We are in our Autumn Concert season. Performances every week for the next few weeks - it will be great to see families and friends supporting our musicians!

Performances are a time to celebrate, away from exams and academic pressure! They demonstrate team work, concentration, enjoyment and more. They bring families together, they bring joy to so many. We have high expectations with our rehearsals and concerts, we do ask that everyone embraces our Team Music ethos. We aim to make every concert an occasion - an event to celebrate and remember.

Musicians who are performing should know what to do and what to wear, so we come together as one - Team Music. You can always ask questions if you are unsure.

Simon Balle Music is incredible. Together, we create amazing music. Now is the time to celebrate our amazing music! Come and hear what has been happening!

Mark Taylor
Director of Music
Simon Balle Music and the Laurel Education Trust

Our annual Christmas Carol Services at All Saints Church are around the corner! Year 11 Musicians should be able to continue with rehearsals during the mocks - a time to relax from the revision! Likewise, instrumental teachers work around exams so lessons can continue during December - every year students cope so well with this. The services are an important event for our school community and an annual tradition!

Our main concerts for the Spring Term are taking shape. We are looking to have a 'festival' where we have the Simon Balle Concert Orchestra and Chorus Prom, followed by An Evening with the Simon Balle Big Band. Full details will be out shortly.

It is also great to see how many students are taking advantage of Early Morning Practice - before school from 8am. This is such a useful time to progress as a musician, before the pressures of the day have started. I heartily recommend musicians, especially our more advanced musicians, take up this valuable opportunity. Practice is essential for progress!

I must also thank our colleagues in music who are working at Mill Mead Primary School as part of the Laurel Education Trust. We are supporting musical learning across the school and it is fabulous to help inspire more musical students!

Welcome to everyone within Team Music as we ensure all our lessons, learning and ensembles are up and running once again. It is incredible to see so many musicians making music and to hear such wonderful sounds. Our website is the best place for information, but we are always here to help.

At Simon Balle Music, music is not just a subject – it’s part of our identity. Across our schools, music is at the heart of what we do. Laurel Music is thriving with people who share a deep passion for creating, learning, and performing. We’re proud to offer students a place where music is lived and breathed every day.

Opportunities to grow as a musician are around every corner, and it’s always exciting to see the different paths our students take. A love of music opens doors to incredible possibilities – but it also asks for commitment, courage, and time.

As Director of Music for the past 26 years, I’ve always believed that when musicians are inspired, everything else follows. They become more motivated, more collaborative, and more determined to achieve their best.

Music is not a quick win. It doesn’t offer the instant gratification of a video game or a YouTube short. But over time, it gives back in a way that few things can – bringing people together, building lifelong friendships, and teaching the kind of life skills that last far beyond the classroom.

So if you’re part of Team Music, put your heart into it. You never know what’s waiting just around the corner.

My Top Tips for Success in Team Music

1. Music takes time.
There’s no shortcut. Practice at home is essential. Younger students will need guidance – not just encouragement, but help building it into their routine. Success only comes with hard work, and that hard work begins at home.

https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/music/practice/ - this link outlines our expectations with practice.

2. Work with us.
We can’t do it alone. We know life is busy, but please find time for music. Read our updates, come to the concerts, celebrate the progress. If you’re investing in lessons, invest in the time too.

3. Commit.
Our schools offer a rich menu of activities, but music requires commitment. Being part of Team Music means showing up, contributing, and being dependable. A team only works when everyone is all in.

4. Learn to read music.
Yes, some famous musicians don’t read music – but we need our students to have the full range of skills. Reading music is essential to becoming a well-rounded, versatile musician.

5. Communicate.
Life changes – and students change. If things aren’t going well, let us know. We’re here to support and adapt. It all starts with a conversation.

6. Be part of the journey.
Team Music is something truly unique. Our all-through music offer is something you won’t find anywhere else. Embrace our ethos. Come to the concerts. Join the experience.

7. Show appreciation.
A simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way. Behind every music lesson, performance and rehearsal is a dedicated team doing everything they can to support your child’s musical journey. Gratitude matters.

8. Celebrate at home.
Say ‘well done’ often. Recognise the effort, the progress, the performances – big or small. It means more than you know.

We remain fully committed to doing the very best for every one of our musicians, in our own distinctive way, and with families by our side.

Simon Balle Music is incredible. Together, we create amazing music.

Mark Taylor
Director of Music
Simon Balle Music and the Laurel Education Trust

As a student myself many years ago, I carried my trumpet to school, or when I cycled, but it on my back. That's what you did.

