String opportunities
String Starters
- Saturday, 9.00 – 9.40am.
- For new players
- Come along to String Starters for your first orchestral experience.
- String Starters is an initial ensemble for string players up to grade 1.
- £59 per term (term time only).
Junior Strings
- Saturday, 10.00 – 10.40am.
- This orchestra follows on from String Starters and is for players at grade 1–3 standard or equivalent.
- A wide range of repertoire is rehearsed and performed.
- As well as practising the strings skills you have already learned, students will learn the elements of ensemble playing.
- £59 per term (term time only).
String Works
- Saturday, 11.00am – 12 noon.
- Minimum grade 3.
- Requires good sight-reading skills and some position shifting.
- As well as practising all the string skills that they have learned, the players learn formal aspects of orchestral playing and have a lot of fun.
- £59 per term (term time only).
WSM Sinfonia
- Saturday, 12 noon – 1.00pm.
- Minimum grade 5.
- For string, woodwind and brass players with good sight-reading skills who wish to gain orchestral experience.
- Confident position shifting and some vibrato required.
- £59 per term (term time only).
Senior strings
- Friday, 6.00 – 7.00pm.
- Minimum standard of grade 7.
- For experienced orchestral players who wish to tackle string orchestra repertoire and perform to a high level.
- A well rounded technique with confident shifting into all positions is needed and well developed vibrato skills.
- £59 per term (term time only).
Watford School of Music Youth Orchestra
- Friday, 7.00 – 8.30pm
- Grade 7 and above.
- Entry by teacher recommendation or by informal audition.
- Standard full symphony orchestra repertoire is studied in full and in sectional rehearsals.
- This orchestra is for all students from the Watford, Three Rivers, Bushey and Radlett and surrounding areas. You don't need to study at Watford School of Music to join.
- £79 per term (term time only).
Wind Brass and Percussion opportunities
Junior Wind Ensemble
- Tuesday, 5.20 – 6.00pm.
- For beginner to grade 3, children in Key Stage 2 and above.
- This is a great first experience for playing in a wind band.
- £59 per term (term time only).
Concert Band
- Tuesday, 6.00 – 7.00pm.
- For players who are grade 3 standard and above.
- We play a range of music from television and film music to traditional wind band repertoire.
- £59 per term (term time only).
Senior Wind Ensemble
- Friday, 6.00 – 7.00pm.
- Grade 7 and above.
- For advanced wind players who would like to enhance their ensemble playing skills.
- £59 per term (term time only).
Senior Brass & Percussion Ensemble
- Friday, 6.00 – 7.00pm.
- Grade 7 and above.
- For advanced brass players who would like to enhance their ensemble playing skills.
- £59 per term (term time only).
Watford School of Music Youth Orchestra
- Friday, 7.00 – 8.30pm
- Grade 7 and above.
- Entry by teacher recommendation or by informal audition.
- Standard full symphony orchestra repertoire is studied in full and in sectional rehearsals.
- This orchestra is for all students from the Watford, Three Rivers, Bushey and Radlett and surrounding area. You don't need to study at Watford School of Music to join.
- £79 per term (term time only)
Hertfordshire Guitar Orchestra
For enthusiasts who enjoy playing a wide repetoire of guitar music.
Information can be found at the Hertfordshire Guitar Orchestra website; www.hertfordshireguitarorchestra.com
Rehearsals are at Rickmansworth School on Wednesdays starting at 7-30 pm.
We are open to all ages from intermediate standard upwards.
For furhter information Contact: thomas_parsons@talk21.com
WSM Sinfonia and WSM Youth Orchestra
- There are opportunities for orchestral percussionists in both these orchestras.
Guitar opportunities
Junior and Senior Guitar Ensemble Courses
Over the accademic year we will be running Junior and Senior Guitar ensemble courses.
Dates will be puplished once confirmed
Rock Up
- Thursday, 5.30 - 6.10pm.
- Students work as a whole class, in groups and by themselves to create their own music and work out how to perform pop and rock standards.
