Simon Balle Music is alive with people who share a passion for music.
Our home are schools that live and breathe it.
Opportunities lie around every corner, and we can’t wait to see which paths our musicians will choose.
A love of music opens doors to endless possibilities....
We are here so you can learn and grow.
Be prepared to find the edge of your comfort zone and push beyond it.
As Director of Music for the past 26 years, I have always believed that if you are inspired, you will want to learn, to work, be part of a team and be the very best you can be.
Music is a commitment. Let’s be honest, what isn’t. However, music is a long term commitment. It isn’t something with instant success (like a game on a computer). It is something that, over time, can be an incredible experiences, bringing musicians together, creating friendships for life, bringing families together and teaching so many valuable lie skills.
If you are part of it, put your heart in it. Amazing opportunities lie around the corner.
My top tips for success with Team Music:
Music takes time.
Put in the time at home. Have practice in your daily routines. Musicians need to practice. Only with hard work will success follow.
Work with us.
We can’t do it for you. We are all busy, so please allocate the time to music. Read the messages we send, celebrate our music. Being busy is not an excuse!
Commit.
There is menu of amazing choices at school, and you can’t do everything. Music is a commitment. A team. What lessons are we teaching if we just say ‘come when you can’? A team is a team. A reliable musician is a busy musician.
Learn to read music.
Yes some famous musicians don’t read music, but we need you to read music to be your very best. Musicians now need to have a portfolio of skills, including reading music.
Let us know when things are not going well.
Life changes, so let us be the constant in a life that adapts and grows with you. It’s all about talking.
Be part of Team Music.
Work with us, embrace our distinctive ethos. What we have is incredibly unique with our all-through music. You simply don’t get this anywhere else.
Say ‘thank you’.
This can be missed. I have a whole team working to get the very best out of each of you. ‘Thank you’ costs nothing but means the world. Please be grateful!
We will continue to do the very best for you, our way, with your families as part of the journey.
Thank you.
Mark Taylor, Director of Music
Simon Balle Music and the Laurel Education Trust.
How to get more involved in music at Simon Balle.
Practice and learn to read music.
This is the single most important thing you can do. If you keep getting better and practice what your teacher says you should practice, you have every chance of betting more involved and get into more advanced ensembles. Learning to read music is essential - every musician needs to be able to do this.
If you are in Rock School
Work with your band and compromise. Everyone needs to learn to work in a team. Team work is about everyone, not individuals. You may be asked to work with other bands. Great! That is the life of a musician.
To get into Big Band
This is what I am regularly asked.
Musicians should be in Big Band 2 first, to learn the trade and then graduate through to Big Band.
- Be able to read music
- Have a love of these styles of music
- Commit. You have to be in all your other ensembles as well, such as Concert Band, Rock School, choirs and so on. You have to commit to those ensembles. If you do not, Big Band is not for you.
- Be at all rehearsals. You choose to be in Big Band, so don't have another commitment.
- Be prepared to practice our charts at home, in between rehearsals.