All musicians should be able to carry their instruments to school - we don't have any double bass players! Drummers should bring drum sticks! Saxophonists can carry their instruments and so on. We have seen a rise in the number of instruments being dropped off at the secondary reception claiming that the musician can't carry it. Please help us and the musician. Unless an emergency, students should be carrying in their instruments to the relevant place in the Larch or secondary Music Centre. Can I also suggest that every instrument has a name tag on?

Likewise, we are proud that we have so many school instrumental to loan out and I am continually seeking to find more. Instruments cost money - a lot, and all I ask is that everyone looks after them and treats them with respect!

• No one else should play the instrument
• The instrument should be stored in the case
• Any damage caused that is outside wear and tear will be charged
• Students should be reminded to not drag cases across the ground (yes, I see this often!)

The instrument is valuable - often many hundreds of pounds. We have to all remember this!

As we plan and set up for the next academic year, please ensure you have read the following:

• Lesson Charges - this details the charges along with details of the invoicing system and the notice period
• Dates & Ensembles - detailing our teaching weeks and ensemble weeks for Secondary and Larch, along with weekly timetable for our Extra Curricular.
• Event Dates - put the dates in your diary!

Our Musical School

Lesson Charges 2025 – 2026

Dates & Ensembles (All-through)

A Concert to celebrate students who have started learning a Wind or Brass instrument since September 2024.

Students showed amazing musicianship. From soloists to group performances, it was incredible to see so much musicality at such young ages!

Simon Balle Music is incredible. The performances and achievements over the past few weeks remind me why we do what we do. The individual stories, the triumph, the resilience, the success. 

We work hard to celebrate each individual musician. The recent questionnaire showed what an impact we have, together with you, as part of Team Music. There will always be things that can be better, but now is the time to celebrate. We have so many incredible musicians creating music that is quite unique. The role of families is to help us celebrate everyone, not just our own! Younger musicians can see what they can aim for, older musicians can celebrate younger musicians, working together. We are one all-through Team Music.

The recent performances showcased so well what your children are achieving. From rock to disco via Big Band and the Larch. Experiences, enrichment and memories. Older musicians with A level recitals, GCSE coursework and all those deadlines. Larch musicians with music medals and instrumental exams. What we have is unique and very, very musical. You don’t get this anywhere else!

Mark Taylor, Director of Music

Continuing to celebrate, please could you take a moment to say WELL DONE to your musicians at home. So much has been achieved. This week alone, we have had some amazing achievement as a result of hard work.

Well done to everyone. Good luck in preparation to the 130 musicians working for exams next term. To reassure, we work with events on the calendar to accommodate everyone and we make everyone aware in plenty of time of the day the exams are on. Year 6 musicians - music exams are well after the SATS!

Well done. Fabulous. What a musical school we are! We are Team Music!

Deer class enjoyed performing some pieces we have been learning on the glockenspiel in our Reception and KS1 Singing Assembly. They showed excellent listening skills, and played brilliantly as an ensemble. Now, Foxes will have their chance to perform.

Musical Exam Success

Congratulations to our students for incredible exam results!

Students from Year 4 to Year 13 have recently taken their Trinity Music Exams. This is an incredible achievement.

Please click on the logos to see the wonderful results!

Music Medal Success

Students have been busy working towards and taking their ABRSM Music Medals.

A massive congratulations to the following students!

Bronze Medals

• Evie
• Beatrice

What fantastic achievements! If you haven't already received your Certificate and Badge, please be assured it is on its way, but if you have concerns, please get in touch.

Instrumental Lessons

Great work from Heidi playing ‘Bobby Shafto’ as a duet with Mrs Johnson. 

Heidi is preparing to take her Copper Music Medal. We do get all our Larch musicians to have their first exam as a music medal during their musical journey! They are a fabulous stepping stone to Grade 1!

Well done to everyone, especially Heidi for this recording!

The Guitar Ensembles have been busy rehearsing this term.

Here is a taster of some of the music you can hear in our forthcoming concert on Thursday 1st May.

Assembly Performances

Well done to Kiera, Alba, Noah, Juliette, Willow and Amelia who all performed violin pieces in the Celebration Assembly this week.

Achieving Grade 8 is always an amazing feeling. As part of our celebrations, we are showcasing some of our musicians who have Grade 8. Today with Merry, Lucy and Kitty who all achieved Grade 8 this week. They are brilliant musicians and so committed.

