Why learn to play an instrument?
There are many benefits to learning an instrument, including:
● Confidence : Learning an instrument can help you build confidence, which can motivate you to practice even when you don't see progress. Confidence can also help you perform in front of others.
● Coordination : Playing an instrument requires coordination between your hands, arms, and feet. For example, stringed instruments require your left and right hands to perform
● Stress management : Playing an instrument can help reduce stress and anxiety. Music can have a unique effect on your emotions, and can even lower your heart rate and blood pressure.
● Patience Learning an instrument can help you develop patience as you improve over time with practice.
● Discipline Playing an instrument can teach you discipline and responsibility. You need to manage your time, maintain your instrument, and keep practicing.
● Social skills Playing an instrument can help you develop healthy social habits. You can learn how to respect your peers as you listen to others play.
Some useful questions to consider:
● Is my child’s classroom learning at the expected stage for their age?
● Are they keen to learn?
● Do they have time to practise?
● Do you have time to support and encourage them?
● Do you have space for a larger instrument (piano/drum kit)?
Instrumental tuition we offer
Currently we have opportunities open to learn the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, baritone horn, cornet, singing, piano, drums and guitar. However, if there is an instrument that your child is already learning or would like to learn that is not on the list, please do get in touch and we will do our best to help!
Teachers
We are very lucky to have eight talented instrumental teachers currently working at Dame B’s.
Name Teaches…
Mr Gavin Bowyer Trumpet, cornet, baritone horn
Mr Graham Dolby Flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon
Mrs Sophie Faith Singing and piano (also Music Theory)
Mrs Pippa Hopewell Violin and Viola
Days teaching at Dame Bs
Wednesdays and Fridays
Mondays and Tuesdays
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Mr Gil Matthews Guitar Tuesdays
Mr Stuart Pringle Drums Mondays
Mrs Nicola Ogden Cello Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Mrs Alison Townend Flute and piano
Thursdays
Some of our tutors have made videos introducing themselves and their instrument to get a flavour of what they sound like and what they are like to play. Click on the underlined link to view!
Mrs Hopewell plays the violin and viola
Mrs Ogden demonstrates the CELLO
Mr Dolby plays multiple wind instruments!
Mr Bowyer introduces the trumpet and other brass
How to start lessons
Please ask the office to send you the Instrumental lessons Google Form to complete. Once you have completed this, please email the Head of Music, Ben Harris (bha@stephenperse.com), to inform him that you have submitted the form.
We assign tuition on a strictly first-come-first-served basis on receipt of the completed Google Form and your email confirmation. Unfortunately, we may not be able to offer lessons if the teacher’s timetable capacity is full. However, we will add them to our waiting list in order of receipt of the Google Form.
As you can see, scales and arpeggios are a really important part of each lesson - it’s not just about the pieces! - so please do ensure your child practises them at home each week.
The sight-reading and aural tests are something your child’s teacher will focus on in the lead up to any exams and may not be a part of every lesson. Typically, you won’t need to practise these at home.
How much do lessons cost?
This academic year (2024-25), the fee for lessons in playing any instrument has been set at £225 per term, equalling ten thirty-minute lessons. This fee is in line with the other schools in the Stephen Perse Foundation.
Please note that if you wish to terminate lessons, you need to provide half a term's notice in advance or half a term's fees in lieu.
How to help at home
Learning an instrument does not happen solely in the lesson. There is a lot that needs to be done each week between lessons! It is really important to ensure there are at least four practice sessions between lessons - ideally there would be some practice each day, but it is understood that this can be tricky to manage.
Some of the things your child should do each week are:
● Take the instrument out and prepare it for playing (e.g. checking tuning, placing the reed in the mouthpiece, setting up the drums in the correct positions, sitting or standing in the correct position)
● Practice scales and arpeggios that your teacher has set in the practice notebook (on the Google Classroom)
● Practice the pieces your child is learning. In practice sessions it is suggested that tricky passages are practised over and again, to secure muscle memory. It is also very important to practise these parts at a much slower speed, increasing the speed as the passage becomes better known.
If you or your child are not sure about how best to practise parts of the pieces or scales, or if you want to check posture, please let the teacher know and we can post photos or videos to help.
Playing with other musicians
The whole purpose of learning an instrument is to share enjoyment and express oneself through music…and the best way to do that is to be a part of an ensemble.
At Dame B’s we want to support your child’s development as an instrumentalist and we offer the following clubs, run by our tutors.
Wind ensemble
Brass group Friday Lunchtime 12.15-12.45
Senior Orchestra
Junior Orchestra
Rock Band
after school
3.40-4.30
Funk Band
Senior Choir
Junior Choir Friday Lunchtime 12.45 - 1.15
Wind players of Grade 1 standard and above
Brass players of Grade 1 standard and above
String, wind, piano and brass players of Grade 1 standard and above
String, wind,, brass and piano players from absolute beginners to pre-Grade 1
Guitar, piano and drum players (small groups on a rotation basis through the year)
Guitar, piano and drum players (small groups on a rotation basis through the year)
Singers in Years 5 and 6 - all abilities
Singers in Years 3 and 4 - all abilities
Mrs Faith also offers tuition in Music Theory for those advanced players in Year 6 who may be thinking about taking the Grade 5 theory exam. We would encourage students to take part in these lessons if committed to the theoretical learning of music. If your child is working on Grade 3 or above in their instrumental lessons, and are in Year 6, please get in touch in the first instance with Mr Harris (Head of Music).
If you would like any guidance on choosing an instrument for your child, the Head of Music is very happy to discuss options with you. We offer free-of-charge trial sessions so your child may try out a variety of instruments with the tutors, who will be able to advise you directly on suitability.