Office hours (term time only)
- Mon–Fri, 2–7.30pm
- Saturday, 8.30am–12.30pm
Priory Picnic - 2022
The event is open to everyone to attend, so please do come and join us for the triumphant return of the Priory Picnic if you are free next Sunday!
Held at the Hitchin Priory (TIlehouse Street, Hitchin, SG5 2DF), the event is an outdoor concert featuring students from NHMS, other HMS Music Centres as well as local schools.
Gates open at 5pm, with music kicking off from 5.30pm. Expected performance times for groups included below.
Tickets
We have a limited number of physical tickets available for purchase via the NHMS office, any purchases via the office must be done with exact change. These tickets cannot be reserved and will be sold on a first come, first served basis.
Ticket prices
| | If purchased prior to Sunday 3rd July (either online or in person) | If purchased on the gate |
|---|
| Family* |
£30 |
£36 |
| Adult |
£12 |
£14 |
| Child |
£6 |
£8 |
| Under 5's |
Free |
Free |
*Family Ticket covers up to two adults and two children
Food Vendors
Whilst you are very welcome to bring your own refreshments, we will also have food vendors providing pizza (Lost Nomad Pizza) and burgers/fries (Chef at Home) and of course the ice cream van is making an appearance! Hot and cold drinks will also be available to purchase through the evening.
Pets
Pets are not permitted at the event.
Expected Performance Times
- 5.30pm FAB (First Access Band)
- 5.40pm Blast Off and Birdland
- 6.05pm Guitar Ensembles
- 6.30pm Combined String Orchestra (Intermediate Strings/Chamber Strings/NH&SYO Strings)
- 6.55pm Combined Wind Band (Intermediate Wind Band, Senior Wind Band, Wind players from NH&SYO)
- 7.15pm Hitchin Consortium School Groups
- 7.35pm Baldock Intermediate Brass Band
- 8.00pm Chamber Strings
- 8.30pm Senior Wind Band
- 8.50pm NH&SYO
- 9.20pm HYJE
- 9.50pm Group piece with everyone! (intermediate players very welcome if they are able to stay until the end)
- 9.55pm Firework Display!
Students should arrive on site at least 15 minutes before their first performance slot and be dressed in concert blacks.
For any other queries about The Priory Picnic, please email HitchinMusicEnquiries@Hertfordshire.gov.uk
Weekday Ensembles:
| Ensemble |
Time |
| Guitar Ensembles: Monday |
Junior: 4.30pm - 5.10pm Intermediate: 6.00pm - 6.40pm Senior: 5.15pm - 5.55pm |
| North Herts and Stevenage Youth Orchestra: Monday |
5.30pm - 7.15pm |
| Blast Off!: Tuesday |
4.30pm - 5.15pm |
| North Herts and Stevenage Youth Jazz: Tuesday |
5.20pm - 6.45pm |
| Theory: Friday |
4pm - 5pm |
Saturday Morning Music School Ensembles:
| String Stars |
9.00am - 9.30am |
| Beginner Strings Orchestra |
9.45am - 10.45am |
| Junior Strings Orchestra |
9.30am - 10.30am |
| Intermediate Strings Orchestra |
10.45am - 11.45am |
| Chamber Strings Orchestra |
9.30am - 10.30am |
| Junior Wind Band |
9.45am - 10.30am |
| Intermediate Wind Band |
10.45am - 11.45am |
| Chamber Quartets |
10.45am - 11.30am |
What's on
Monday
- 4.30 – 5.10pm – Junior Guitar Ensemble
- 5.15 – 5.55pm – Senior Guitar Ensemble
- 6.00 – 6.40pm – Intermediate Guitar Ensemble
- 5.30 – 7.15pm – North Herts and Stevenage Youth Orchestra.
Tuesday
- 4.30 – 5.15pm – Blast Off!
- 5.20 – 6.45pm – North Herts and Stevenage Youth Jazz
Wednesday
- 5.30 – 7.00pm – Senior Wind Band (at Stevenage Music Centre, Nobel School, Stevenage)
Thursday
Friday
- 4.00 – 5.00pm – Theory Class
Saturday
- 9.00 – 9.30am – String Stars
- 9.30 – 10.30am – Junior Strings
- 9.30 – 10.30am – Chamber Strings Orchestra
- 9.45 – 10.45am – Beginner Strings
- 9.45 – 10.30am – Junior Wind Band
- 10.45 – 11.30am – Chamber String Quartets
- 10.45 – 11.45am – Intermediate Strings
- 10.45 – 11.45am –Intermediate Wind Band
- 11.30am – 12.20pm – Let’s sing children’s choir (at Stevenage Music Centre, Nobel School, Stevenage)
Lessons
- Classical and Electric Guitar
- Brass: Cornet, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium
- Recorder
- Singing
- Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass
- Woodwind: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone and Bassoon
- Drums
- Piano and Keyboard
- Theory.
Prices
Current prices for instrument lessons (11 per term)
- 20 min lessons – £154
- 30 min lessons – £231
- 20 min shared lessons – £77
- 30 min shared lessons – £115.50
- Adult 20 min lessons – £168.67
- Adult 30 min lessons – £253
NHMS Ensembles
- Guitar Ensembles, Blast Off, Theory and all Saturday Ensembles – £52 per term.
Senior area ensembles
- North Herts and Stevenage Youth Orchestra, North Herts and Stevenage Youth Jazz, North Herts and Stevenage Wind Band – £64 pr term.
Paying
- HMS will invoice for 11 instrumental/vocal lessons in each term together with any appropriate ensemble membership and/or instrument loan fees.
- Families on low incomes may be eligible for help with music fees. Discounts of either 50% or 100% may be available, depending on your income and benefits.
Instruments for loan
We have a limited number of instruments that we can loan out. Speak to your music teacher in the first instance.
Insurance
- Loaned instruments must be covered by insurance and families must accept responsibility for accidental damage.
- Insurance requirements and any fee will vary according to the value of the instrument. We'll give you details.
- We can't accept responsibility for privately owned instruments. We recommend that you insure instruments at replacement value through a specialist music insurance company that will provide sufficient cover outside your home.
Assisted instrument purchase
- We have a scheme open to all pupils at music centres.
- We hold suitable instruments in stock at very competitive prices. We can also give quotes for other instruments.
Attending your lessons or group
Things to bring to lessons:
- face covering (adult learners)
- instrument (where required) and music
- a drink.
Drop-off and pick-up
Please drop your child outside the centre and stay outside when your child enters and leaves the building.
COVID-19 update