Simon Balle Music Live!

I really enjoyed the choir and strings concert! It was probably one of the best ones yet! I especially liked the big song at the end because everyone in the audience got to stand up to dance and sing! I also really enjoyed singing afterglow in the secondary choir. I just thought the harmonies worked perfectly and came out beautifully! Plus, I think the Wicked songs were such a good idea! Everyone knew them and they were really fun to do!

Lucy

Simon Balle Music Live!

We continue to be proud of our Larch musicians - our musicians of the future. We have said it before and we will say it again. What our musicians in the Larch create is incredible. Such a high standard of musicality for one primary phase. Well done to everyone. Team work makes the dream work!

Do have a listen to a recording from the recent celebration. It is utterly fabulous.

Well done to our fabulous Year 2 musicians who have started this year on their instrumental learning journey. Once again, this is fabulous and an incredible achievement. So many Year 2 musicians performing so musically. Well done everyone! Do listen and celebrate!

Rock Gig

I think that it was a nice scene and it was good to see others play. I was scared at first but when I started playing, I got into it and lost my fear. I made one or two mistakes but I got back in time quickly. I did feel though it went well. My highlight was when I stood on stage and just breathed in, and played.

Kieran

 

Click here to see all of our upcoming events - there is so much music to celebrate!

What’s On

We are in the middle of our performance season. So much music, so much celebration and enjoyment. It is an amazing, if busy, time of year. Times like this remind everyone why we do what we do. Your part in that, supporting our musicians is essential. Do take time to read here and celebrate what everyone is doing, not just those that you know.

We are a Team, everyone. One third of the school. You might be surprised with what goes on, some of which you had no idea!

Mark Taylor, Director of Music

Simon Balle is a musical school. We are proud that we are a musical school. Sometimes, we have to remind everyone in Team Music what this actually means!

• Pride and celebration. When we work hard, amazing musical things happen. Just look at our website!
• Practice. Music takes practice, at least 3 times a week. In the Larch, families must supervise practice. Secondary musicians should be practising at least 4 times per week. We are all busy, but when practice is completed, the lessons are amazing!
• Commitment. Ensembles take commitment. Music is commitment. Missing a rehearsal lets the team down. We are all busy, but we choose to be musicians and we have to commit! 
• Working together. The team work. We are all part of the team. 

It is good to remind everyone of our values and ethos. Sometimes, we forget - life takes over. By building routines for practice and commitment at home, every week, you are helping create amazing Simon Balle Musicians.

In Year 2, students have been working hard at playing the song ‘Naughty Pussycat’ on the glockenspiel. They have also been working on recognising the note middle C when written in music notation. I hope you enjoy these recordings!

Deer Class:

Foxes Class:

Musical Exam Success

Congratulations to David who recently passed his Grade 1 Piano with Merit.

After he worked really hard towards his exam, we are delighted for David with this well-deserved result.

Music Medal Success

Larch Students have been busy working towards and taking their ABRSM Music Medals.

A massive congratulations to the following students!

Copper Medals:

• Šimon
• George
• Roux
• Ethan
• Amelia

Silver Medals:

• Iris
• Lucas
• Zak

What fantastic achievements! If you haven't already received your Certificate and Badge, please be assured it is on its way, but if you have concerns, please get in touch.

KS1 Singing Assemblies

Each week KS1 comes together on Tuesday morning for a Singing Assembly.

Singing is a great way to be creative and have fun! It is also an important tool in many ways helping with language development and memory.

Songs are learnt over a number of weeks with a lot of repetition allowing the children to have a sense of achievement when they manage to sing more the following week. 

Please enjoy this snippet!

Listen to 'Song for Every Season' here!

Instrumental Lessons

Year 6 Flautists working together to develop so many musical skills. 

Well done Gemma, Valentina & Florrie!

It is great to hear a snippet from music lessons. Here is a recording from Sofia's guitar lesson with Mr Niesyto.

All is Found from Frozen 2, Sofia has been working on in her lesson. Well done on a fantastic recording!

An Evening with the Simon Balle Big Band

A fantastic evening with so much support from families and students! Read what musicians had to say about it and enjoy the videos!

"Big Band evening this year was extraordinary. The feeling of playing with a band that is like a family is unmatched. Getting to see all of the parents let loose in the audience and dance to music we are performing feels like such an amazing achievement. This year was extra special to me as I got to play my first solos at a Big Band evening, and I got to sing a song! When we are performing we do really feel a part of the community and the happiness it brings is something I hope everyone watching can feel."

