Simon Balle Music continues to grow and has more musicians than ever wanting to be part of who we are. This is amazing and a challenge we are rising to!
Our main development is the setting up of our Music Scholars programme that is being launched, over time, with our musicians.
We are also looking at how we can provide more opportunities for our Popular Music musicians. Our new page here outlines these opportunities, as Rock School expands and we have more routes of progression for our senior scholars. These new routes include auditions into a new Function Band for Session Musicians.
Our new Wind, Brass and Percussion page describes the pathways of progression within the largest team in Simon Balle Music. It also describes routes into our Big Bands, something we know many musicians aspire to.
Across our musical enrichment we are always looking at how we can provide more opportunities, working within our main restriction of space! One of the possibilities I continue to investigate is that of trips and opportunities to perform out of Hertford. This is incredibly hard – not just for cost, but suitable rehearsal and performance venues! I know how important opportunities such as these to our musicians are – so many venues have closed down in recent years.
Rock School has returned with more musicians and bands than ever! The ethos of Rock School is clear – whilst we try to put musicians with people they want to work with, this is not always possible. Being a musician is all about working in a team and learning to work with others, just as any professional musician would do. The clichè I always use is that there is ‘no i in team’!
Our aim is to work in partnership with our musicians, families at home and our team at all times. Simon Balle Music is unique and I am proud of our ethos and what our musicians achieve, day after day. You are so important in this triangle of support, creating routines for practice, engaging with us and helping us celebrate our amazing musicians.
This is who we are – Simon Balle Music. Thank you for working together with us in partnership.
Mark Taylor,
Director of Music, Simon Balle Music.
Curriculum Success
Year 7 have been making a fantastic start to their Simon Balle musical journey, exploring the world of Musical Theatre. All classes have been singing in a variety of styles found in musicals, from epic production numbers such as ‘The Circle of Life’ from The Lion King, to fun comedy songs such as ‘Naughty’ from Matilda, which you can hear in the recordings.
We can’t wait to see what other amazing musical work this year group produces over the coming months and years!
“Naughty” from Matilda – Year 7 Musical Theatre
Open Morning Highlights
The annual Simon Balle Open Morning was a success for all of the school. Simon Balle Music was showcased by a number of superb musicians in Team Music.
There were plenty of fantastic performances,
Vox
Rock School
Saxidentals
Pianists in the Library
Larch Choir
The Simon Balle Big Band
All of the musicians involved worked together as a team, supporting their peers, inspiring prospective students and making the Simon Balle community proud. Highlights can be found on our Instagram!
