her time?
- Is the child mature enough to cope with the demands of one-to-one lessons?
- Will the child be followed regularly at home by a parent?
- Is there an encouraging and supportive environment at home?
- Are you the parent prepared to keep regular contact with the teacher, attend concerts, follow and develop with the child?
An instrumental report will be given out at the end of each term. Every pupil should have a note book and/or manuscript book for practice requirements and weekly messages from the teacher. Parents are encouraged to contact teachers. There will be a mid-year questionnaire for parental feedback. With prior mutual agreement, parents may wish to attend an instrumental lesson to meet the teacher. Any beginner of any age will get a ‘quick’ report from the teacher after 5 lessons.
Practising and Performing
Parents are expected to supervise this, particularly with the younger children. Pupils are expected to practise every day, (beginners doing at least 15 minutes). Pupils are required to take part in group work when considered sufficiently advanced, as well as instrumental concerts each year in which pupils will perform - i.e. in String Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra etc. It cannot be over-stressed how important this involvement in group music-making is.
Instrumental Examinations
The school is a Centre for the examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (see www.abrsm.org). An examiner comes to the school twice a year (November and June) and when a teacher considers a student to be ready to take an instrumental exam the parents will be informed and asked to help ensure serious preparation.
Stopping lessons during the year.
Parents are reminded that teachers require half a term’s notice if the student is to stop his/her lessons once timetabled. This will not include young beginners who may be deemed too young after 5 lessons (see above).
Books, music and photocopies.
Wherever possible students should have real music and not just a selection of loose photocopies. I realise that some will be necessary but real music gives the student a sense of pride and seriousness. ABRSM examiners are told to exclude from the exam students entering with photocopies. Although it is not always possible to buy everything, standard volumes and repertoire should be considered an investment.
Please see the contact address of MITAROTONDA at the bottom of this page. They also supply all ABRSM material and have a wide selection of music for all instruments.
Hiring of instruments.
The school has some instruments available for hire. The teacher can organise this.
Pianos can be hired from Mitarotonda (see below) and the guitar teachers can give advice about guitars (which are as cheap to buy as rent).
MITAROTONDA
Via Conservatorio 17 (corner with Corso Monforte). Tel: 0276002858 / 02 76006511