Junior Guildhall at Brentwood School

We are delighted to announce that applications are now open for the 2021 Junior Guildhall Kindergarten Course and String Training programme held at Brentwood School and open to children from across Essex.

These highly successful programmes are part of Brentwood School’s exciting musical collaboration with Junior Guildhall - part of the world-renowned London-based Guildhall School of Music & Drama - and are hugely popular. Applications close on Monday 1st March 2021.

Junior Guildhall offers its Kindergarten Course and String Training Programme at Brentwood School using its excellent facilities, allowing children from Essex and the local region to follow the same courses held at the Guildhall School in London.

Instruments taught on the programme are the violin, viola, cello and mini bass. Piano can be studied in addition.

Kindergarten Course

This course is for children in Reception and Year 1 and consists of classes in musical teaching methods Kodály and Rhythmics. It is designed to be fun and enables children to enjoy their first musical experience through games and exercises, within a structured yet relaxed class environment. Encouraging the desire to be involved in music making, the course provides a highly effective platform from which children can move onto the study of an instrument. No prior musical training is necessary to start the course and due to limited places, applications will be chosen by random selection.

String Training Programme

This programme provides children from Year 2 to Year 6 with integrated classes embracing Kodály, Rhythmics, ensemble training and instrumental tuition. This will give students an enjoyable first experience of music-making, as well as a good understanding in basic musical skills and a firm technical grounding within their chosen instrument.

Musical and technical aspects of learning an instrument are delivered in a way that is fun, drawing on games that stimulate the children, whilst allowing them to learn in a structured manner. Children will learn from teachers who are specialists in their fields and have a working knowledge of all disciplines taught on the programme.

By the end of the training programme, children will have learned an array of musical skills, which can be applied to their instrumental studies. Students are encouraged to work to their full potential and those who show particular talent and commitment may then audition for a place on the Junior Guildhall Music Course.

Applications are currently open and can be completed online here. Please ensure you have selected 'Junior Programmes' followed by 'Kindergarten Course at Brentwood / String Training Programme at Brentwood' before completing your application form.