Our largest team within Simon Balle Music, we support all our musicians from our youngest beginners in Year 3 through to Diplomas and those on our annual tour.
All Wind and Brass first study musicians are part of this school. Drummers choose, according to their musical interest, to be in this team (therefore also learning percussion) or the Popular Music team.
Musicians are part of our Music Scholars programme.
All musicians have lessons with teachers assigned according to instrument and musical interest. It is essential that lessons are only taken in school, so that we can provide musically inclusive learning (joining the dots of learning!). These lessons are part of the ‘bigger picture’ of learning that includes:
- Ensembles
- Solo performances
- Exams – including LCM Diplomas (all musicians will take exams)
- Regular concerts and performances – at the heart of our work
- Touring opportunities
- Performances at Saffron Hall
- Liaising with musicians across our all-through school
Ensembles are at the heart of our work and all in this team should be in them as required. All teaching leads to ensembles – music is all about making music with others – the core of our ethos.
- The Simon Balle Concert Band
- The Simon Balle Big Band
- Saxidentals
- Big Band 2
- Brass Ensemble
- Junior Wind Band
- Junior Saxes
- Larch Wind Band
Musicians from our Wind, Brass and Percussion team also might be asked to be in the Simon Balle Concert Orchestra.
Progression between our ensembles is made through musical achievement and ability. Musicians have to be musically ready to be in the next ensemble.
Many musicians in this team have an aspiration to be part of Big Band and Big Band 2. Progression is through teacher direction, based on ability, age and instrument. On some instruments, such as trombone, gaining a place can be quicker as we have fewer trombonists. On other instruments, musicians might have to wait a little longer.
As we have more musicians learning, from September 2026, entry to the Simon Balle Big Band is through BIg Band 2. Entry to Big Band 2 is by commitment to the Wind, Brass and Percussion team through Junior Wind Band and then Concert Band. This includes drummers and percussionists, as the styles of music and learning in our Wind Bands is the training ground for Big Band. Progression is by teacher recommendation, musical suitability and standards achieved.
Singers who wish to be part of this have to be committed to Vox (our vocal collective) and be vocally suitable, with a confident ability to sight read notation. There is an audition following teacher recommendation.
Pianists and rhythm section musicians who are part of the Popular Music team have a route initially to Big Band 2 through audition to our new function / session band. This is so that the musical skills and styles that are required Big Band (quite different to Rock Music) can be developed. This will take some months. The ability to read treble / bass clef is essential, as is the requirement to be having lessons within Simon Balle Music (so that we can musically support learning within Team Music). Full details of how musicians from our Popular Music Team can audition for the Function Band as a session musician can be found below.
