The music school has an outstanding reputation and offers specialist classrooms, 18 practice rooms, and a concert hall. There is a rich annual programme of contemporary and classical concerts, at school and throughout the region, enabling pupils of all ages to experience the thrill of live performance of both established works and their own compositions. We enjoy regular performances at Exeter Cathedral and a number of local churches.
The three academic staff and eight of the instrumental teachers coach and rehearse – drum roll, please – five orchestras, seven chamber ensembles, eight choirs, two brass ensembles, five jazz bands, and a samba drum troupe.
There is a full programme of annual musical events including the carol service, spring concert, summer musical production, and a series of informal workshop concerts. Junior school ensembles also combine with senior school pupils in major school events such as Founders’ Day in Exeter Cathedral, and the Christmas and summer concerts.
Instrumental lessons
27 professional instrumental teachers teach almost 500 35-minute instrumental lessons a week in 17 practice rooms. Pupils are given 60 lesson time slots a week to choose from.
We know that every pupil is an individual. Every year, we tailor-make the lessons, ensembles and groups to accommodate nearly 700 pupils and their interests. To us, your child is:
- A child who is a musician, plays an instrument and has some experience at doing so. These pupils are integrated into the department’s ensembles as soon as possible.
- A child who is a musician and has less experience of lessons or playing in ensembles. These pupils are integrated into the department’s ensembles as soon as possible.
- A child who is a musician, as they all are, after all, and has no experience of music-making or instrument lessons. We offer them the opportunity to start lessons, whilst teaching them keyboard and guitar skills, composition, and theory in timetabled lessons. These pupils are integrated into the department’s ensembles as soon as possible.
We accommodate everybody. We act as an introduction service to the instrumental teachers.
Lessons can be arranged during lunchtime, before school or after school. Those pupils taking public exams will be accommodated in free periods. Most pupils in the junior school have their lessons during curriculum time.
