Eltham College Eltham College Music

We have a heritage of outstanding music at Eltham College. Almost two thirds of our students play at least one musical instrument, with many progressing to Diploma level and beyond.

Every week we rehearse over forty ensembles, and our students perform regularly within school, at prestigious venues such as Blackheath Halls, the Royal Festival Hall and St John’s Smith Square, and on national and international tours.

Music Calendar

This year it is shaping up to be another wonderful year of music-making here at Eltham College, with over 70 concerts and events across the Senior and Junior schools involving a huge number of our musicians.

Check our music calendar here.

Instrumental tuition

Nearly 70% of Elthamians learn at least one instrument. Individual lessons at school take place on a rotating basis during timetabled hours or, in the case of Sixth Formers, during private study periods. Performing with other musicians is a vital part of being an instrumentalist, and as such all students learning instruments are invited to perform in one of the school’s many ensembles.

Tuition is available on the following instruments/voice:

Keyboard	Piano Jazz Piano Organ
Strings	Violin Viola Cello Double Bass Harp
Guitar	Classical Guitar Electric Guitar Bass Guitar
Brass	Euphonium French Horn Tenor Horn Trombone Trumpet Tuba
Percussion	Drum Kit Orchestral Percussion
Singing	Classical Musical Theatre Contemporary
Woodwind	Flute Clarinet Oboe Bassoon Saxophone Jazz Saxophone Recorder

To sign up for instrumental tuition, please email: [email protected]

Music Fees

Rates for September 2023 – July 2024 are shown below. All rates are subject to change and an annual review.

Payments direct to the Visiting Music Teacher:

Individual Instrumental/Singing tuition

1×30 minute lesson £24.20 /lesson

Theory Tuition

1×30 minute individual lesson £24.20 /lesson

1×30 minute shared lesson £12.10 /shared lesson (subject to availability)

Music/equipment, sheet music/theory books, instruments etc. as appropriate

Payments that are added to the school fees include:

Associated Board and Trinity Grade Examination Fees: these are set by the examination boards and charged via the termly school fees invoice.

Accompanist Fees: if an accompanist is required at your child’s exam, accompanist fees will also be charged via the termly school fees invoice.

The current accompanist rates are:

Grade 1 to 3: £25 (which includes one 15-minute rehearsal before the exam day, a brief run-through on the day and the examination performance)

Grade 4 and 5: £35 (which includes one 20-minute rehearsal before the exam day, a brief run-through on the day and the examination performance)

Grade 6 and 7: £45 (which includes one 25-minute rehearsal before the exam day, a brief run-through on the day and the examination performance)

Grade 8: £60 (which includes one 30-minute rehearsal before the exam day, a brief run-through on the day and the examination performance)

Diploma: confirmed at time of booking

Ensembles

The Senior School Music Department offers an extensive weekly programme of music ensembles, across a range of sizes, disciplines and standards. Rehearsals take place before school, at lunchtime, and after the end of academic lessons.

Choirs and Orchestras

Symphony Orchestra	Chamber Orchestra	Sinfonia
College Choir	Choral Society	Chamber Choir
Young Voices	Voce	Junior Acappella

Other Large Ensembles

Concert Band

Eltham Brass

Symphonic Winds

Jazz

Big Band	Jazz Combo
Dixieland Band	Cool Jazz

Small Ensembles and Chamber Groups

Amati String Quartet	Senior String Quartet	Junior String Quartet
Purcell String Ensemble	Poulenc Wind Ensemble	Early Music Ensemble
Silver Sonics Flute Ensemble	Platinum Players Flute Ensemble	Saxophone Quartet
Senior Oboe Trio	Double Reed Ensemble	Bream Guitar Ensemble
Rock School	Slick Sticks Percussion Ensemble	Stick Attack Percussion Ensemble
Musical – Show Band	Tetrachord Piano Ensemble	Aeolian Brass

Music Scholarships

Music Scholars at Eltham are offered a tailored programme that encourages them to be self-analytical and reflective in order to sustain continued improvement and high-level performance. All of our concerts are professionally recorded, allowing our Scholars to analyse their performances in detail with their teachers and target specific areas on which to focus. Scholars have regular 1-1 conversations with an assigned member of music staff; these encourage pupils to consider the progress that they have made, and how the senior school music department can support them in developing further as a performer. Our Scholarship programme involves regular trips into London to attend masterclasses, concerts, and to visit Music Conservatoires; recent Scholars’ Trips include Steinway Halls and the Royal College of Music.

Music Tours

The Music Department organises national and international tours, both choral and orchestral. Recent tours have included Spain (Choral, 2023), Scotland (Orchestral, 2022) and Croatia (Choral, 2018)

Service Standards & Commitments

Please use the link here to read our service standards and commitments.

Senior

School News

Eltham College

Eltham College Excels in Hans Woyda Mathematics Competition

The latest leg of the Hans Woyda Mathematics Competition concluded on Wednesday with an impressive showcase of mathematical skills at St Dunstan’s College.

Eltham College

Eltham College Hans Woyda Team Results

Last evening marked a significant milestone for the Eltham College Hans Woyda Team as they took the stage for their eagerly anticipated second league match of the academic year.

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Meet the Teachers – André Astbury-Palmer, Teacher of Maths

For our first ‘Meet The Teacher’ interview this academic year, we are diving into the world of mathematics to introduce André Astbury-Palmer, our new Maths Teacher at Eltham College.

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Choosing The Right School For Your Child

Our Head of Junior School at Eltham College, Vikki Meier, shares her insights on the important decision of choosing the right school for your child.

Eltham College

Chess Team Shines at National Schools Rapid Play

On Sunday, our Chess team travelled to Eton to participate in the National Schools Rapid Play competition.