Huntingdonshire Music School Association - Percussion

Huntingdonshire Music School was founded in 1966 and has grown into one of the largest and most successful establishments of its type. It runs the only Saturday Morning Music School in the county and for miles beyond that is open to both children and adults. There are more than 460 students with ages ranging from 4 to 83, and at least 35 staff who give individual tuition and direct ensembles.  Lessons take place at Huntingdonshire College on weekday evenings and at the exciting Saturday Morning Music School. There is a flourishing and supportive Huntingdonshire Music School Association.

You may have heard the recent BBC Radio 4 programme, hosted by William Hague, about Late Learners (a very good listen).  Well we cater for late learners.  We can also cater for early learners.  Worried about making noises in public (or at least in front of other people)?  We also cater for terrified learners.  To be honest, whatever kind of learner you are we can cater for you. It is a wonderful thing when (as someone quite a bit over 21!) you sit down for the first time in the preparatory concert band and the very composed young person sitting next to you says “don’t worry if you make a mistake - we all do at times “

Huntingdonshire Music School provides the opportunity for children and adults to learn (or continue to learn) a musical instrument (including the voice) in a relaxed, friendly and social setting.

We cover most types of instrument from classical, jazz to rock and electronic.

Any student can take exams. The normal process is that your teacher will tell you when they think that you are ready to take an exam. You then get an entry form from reception, the teacher signs it and you then hand it in with the entry fee before the closing date for entries. Exams are normally taken at the end of each of the 3 terms. The closing date for entries falls at the end of the first week of each term. Once entered you’ll get confirmation of the time and date of the exam by post.

The college deals with the following exam boards:-

• The Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM) - used for most practical instrument exams and theory exams
• The London College of Music - used particularly for percussion and keyboard exams
• The Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Practical Exam Format

A practical exam lasts from just over ten minutes, at Grade 1, to possibly 30 minutes at Grade 8.

A Typical Exam has Parts requiring You to Play and Aural Tests of Your Listening Powers

It typically consists of the following parts:-

• playing scales. The examiner will choose some from the set that are specified for your instrument and grade.
• playing of 3 pieces (which you will have chosen and practised - endlessly - in the months beforehand)
• playing a piece provided by the examiner to test sight reading
• aural tests. These usually involve listening to a piece and describing it in musical terms that you’ve covered in theory lessons, listening to a piece played twice but with rhythmic and/or melodic differences and identifying what the differences were, and singing - either repeating a phrase played by the examiner or sight-singing (at higher grades)

Theory Exams

It is possible to take practical exams without theory up until Grade 5. In order to be able to take Grade 6 or higher you first have to have passed the Grade 5 theory exam. The good news is that there is no theory exam needed beyond this at Grades 6 to 8. The bad news is that the Grade 5 theory exam includes everything you’ve learnt from Grades 1 to 5 inclusive.

The Music College provides, if you want to, the ability to take theory exams at any level. We usually use the ABRSM board. Practice papers are available and can be bought from reception.

Using Music Exam Results for University and College Entrance

It is possible to use the results of ABRSM practical and theory examinations to count towards the total number of points needed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). [[ucas.htm]] More information is available….

There are many reasons for learning a musical instrument (and this includes singing), including:-

• it’s a skill for life (many of us return to it later on in life)
• it’s fun
• it feels good to ‘make music’ with others in a group situation
• it’s different to school or work and a relaxing diversion
• it’s therapy
• it helps develop parts of the brain that benefit other subject areas e.g. maths
• someone else you know plays and you’d like to join in with them(a precious chance to bond with the kids, perhaps)
• you like learning new things
• you already take someone to music lessons and are fed up with merely being seen as a source of ready cash and transport
• you didn’t get the chance at school or earlier in life, for whatever reason

What you may not realise is that the Huntingdonshire Music School is one of the largest music schools in the UK and, apart from sitting humbly on the doorstep for some 38 years, offers many benefits that are very difficult to get elsewhere:-

• a wide variety of instruments ranging from singing to electronic to orchestral instruments
• a complete package - not just the instrument but help with music theory and the ability to get involved with a range of different styles of group playing
• all ages ranges catered for (currently 4 to 83) - adults and children treated alike - adults/children need not have learned or played before(there are few, if any, schools in the country that cater for adult and children learners)
• the ability, if you choose, to take nationally recognised music theory and practical examinations
• the ability, if you learn an instrument elsewhere, to join for thegroup playing

[[]]A prospectus is available from this site.

Musical Instruments

Having decided that you or your offspring is interested in learning music, what is it that you/they wish to learn?

Whilst we cater for most instruments (and if enough come forwards for the Mongolian Nose Flute we could probably add this as well..), there are factors worth considering before taking the plunge, including

• popularity
• size
• noise and musical style
• cost

Popularity

Instrument popularity fluctuates and fashions are established. For example, nationally within the UK there has been a fall in the number of those playing the Oboe and stringed instruments e.g. violin, viola,cello. Wanting to learn a popular instrument might mean that there are plenty of potential tutors, but few spaces as they are constantly over-subscribed.

At HUMS we do monitor closely and can bring in extra staff if this looks to be happening. A popular instrument will have a larger second-hand market and therefore more choice when buying privately. Getting hold of music books isn’t a problem since these can always be ordered of the phone from a local music shop or online via the Internet.

Size

This isn’t as daft as it sounds - whilst it’s not like buying a baby pet to later find out that it fills the kitchen, you do need to think about this.

• Carrying. A flute is obviously small whilst a double bass is very large. Their carrying cases add to the bulk and the weight. In general the more protection a case offers, the worse it gets.
• Playing. Can the person learning play the full-sized instrument or will they need a smaller version, if available? Classical and acoustic guitars,for example, can be bought as 3/4 size for the smaller child. On the other hand if you’re under 5 feet tall you might struggle with a double bass.
• Storing. Do you have the space to store it at home?If you want to play the piano but don’t have space for a grand piano or upright then you might think about a keyboard or electric piano which can be collapsible. A drum kit will probably need to have a permanent space.
• Transporting. Can you fit it in the car with passengers to attend lessons?

Noise and Musical Style

The first certainly comes before the other! The sorts of sounds we all produce at first are far removed from the final polished version- can you and the neighbours cope? At first you’ll probably need to allow for about 15 minutes practice a day. This gets longer as you/they get better (but so does the sound and musical pieces!).

Do you want to join in a group, such as an ensemble, band or orchestra?You therefore need to consider the sorts of instruments that they play- there’s no point in learning the recorder if you really wanted to play in the Swing Band. Equally, some instruments fit in with more than one type of group. Another solution is that many people play more than one instrument.

Cost

The cost of learning a musical instrument consists of:-

• instrument. Instruments can be bought new - outright or as a rent/buy agreement, second-hand or simply rented. We also have a small stock of loan instruments which surface from time to time. For school age children help is available. Instruments also need to be maintained as parts wear out and need adjusting.
• books. This includes music tutor books, theory aid and exercise books.
• tuition. This is the same irrespective of instrument. The tuition fee increases at Grade 5 and beyond simply because the lessons are twice as long. Beyond Grade 5 you don’t strictly need the theory element, other than as practice.
• exam fees (if taken). If your tutor enters you for an exam there is a registration fee payable. Again,this increases with Grade since the exam is longer and you’re paying for the external examiner’s time.