Our Popular Music students develop as a whole musician.

They understand that being a musician is about performing, creating music and learning about and performing in a variety of styles and genres of music. It is about a pathway to have the potential to be a professional musician.

They might be singers, guitarists, bass players, pianists or drummers.

As part of this, musicians will:

  • Be able to read notation – Treble or Bass clef
  • Be committed to the Simon Balle Musical ethos, having routines for practice.
  • Take instrumental grades, to show progress and musical understanding and develop confidence.
  • Be part of performances and ensemble work – for most this is Rock School.
  • Progress as a musician, working with others, inspiring younger musicians.
  • Not be having lessons on the same instrument elsewhere. (This is confusing for the musicians and not part of our ethos).
Rock School

Information about Rock School can be found on this page, including the application form.

Musicians are part of our Music Scholars programme.

Music Scholars

Popular musicians who are Advanced and Senior Music Scholars:

  • They must be fluent at reading from notation – treble / bass clef and be committed to developing their music theory.
  • Opportunities will vary between instruments, but will include
    • Masterclasses and professional musician talks
    • Taking advanced grades, including LCM Diplomas
    • Headlining at Rock Gigs
    • Recording performances during the year
    • Helping create content for social media.

Our Popular Musicians have two pathways (they might be working on both)

Develop their role within Rock School – supporting other bands, playing another instrument, helping set up and run the gigs.

Some musicians will want to be part of our ensembles in other areas of our amazing department. These musicians will apply to audition to be part of a ‘pool’ of musicians who will be part of senior ensembles, appropriate to their ability and interests. This band will focus on the rhythm section, as singers have other routes to solo opportunities. Some younger drummers and percussionists will also have a route to Concert Band through Junior Wind Band.

A function band as part of Rock School that will perform in school and the local community. The pool of musicians will rotate within this band. This band will focus on how to be a session musician in a more traditional ensemble. This will then lead to route to other ensembles:

  • Big Band 2
  • Big Band.
  • Other ensemble opportunities – Concert Band, Saxidentals, Brass ensemble etc, as they arise. 

Audition information for Scholars wanting to be part of the Function Band and session work team can be found here.

Ensemble opportunities will be available for musicians based on:

  • Ability to perform in a variety of styles at Grade 6 or above (for drummers, also including the ability to play percussion)
  • Ability to sight read in a variety of styles at around Grade 6 or above
  • Commitment to Simon Balle Music, including our ethos and Rock School.

As with other instruments in the senior ensembles, participation is dependent on commitment to other groups – with Popular Music students, Rock School. The auditions will be led by the Director of Music. Having lessons elsewhere but being part of this is not possible – it is musically confusing and we cannot fully support the musician.

We are proud of our unique ethos – our students are given experiences and expectations as a professional musician would.