Merry, Big Band

"I played tenor saxophone in Big Band 2 which was such an incredible experience! We played multiple pieces which I think went really well and it was so fun to play in front of an audience with the lights. My highlight of the night was either doing a solo, which was nerve-racking but also such an amazing memory, or dancing and singing with my friends. The whole evening had such a wonderful atmosphere and it was so nice to see the audience of all ages singing along!"

Holly, Big Band 2

An Evening with the Simon Balle Big Band

An All-through Celebration of Brass

An evening filled with a fantastic programme of music performed by a talented group of musicians from Year 4 to Year 13. 

"My favourite piece to play was “The Final Countdown” because it is dramatic, I know the piece very well and the Tenor Horn (the instrument I play) got to play the main tune. I also enjoyed the opportunity to play a short solo in “The Second Line”. It was fun but nerve-wracking as I had to improvise which I have never done before in front of an audience. My favourite piece played by the secondary brass Ensemble was called “Resolution”. The main lead in this piece was done by the percussion which I am also a big fan of, so it was really nice to see them be the stars of this piece! I really enjoyed playing with the secondary brass and I would love to do it again."

Charlie, Tenor Horn

"On Thursday I played in the All-through Brass Celebration along with a group of other brass players from year 4-13.  Although a lot of the pieces were quite hard to begin with, we practiced hard at our Monday lunchtime rehearsals and by the time the evening came they all sounded brilliant. We played a range pieces such as Resolution, O Magnum Mysterium and a Selection from the Secret Garden. It was a fun evening which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. My highlight was being able to perform the pieces we’ve practiced in front of our parents and my favourite piece was Selections from the Secret Garden."

Lilia, Trumpet

An All-through Celebration of Brass

Piano Recital

"I recently attended and performed at the piano evening in the music department—my first recital here. The atmosphere was warm and supportive, with encouraging family members and teachers, making it enjoyable for both performers and the audience. I loved the variety of pieces, from Ed Sheeran to grade pieces and even an old Hindi song—a nice surprise as it was one I knew. My own performance went well, and I was happy with how it turned out, despite feeling a little nervous at first. Having attended quite a few school music events, this was one of the most comfortable and pleasant, with performers of all ages giving their best and an appreciative audience."

Nitika, Year 10

Click here to see all of our upcoming events - there is so much music to celebrate!

What’s On

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Our spring concert season is upon us with so many events showcasing our amazing musicians. Music is all about celebration - of hard work, of commitment, of what our musicians achieve. We continue to evolve, we continue to listen, but most importantly, we work every day to inspire the musicians we work with. Families at home are so much part of our ethos - if we all work together, brilliant things happen and superb music is created. Do have a read here of what is going on and do come and watch a performance.

Mark Taylor, Director of Music

Making sure we have routines for practice and reading lesson notes on Involve. https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/music/practice/ - our page on advice for practice. Older students might need reminders. Larch musicians will require supervising, 3 times per week. Lesson notes give advice on what is needed to prepare for the next lesson. Do contact the teacher if you would like more information or advice regarding what and how to practice. Practice really does make progress and being a musician is a long term commitment!

Year 4 have been impressing us with their fantastic singing in a very enjoyable musical theatre unit that we studied last half term and they will be performing to their peers in assembly this week. 

In Years 7 and 8, students have been developing their composition skills inspired by the compositions of Beethoven and Grieg respectively. Have a listen to this fantastic composition by two Y8 students based on the programme of In The Hall of The Mountain King.

Musical Exam Success

Between January and February, students from Year 6 to Year 13 took their Trinity Exams.

There was a selection of Trinity Rock & Pop Exams, and Trinity Classical/Jazz Exams. 

It is incredible to see so much confidence in students to take these exams, please see the fantastic results by clicking on the images.

In keeping with our Fortnightly Focus, it is brilliant to see how much hard work pays off in ability but also confidence.

Congratulations to all those who have achieved their Grade!

What’s On

We love performing. Making music with others is the reason we do what we do.

In order to be ready to perform, we have to practice - for our lessons and for the rehearsals. This term we will be focusing on practice across both phases so all our musicians are the best they can be.

Do have a look at the Whats On page for details of our upcoming concerts and performances. These include the Big Band evening, as well as a 'Live in Concert' event that features our new Simon Balle Concert Orchestra performing 4 disco arrangements from the BBC Proms last year.

Simon Balle Music is something very special. When we practice and work together, amazing things happen.