- This will be open to all instrumentalists and vocalists in Year 5 and above.
- £59 per term (term time only).
Guitar Project (for adults) (more information to follow)
- An ensemble for adults of grade 2 standard or above, although exams are not necessary.
- All styles from classical to world music to rock are covered.
- All guitar types are welcome: acoustic, classical, electric, bass.
- Music notation is used, but tab is available if required.
- This Guitar Project is organised and facilited by Tom Parson - please email .....for more information. .
Singing
Watford Community One Voice Choir (more information to follow)
- Thursday, 7.30 – 9.15pm.
- This is a community choir for adults.
- This choir is organised and facilitated by members of the One Voice Choir - please visit the website email ........ for more information
Music for babies, toddlers, Nursery, Foundation and Key Stage 1
Dalcroze Eurhythmics
Eurhythmics offers a very good basis for children preparing to take up an instrument and complementing what they learn in music lessons and at Key Stage 1.
It's a method of learning about music by using the whole body: listening, starting and stopping, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, beat, pulse, phrasing, notation and composition.
These classes are designed to introduce children to the world of music through movement, singing, rhythms, untuned percussion, aural training and quick response games.
The benefits of these classes include improved listening and co-ordination skills, simple notation to help children prepare for reading music, and group / solo activities to build confidence.
Nursery/Reception
- Monday, 4.00 – 4.40pm.
- The children must be accompanied by an adult.
- All classes are in term time only and consist of 10 x 40 minute sessions.
- £59 per term (term time only).
Year 1 and 2
- Monday, 4.00 – 4.40pm.
- All classes are in term time only and consist of 10 x 40 minute sessions.
- £59 per term (term time only).
Explore Music Reception
- Saturday, 9.00 – 9.40am.
- Our music programme for Reception.
- Children sing, dance and play simple percussion instruments, as well as creating their own music.
- £59 per term (term time only)
Explore Music Year 1
- Saturday, 10.00 – 10.40am.
- Our music programme for Year 1.
- Children sing, dance and play simple percussion instruments, as well as creating their own music.
- £59 per term (term time only)
Explore Music Year 2
- Saturday: 10.50 – 11.30am
- Our music programme for Year 2
- Children do all the activities from Explore Music Reception/year 1, and begin to play the recorder.
- £59 per term (term time only)
Opportunities for Key Stage 2
Sing, Make, Play
- Saturday, 9.00 – 11.00am
- For children aged 7 and above.
- SING! – warm up session for all KS2 children.
- MAKE! – children create and perform their own music in their year groups.
- PLAY!
- Children will play an instrument in their year group. e.g recorder Ukulele, tabla.
- £99 per term (term time only).
Ensemble Membership
The HMS Ensemble Membership includes two or more ensembles for an individual pupil. Cost £109.00 per term.
To learn more about the HMS Ensemble Membership, please visit the HMS Ensemles and music Groups.
Other ensembles previously run as part of Watford School of music.
These ensembles are now being run in partnership with WSM
Recorder Group
Recorder Group is a small consort for recorder enthusiasts who enjoy playing a wide repertoire of recorder music.
- AOpen to Adults
- All styles from classical to world music are covered.
- We welcome players who can play more than one size of recorder ( C and F fingerings)
- Who are reasonable fluent sight-readers.
- Rehearsals are held at Watford School of Music
- Thursday eveining 8 till 9 pm during term time
- More details from Hilary Worsfold, email hilary.recorders @gmail.com.
Hertfordshire Guitar Orchestra
- Open to all ages from intermediate standard upwards.
- All styles from classical to world music to rock are covered.
- All guitar types are welcome: acoustic, classical, electric, bass.
- Music notation is used, but tab is available if required.
- Rehearsals are held at Rickmansworth School
- Wednesdays starting at 7-30 pm
- Information can be found at the Hertfordshire Guitar Orchestra website; www.hertfordshireguitarorchestra.com
- Or by contacting Contact: thomas_parsons@talk21.com