Music instruction and Activities

This page gives information about the opportunities for instruction in musical instruments in Borders Schools. It also give information about other music activities, residentials, orchestras etc.

Instrumental Instruction

Instrumental instruction on brass, guitar, percussion, recorder, strings and woodwind instruments takes place in all Borders secondary schools and many primary schools. The Council employs 13 permanent instructors to deliver these lessons. They also organise bands, orchestras and ensembles throughout the region. A charge is made to parents for instrumental lessons. However, as an introduction to playing a new first instrument, new pupils for 2007-2008 will receive a free years tuition. Thereafter there is an annual charge of £120.

Exemption from charges are available for:

Families receiving Income Support
Families receiving Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
Pupils participating in SQA certificate courses.

Further information can be obtained from Tel:01835 824000 ext 5482.

Saturday Morning Music Activities

The Junior Orchestra, Junior Wind Band, Borders Youth Orchestra and Saturday morning chamber ensembles rehearse between 9.30 am and 12.30 in Galashiels Academy and St Margaret’s Primary School, Galashiels. Rehearsals begin in September and carry on until early December. All three Ensembles take part in a concert at the Tait Hall, Kelso in December. Transport is provided from most places in the region.

JUNIOR STRING ORCHESTRA

This is an orchestra of string players who have only been playing for a short time. No audition is required and entry is through the recommendation of an instrumental teacher.

JUNIOR WIND BAND

The Junior Wind Band is made up of younger wind, brass and percussion pupils. No audition is required and entry is through the recommendation of an instrumental teacher.

BORDERS YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Strings, woodwind, brass and percussion combine to form the Borders Youth Orchestra. Again, no audition is required but strings and percussion players must be of at least Grade 3 standard. Woodwind and brass players must be of at least Grade 4 standard.

CHAMBER ENSEMBLES

Saturday morning chamber ensembles are open to all pupils of at least Grade 5 standard and are formed according to demand. No audition is required and entry is through the recommendation of an instrumental teacher. Chamber ensembles have in the past been made up of brass, woodwind, percussion and string players. Their members are also expected to participate in Intermediate Orchestra rehearsals and performances. Membership of a Chamber Ensemble involves playing music one to a part and solo work. The success of chamber work depends on perfect attendance.

Staff supervision

With around ten staff involved each week there is adequate supervision and one member of staff in each building is responsible for checking that pupils board the correct bus at the end of rehearsals. In the event of bad weather, parents are asked to exercise discretion and may assume that buses which are more than ten minutes late have been cancelled.

CHARGES

Thanks to funding from the Scottish Arts Council for the Youth Music Initiative, we are very pleased that we are able to provide Saturday morning music activities free of charge for the year 2007-2008.

Residential Music Activities

Residential weekends and one-off rehearsals will take place in October and March with a full day's rehearsal scheduled for January and a concert in March.

WIND ORCHESTRA

The Wind Orchestra consists of woodwind, brass and percussion players of at least Associated Board Grade 5 standard. The orchestra has in recent years toured Scotland and abroad, performed at the Edinburgh Festival and given regular concerts throughout the Borders. Entry to the Wind Orchestra is through audition. Auditions are normally held in June.

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

The Chamber Orchestra consists of string players of at least Grade 5 standard. The Chamber Orchestra has performed throughout Scotland and abroad, in addition to giving regular concerts in the Borders.

CHARGES

The cost of each residential music course will be:

Where 1 member of a family is involved £62
Where 2 members of a family are involved £94
Where 3 members of a family are involved £123
Cost for pupils from families in receipt of Income Support or Income based Job Seekers Allowance will be £45.

AUDITIONS

Auditions for the Wind and Chamber Orchestras are normally held in June. Applicants should be prepared to perform (unaccompanied) a short piece of music of their choice, of at least Grade 5 standard, and to play a piece of sight reading.
There may be limited opportunities for pupils to perform concertos with the Wind and Chamber Orchestras. Anyone wishing to be considered should, in the first instance, be prepared to play extracts and to discuss possibilities for performance at their audition.
Any further enquiries regarding Scottish Borders Music Ensembles should be made to Simon Johnson, Senior Instructor, Scottish Borders Council, Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells, TD6 0SA. Contact number 01835 825097

BORDERS YOUNG MUSICIANS

‘Borders Young Musicians’ are a parent-teachers-friends organisation which was formed twelve years ago to support area music activities. Their financial support, through fund-raising, has helped sustain the continuation of a range of orchestras and choirs.

This significant contribution, by BYM owes much to the dedication of committee members. ‘BYM’ are always looking for a commitment from parents of pupils currently involved in music activities.

For more information regarding BYM please contact Fiona McKenzie, Secretary, Thorniedykes Farm House, Westruther by Gordon, TD3 6NG.

Information regarding BYM grants may be obtained from Mrs M Donaldson, Treasurer, 68 Queens Drive, Hawick, TD9 8EP.

Borders Young Musicians has a limited amount of funding available to assist pupils to attend Saturday morning activities or weekend courses who would otherwise be prevented from doing so for financial reasons. Applications should be made, in confidence, to: The Secretary, BYM c/o St Andrews Arts Centre, Galashiels and must be received by 30th September.

BYM has also made available a limited number of grants for pupils having difficulty finding the fees for nationally organised extra curricular music activities and applications for these may be made at any time.