Mark Taylor, Director of Music.

Larch Students have been busy working towards and taking their ABRSM Music Medals.

A massive congratulations to the following students!

Copper Medals:

• Edward
• Juliette
• Willow
• Jacqui
• Isabelle
• Maggie
• Emmie
• James
• Jacob
• Intil
• Ariana
• Kiera
• Noah
• Alba

Bronze Medals:

• Iris
• Zak
• Lucas

What fantastic achievements! If you haven't already received your Certificate and Badge, please be assured it is on its way, but if you have concerns, please get in touch.

Our Woodwind Starters’ Celebration showcased all of our Larch students who started learning the Flute or Clarinet in September.

The Piano Recital allowed exam candidates a chance to perform in front of an audience ahead of their upcoming music exams.

We welcomed family and friends of some of our talented players for an Evening of Piano Music.

We were lucky to have performers from Years 8-11 playing a variety of styles. There was plenty of Rock and Pop on display with Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars amongst the artists featured, whilst, in contrast, the audience were also treated to music by Claude Debussy, Richard Rodgers and Joe Hisaishi.

Well played everyone, it was all thoroughly enjoyed!

We're excited to announce that the Singing and Strings Concert is taking a new direction this year.

This concert will feature Secondary Choir, Chamber Choir, Senior Strings and we will be launching our Simon Balle Concert Orchestra.

The date is Saturday 15th March, 7pm - please make sure it is in your diaries!

Wow! What a month!

We have had 25% of our school community performing in concerts and gigs - it has been an incredible week of celebration.

Six performances in 5 days this week. Concert Band, Junior Wind Band, Brass, Saxidentals, Rock Bands, guitars, all our Larch choirs and ensembles, our senior choirs and singers.

A school is built on a community. What an amazing all-through musical community we are.

We are really proud of what our students achieve!

Mark Taylor

Director of Music

Our Simon Balle Music Podcast 

The Celebration of Wind and Brass Concert showcased our wonderful Brass Ensemble, Saxidentals, Junior Wind and Concert Band!

It was a delightful evening with an array of music!

Please enjoy videos from last night's concert:

The Rock Gig was a fantastic evening down at the Southern Maltings in Ware.

Lots of fantastic performances from Year 7 to Year 13 - incredible!

The Larch Celebration of Music showcased our amazing Larch Musicians!

• The Larch Wind & Brass Band (Year 4, 5 & 6)
• The Larch String Orchestra (Years 4, 5 & 6)
• Year 2 & 3 Choir
• Year 4, 5 & 6 Choir

Well done to everyone! Over 140 musicians performing - 45% of Years 2 - 6. 180+ in the audience!

So many smiles, so many proud families, an amazing musical community. We are one musical all-through school!

Our Guitar Recital showcased Mr Niesyto's fantastic students!

It was a brilliant evening for both solo and ensemble performances - please enjoy the videos here!

Our Celebration of Singing Concert showcased our incredible singers!

From Chamber Choir, and Secondary Choir to a selection of groups and solo performances from a selection of Year 8s, Year 9s and Year 12s.

We are really proud of what was achieved and we hope that you are too!

Please watch videos here:

Our Celebration of Strings Concert showcased:

• Senior Strings (including Year 6),
• Our Chamber Group,
• Solos
• Music featuring some of our Acoustic Guitarists.

It was fantastic to see how our String Orchestra has built over the years - a real epitome of our all-through community. As Mr Dear said, it is a really exciting time to be a strings player as the growth and development is so exciting.

Please enjoy the videos here:

The Hertford Christmas Gala was a real community event!

The Simon Balle Big Band performed brilliantly on Friday in Hertford Town. It was brilliant to see so many in the crowd supporting our students - from families, alumni to members of the public.

The students really showcased the school to the community!

The Power of an All-through School

Three Year 9 students, our first year group all those years ago in the Larch. Performing to a standard and with such confidence way beyond their age.

Only at Simon Balle. I have the privilege in my role to see and work with students as they grow through our all-through school.

Music Enrichment

A shining example of what some of our most able musicians in the Sixth Form are achieving as part of our Enrichment Programme!

Please read all about Music in Simon Balle Sixth Form here: https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/music/sixth-form/

We are one all-through musical school - enjoy!

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Year 4 Curriculum

Our Upcoming Events

Simon Balle’s Adult Community Choir - ‘Take Note’ - have their Winter Celebration Concert on Saturday 7th December, 7.30pm at St Andrews’ Church.