City Music Centre (East)

Drum Kit Techniques

Classes are available for students with basic music reading skills who can play simple drum kit rhythms through to experienced players who wish to develop specific styles and techniques. The three classes are progressive, with students usually gaining their first experience of Drum Kit Techniques at the 9.00am class. Emphasis is on learning through performance, and areas of study include timekeeping, improvisation, soloing, and performing style. Backing tracks are used to develop these skills. The drum kit studio is equipped with Pearl Drum kits, Pearl Practice kits, Zildjian cymbals, a Roland TD8K V drum kit, an Alesis SR-16 drum machine and audio equipment.

Guitar Techniques

Classes are available for students with basic music reading skills including tab and/or standard notation who wish to develop specific styles and techniques. Emphasis is on learning through performance and areas of study include scale and chord patterns, improvisation, sound creation and performance styles. The classes provide opportunities for electric, acoustic and bass guitarists to enhance and develop their playing.

Jazz Ensemble

The Jazz Ensemble provides an opportunity for players to explore the wide range of music written for this medium by performing pieces from the 1930's through to modern day pop and jazz/funk styles.  For many students this is their first experience of playing in a specialist jazz ensemble.  Applications are invited from students of saxophone, trumpet and trombone who have reached a standard of Grade 3-5, and students of drum kit, guitar (bass and rhythm) and keyboard, with the required reading skills.

Keyboard Techniques

Classes at 10.00am and 11.15am are available for students in their first term of learning through to experienced players who wish to develop specific styles and techniques. Students have a further opportunity to build on these skills, while also exploring improvisation and part playing during the 9.00am class. Emphasis is on ensemble playing in styles ranging from jazz standards to current dance hits. The keyboard studio is equipped with Yamaha DJX’s, Roland EM10’s and EM20’s, however students are invited to bring their own instruments.

Vocal Techniques

Classes are available for secondary age students who simply enjoy singing through to more experienced singers who wish to develop their skills further in the 11.15am class. Emphasis is on learning through performance and areas of study will include voice production, backing singing, microphone technique and performance styles. The vocal studio has a fully equipped PA, a piano and audio equipment.

Soundmakers Ensemble

This weekly workshop is an opportunity for young musicians aged 8-11 to make their own music in a fun environment.  The Ensemble is designed for pupils who have participated in our Soundmakers project, although applications are welcomed from pupils who have been learning for at least one term.

Working with musical games, improvising and jamming, musicians will try out rhythms from around the world.  Using your creative ideas we will work together as an ensemble and in small groups to write and perform music in a range of styles.

Players of all instruments welcome!

Grade V Theory

One year Grade V Theory classes are available, with the specific aim of preparing for the Associated Board Examination. A minimum entry requirement for this course is a knowledge of all major and minor key signatures and an ability to read both treble and bass clefs.

Digital Music Technology and Band Workshops

Short courses and workshops are held at different times throughout the year.  Please contact us for more information and/or to register your interest.

Youth Choir

Any secondary aged student is welcome to join our youth choir. We rehearse a wide variety of songs and perform several times a year in different venues.  The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly.  New applicants are welcome without audition.

Children's Music Workshop

This progressive series of workshops is designed for children in primary years' 1, 2 and 3. Their approach to active music making includes singing, percussion and movement and has been developed through our research into pre-school, infant and junior music making. Children will get the best from these workshops by joining at the beginning of year one, however the syllabus has been designed so that pupils can join at any time, especially at the start of each September. Each class has access to multimedia whiteboards which are being more widely used in the sessions through video, interactive visual aids and music technology programs.

Year One Children's Music Workshop

These sessions aim to help children to enjoy singing and playing percussion instruments. There is a strong emphasis on practical music making and movement. There is also a gradual introduction to simple music reading.

Year Two Children's Music Workshop

Through a series of projects, some linked to stories, the children gain confidence with their voices and percussion instruments. Children are encouraged to develop their own compositions and the introduction to music reading is reviewed and consolidated.

Year Three Children's Music Workshop

This course offers a wide range of experiences including improvisation and composition with percussion, singing with freshly created instrument parts and aspects of World Music including percussion from West Africa and Brazil.