Simon Balle All-through School

Music at Simon Balle is a vibrant place to be - there is so much going on. We are a musical family and all our musicians make our work special. Their work echoes around our school every day and their achievements are made and celebrated amongst friends. We perform in many venues, and each summer at the world famous Saffron Hall. We support all styles of music and adapt our approach each year to cater for the musicians who work with us.

Our musicians provide the joy and hard work that we celebrate - a new performance, a new discovery, a new achievement, a personal triumph. Every day something new makes us smile and drives our wonderful team forward. We offer outstanding and supportive specialist learning to the highest level. Our teaching is rigorous and linked so much to the music profession. We nurture talent and ability at all stages and ages with a wide range of ensembles and opportunities. Our aim is that our musicians achieve excellence in every way, being exposed to a rich variety of influences, approaches and attitudes.

We expect commitment from our musicians, embracing our distinct ethos. Discipline leads to success and achievement, whilst having fun along the way. An understanding of theory is essential - if this is a weaker area you will be supported to prepare before you start. The more students put in to their work and the department, the more they will get out. We respond to those who respond to us.

Our ensembles perform at home and abroad - each year we have been part of the music festival in Ghent, Belgium. Our musicians work with some of the top educators in the country. We have worked with Andy Scott from the Royal Northern College of Music and Jeffery Wilson from the Guildhall. Our students are given so many opportunities and it is up to them to grab them with enthusiasm and dedication. We pride ourselves in the quality and scale of these opportunities.

There are two pathways in the sixth form music academy. They are designed to create the very best musicians. All pathways involve you having instrumental or vocal lessons at Simon Balle, taught by our excellent team. This ensures that our support is inclusive and joined up and that you can create the very best recitals and performance opportunities in your chosen style of music.

Opportunities we offer

All musicians in the Academy are expected to embrace the opportunities we offer, including:

Masterclasses
Workshops
Weekly ensembles
Concerts and recitals
Performances out of school
Working with younger musicians

A level Music and 2 other A levels. A Level music is a qualification to prepare you for life as a musician. As part of this you might be taking a diploma, or auditioning for music college or to be a choral scholar. You will have timetabled practice sessions each week and respond to high expectations regarding progress. You will take a full part in our ensembles and choirs - essential enrichment that will also include supporting class lessons. We will support you as an individual to be the best musician you can be through masterclasses and a wealth of other opportunities, such as leading ensembles and working with younger musicians.

In the Sixth Form we offer Music A Level (Eduqas), Grade 8 and London College of Music Diplomas. These cover all styles of music, including popular music and musical theatre.

A level Music creates musicians who have the skills to shape the future of music. They can read music, understand musical theory and can create their own music. They can perform to the very highest level in the genre of their pathway. We firmly believe that Music A level prepares all musicians for progress to University for any subject. It also requires all the skills to be a professional musician in the modern world at a Conservatoire, Popular Music college, Musical Theatre and more.

Grade 8 and Diplomas compliment Music A level and are performance exams at the very highest level.

Performers will have the opportunities to work with an accompanist or live band, depending on the genre of pieces chosen. This is an integral part of achieving the very highest standards in performance.

Musicians have to be able to work independently. Everyone will have a different starting point in their musical understanding. We will initially ensure that everyone reaches a similar level. Learning will involve tuition, daily practice, listening, rehearsals and independent study. Music is not a subject that is confined to the lessons. You will go to concerts, you will extend your listening, you will use the lessons as a starting point to develop your understanding and skills. The more involved you become and the more you work independently, using your time wisely, the better chance you have of the best results.

Opportunities for our sixth form musicians include volunteering, supporting in our primary phase, developing leadership skills, supporting younger ensembles, supporting class lessons.

We have amazing alumni, many of whom stay in touch way beyond their sixth form years. Families are so much part of Team Music, especially the concerts and music tours and have a sense of loss when the schools years come to an end. We aim to help create lifelong musicians, and we are so proud of what our students achieve. Indeed, when many join university ensembles, others are in awe of the standard our musicians have achieved and the experiences they have had.

It is not until you experience our incredible music that you realise how amazing it is.