We re getting to know our Music Ambassadors in Y6 and Y13 this year, please see our most recent posts!

Jacob & Patrick, Y13, have been ambassadors for over a year...

We have lots planned for 2023 including Big Band Evening and Saffron Hall!

Please check our What's On Page for more information by clicking the page below!

What’s On

We say we are a musical school. The past few weeks have certainly shown how musical we are. Every day, we are proud of each and every musician for the progress they make. It is difficult for me to say 'well done' to everyone all the time, but if I could, I would.

I have spent much time recently in meetings and discussions, finding out about music education and how it is developing, nationally. Every time, I am reminded how utterly amazing our musicians are, and how Team Music is a unique team. We have had so much going on in recent weeks, including guitar and piano recitals, concerts, performance and more. Alumni have been popping in to say hello or have been keeping us updated with their progress, including with their music. Team Music extends far beyond the walls of the music centre. Hundreds of performers from throughout our all-through school and our community, with many more in the audience.

This update is a celebration of every musician and everyone who has come to support our musicians. The quality produced by our musicians is amazing. The support by our staff team is beyond what we should expect. They are so brilliant and deserve so much thanks.

Well done to each individual for the progress being made in music. If we don't catch up with you to say well done, please remember what you achieve and how good it is. We are all proud of you.

Mark Taylor, Director of Music.

We were proud to be part of the community celebrations to switch on the Hertford Christmas lights. Families past and present were there watching and singing along. It was amazing to once again return to this annual event.

This was an amazing occasion at the Southern Maltings, with 12 bands performing to a capacity crowd. Again, the standard of musicianship and performance was superb and each musician and band should be so proud of themselves. This short video shows how good everyone was! (twitter link, no login required).

November is traditionally piano month, when we have a concert and celebrate our pianists. This year we had performances in the Library, an evening recital and our annual celebration video. Do take a moment to watch this wonderful creation, featuring 70 pianists in total performing 'Just Can't Get Enough'. What a huge project this was!!

We also present this amazing piano duet -  a fugue based on Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance' performed by Ciara (Yr 12) and Gabriel (Yr13). Enjoy!

Take Note is our adult community choir. They performed a wonderful concert at St Andrew's Church last weekend, an occasion that was uplifting and brought together our wider musical family - friends, former students (and so many of them), former parents and more. Well done to everyone in the choir for such a superb evening.

Do come and join us for our traditional carol services at All Saint's Church. These are always wonderful occasions for our school community.

Our annual piano day returned!

In the morning we welcomed renowned pianist Anna Markland, who delivered a Masterclass.  Anna listened to and encourage five of our most talented players, whilst our other players will had the chance to watch and learn from one of the country’s leading musicians.

At 1.20pm, a selection of all-age players performed in an informal concert in the Library.

Then at 6.00pm, pianists from Years 10-13 performed in a Teatime Concert featuring duet and ensemble items, as well as many special solo performances.

Here are some other highlights from our piano team.

In this blog, Mr Lovell discusses the art of performance.

The view from the piano stool can be very comfy, especially in the familiar surroundings of your own home! I grew up with a piano in the house and one day I was given the option of having lessons, or the piano would have to go. I used to sit and splash around at the keys a bit, pretending that I knew what I was doing, but I knew enough to know that I didn’t want to lose this awesome instrument. I took up the offer of lessons and never looked back. Simple stuff at first of course, I was never going to be Young Musician Of The Year and I used to get frustrated when I couldn’t get the hang of things quicker. The piano stool was a place where I felt happy. I enjoyed myself and had the satisfaction of feeling that this was something that I was improving at, even if it wasn’t always at as fast a pace as I wanted. And I loved that whilst my teacher introduced me to the wondrous music of Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy, it was also a pathway into playing the music that I was already listening to at home, like Elton John, Genesis and Kate Bush.

The view from the stool can get a bit less cosy once the stool is elsewhere other than home: the school hall or especially the exam room! Nerves can be off-putting and make you feel like all the enjoyment has been sucked out of you. But without them, you can never focus to the point of showing yourself at your absolute best. And whilst there’s not much to beat the immersion into the joy of music to escape all the pressures of life, the one thing that’s even better is the buzz you get when you play something well and someone else is there to tell you how good it is. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a standing ovation for a prestigious recital, or whether it’s just your Mum saying, “well done, it’s getting better”, you get a glow that makes you feel good and it spurs you on to want to achieve more. I’ve been playing for over 40 years now and, I assure you, that buzz is as strong now as it’s ever been!

So if you, like me, play the piano, why do you do it? Why did you start and what is it about this incredible instrument that keeps you going? Here are some of the responses we’ve had from our students here at Simon Balle:

I enjoy making people happy when I play

Playing piano puts me in a wonderland of music

I enjoy playing the piano because it makes me forget about stressful things happening in my life

I really enjoy playing keyboard at Simon Balle as I learn so much and have fun

I really enjoy playing the piano, we are always having some sort of fun event or activity!!

The opportunity to perform, to share your skills and revel in the praise that comes your way, is vital to keep us all pushing on and improving ourselves. So, let’s keep up the practice, strive to be the best we can be, but, most of all, enjoy making music and enjoy what it looks, feels and sounds like from your piano stool!

Mr Lovell