A guide for parents and guardians Music Lessons
The Music School
The Music School
Music is central to life at Habs, exceptional in both its quality and breadth of opportunity. With over 70 ensembles rehearsing every week, over 20 major concerts per year, and lunchtime performance opportunities every week, our musicians are part of one of the most vibrant and diverse music programmes in the country.
The Music School brings together students from both Habs Boys’ and the Girls’ School, drawing from a breathtaking pool of talent and creativity. We visit concert halls in London several times a year, curate projects through recording (Abbey Road and AIR Studios), collaborate with drama to produce original new work, run music partnership programmes in the community, host a range of dedicated courses through our Holiday Programme, and much more. Alongside our outstanding orchestral provision, the pinnacle being the Habs Elstree Symphony Orchestra, we have an exceptional jazz department, sending students every year to leading conservatoires in London and beyond. Since 2022 we are delighted to offer tuition in Indian Classical Music, on instruments such as Tabla, Dhol, and Harmonium. We have prodigious young songwriters, rock bands, composers, improvisers, one of the largest guitar orchestras in the country - all genres and styles of music are given equal platform. We want our leading musicians to guide our course of study, allowing them to impact the shape of what we offer with each generation that passes through the school.
For any young musician who wants to discover their potential, whilst experiencing a breadth of styles and opportunity through the process, Habs is the perfect place. Together with our talented young students we are immensely excited about what the future holds for Habs music.
We are proud to have an exceptional team of Visiting Music Teachers (VMTs) who provide expert tuition on a wide range of instruments. Whether you would like to continue an instrument you have already started with, or whether you’re curious to try something new, now is the time to get invovled with music at Habs Elstree.
Mr Tom Taylor Director of Performance Music
Choosing an instrument
We are proud to offer an range of instruments at Habs. Tuition is available on the following:
Bassoon
Baritone
Cello
Clarinet
Double Bass
Electric Bass
Dholak
Dhol
Drums
Euphonium
French Horn
Flute
Classical Guitar
Electric Guitar
Harmonium
Oboe
Organ
Percussion
Piano
Saxophone
Tabla
Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba Voice
Viola
Violin
Applications
How to apply
All applications for instrumental or vocal lessons should be directed to the Music Administrator via musicschool@habselstree.org.uk
After submitting the following application form the Music Administrator be in touch with the next steps.
Fees and Agreements
*Group music lessons are offered only after consultation with the Music School and cannot be guaranteed.
The School’s policy is to give 30 lessons in the year (though not necessarily 10 per term). The parent/guardian will be invoiced in advance. The cost will be reviewed annually alongside ordinary school fees.
Lesson automatically continue in each new academic year unless notice has been given by the May Half Term break deadline (please see page 10 for more details).
Timetables
Music lessons are scheduled by the Music Administrator to take place weekly during term time and are 30 minutes long. Lessons rotate between the teaching days of the VMT (Visiting Music Teacher) minimizing consecutive clashes with academics.
Timetables are published on SOCS - it is best practice to check SOCS regularly. A full list of Prep pupils’ lessons is sent to the Prep School.
Rescheduling a lesson
If a student wishes for a lesson to be rescheduled, they must submit this to their VMT and the Music Administrator with 2 school days’ notice. This will then be considered within the context of the request and a new time may be granted.
Missed lessons
If appropriate notice is not given, the school is not obliged to rearrange the lesson and the parent/guardian is responsible for payment for the missed lesson without refund. This includes pupil absence due to illness or for religious observance. Any lesson missed by the VMT will be made up or refunded.
Make-up days
At the end of each term there are ‘make-up days’ when any lesson missed by the VMT is made up (most students will not receive a lesson during this week). Lessons given on makeup days will not necessarily be on the same day or time as is customary, even if the pupil normally has a fixed slot.
Stopping lessons
Lessons may only cease following 10, 20 or 30 lessons.
If, at any time, the parent/guardian wishes lessons to be discontinued, the parent/guardian must give notice in writing to the Music Administrator (musicschool@habselstree.org.uk) before the following deadlines
Stopping at week 10: the first day of October half term
Stopping at week 20: the first day of February half term
Stopping at week 30: the first day of May half term
If appropriate notice is not given, the parent/guardian is responsible for full payment of the fees.
Study leave
Due to study leave, upper school students receive a reduced number of lessons in the summer block. Year 11 and Upper Sixth students will receive five lessons in the summer block. Lower Sixth form students will receive eight lessons. The termly billing will reflect this.
Examinations
Students of all years are expected to attend music lessons during their mock examinations/ yearly exam weeks. The only execption to this is Lower Sixth students who will not be scheduled for music lessons during their mock examinations period.
Academic staff
Students should give academic staff at least two days’ notice about a music lesson. Students should be courteous to academic staff when asking permission to miss the lesson, however the academic teacher cannot refuse such permission. It is the responsibility of the student to determine what academic work has been missed in their absence.
Prep School pupils will not have lessons scheduled during their allocated games afternoon. Senior School students are expected to leave games to attend scheduled music lessons. The only exception being a student on an external fixture, in which case lessons can be rescheduled via the Music Administrator with the appropriate notice of 2 school days given.
Games lessons Additional materials
Additional materials (sheet music, reeds, strings etc.) are not included in the lesson fees. The parent/guardian may be asked by the teacher to obtain these as and when necessary.
