The Junior Conservatoire’s Advanced Course provides a holistic
musical experience, enabling talented young musicians to develop
their technical skills and musicianship through one-to-one lessons
and group work with professional musicians.
The curriculum also provides opportunities for students to
broaden their musical experience through musicianship, performance
and critical listening activities.
Each student receives termly written reports on all their
activities, as well as a specialist assessment on their Principal
Study.
Individual Lessons
Weekly one-to-one lessons with a specialist tutor are at the
heart of the Advanced Course curriculum. Your one-to-one tutor will
devise a programme of work appropriate to your individual needs,
which will include technical work and pieces taking in a range of
jazz styles.
Specialist jazz tuition is offered on
- Piano
- Drums
- Double Bass
- Electric guitars
- Saxophone
- Trumpet
- (Players of other instruments are
advised to enquire about availability of tuition)
The principal study lesson is 45 minutes long. 60 minute lessons
and individual tuition on an Additional Study are available for an
additional fee.
General Musicianship
In addition to aural training, this class promotes a sound grasp
of music theory, history, analysis and composition, all essential
elements in the development of a fully-rounded musician. Students
who need to work towards their ABRSM Grades 1-5 theory exams will
focus on this during the General Musicianship class. Classes are
delivered by composition and aural specialists.
Jazz History, Elements, Listening and Improvisation (JELI)
JELI classes encompass the study of jazz history and related
genres through the investigation of key composers, instrumentalists
and movements in jazz. In addition, students learn to analyse
musical extracts and undertake jazz theory exercises focusing on
the elements of jazz. (harmony, melody, rhythm, form and texture).
Using a wide range of jazz recordings, students are encouraged to
develop aesthetic and stylistic awareness as well as critical
listening skills, and draw on these in developing their own
improvisational style.
Jazz Ensemble
A key element of the Jazz Pathway is the Jazz Ensemble, and all
principal study jazz instrumentalists automatically become members
of this. Players are required to build strong awareness and
experience of repertoire and performance practice as well as
advanced improvisation, reading and transposition skills.
The Ensemble’s repertoire is drawn from jazz standards and other
jazz idioms such as Be-Bop, Latin, trad jazz and modern jazz. The
Ensemble performs as part of our Winter and Summer foyer concerts
as well as our Lunchtime Concert Series.
Optional Activities
In addition to the core study elements outlined above, students
can select one of a range of optional activities each term. Current
options * include:
- Improvisation class
- Choir
- ABRSM Aural Training
- * Optional activities can
vary from term to term