Guildhall Young Artists Norwich Ensemble Only Course

Looking for private tuition with one of our expert tutors? Book a 30-minute instrumental, vocal lesson or drama lesson, to be taken alongside the Ensemble Only Course. Register your interest when signing up for a course. 

Fees
£180 per term (£18 per week) 

With one-to-one lesson
Add an individual 30-minute instrumental/vocal/drama lesson (subject to availability) for an additional £25 per Saturday + the cost of the Ensemble Only Course

Payment Schedule
We ask you to pay termly and once you’ve settled in we ask for half a term’s notice if you decide not to continue. 

Deposit
We ask for a £50 holding deposit to secure your place. On receipt of your application, a friendly member of our team will discuss your requirements noted on the application form and send a payment link for the reservation of a place. This payment will be taken off one terms fees, or any outstanding balance refunded to your account if you give notice within the five-week trial period.

Bursaries
We offer a large number of bursaries to attend GYA Norwich, including travel to our centre.  Please don’t hesitate to get in touch and ask about these – it’s entirely confidential and we keep the application process as simple and quick as possible.

Autumn Term

Saturday 20 September 
Saturday 27 September 
Saturday 4 October 
Saturday 11 October
Saturday 18 October 

Half-term – (no sessions on Saturday 25 October, 1 & 8 November)

Saturday 15 November
Saturday 22 November 
Saturday 29 November 
Saturday 06 December 
Saturday 13 December
 

Spring Term

Saturday 10 January 
Saturday 17 January 
Saturday 24 January 
Saturday 31 January
Saturday 07 February 

Half-term – (no sessions on Saturday 14 & 21 February)

Saturday 28 March 
Saturday 07 March 
Saturday 14 March 
Saturday 21 March 
Saturday 28 March 

Summer Term

Saturday 25 April 
Saturday 02 May
Saturday 09 May 
Saturday 16 May 
 

Half-term – (no sessions on Saturday 23 & 30 May)

Saturday 06 June 
Saturday 13 June 
Saturday 20June 
Saturday 27 June 
Saturday 04 July 
Saturday 11 July 

We regret it is not possible to give refunds in the event of absence as the Centre has to continue paying professional tutors and overheads. GYA Norwich expects as close to 100% attendance as possible, to ensure you develop and get the most out of your membership.

Half a term’s notice is required to stop attending (except in exceptional circumstances). This notice period is required to fulfil obligations to the professional tutors, pay for facilities and to encourage you to be fully committed to the courses chosen.  

Beginner Brass & Wind with Polly Fenn

Intermediate Brass with Tom Carr

A brass group for young players to try out some fun pieces whilst developing the skills needed to play together to produce a great band sound.  All Brass instruments are welcome.

Advanced Brass with Tom Carr

GYA Norwich String Quartets and String Chamber Music is coached by Emily Shedrake, who has performed, recorded and toured Europe with many of the country’s leading baroque orchestras including the Academy of Ancient Music, Gabrieli Consort and players, Hanover Band and Fiori Musicali.

Choir with Laura Morgan

The emphasis for GYA Norwich choir is on having fun whilst students develop their vocal skills, covering a range of repertoire and styles and learning to sing together in harmony and different parts. It is also the perfect opportunity to mix with other students from outside their own instrumental groups.

Chamber Choir with Laura Morgan

Aimed at more experienced singers, Chamber Choir offers students the opportunity to receive high quality vocal training. Repertoire is varied and during rehearsals students are encouraged to develop part singing and sight-reading skills.

The Composition classes are run by Ben Pease Barton

Fusion Band with GYAN Tutor Simon Limbrick provides an opportunity for music-making that combines many different disciplines, musical styles and genres. The repertoire includes the creative use of musical ideas from music found in other cultures, and includes a wider view of Western music, such as classic Progressive Rock, Electronic Pop, and experimental scores that incorporate music technologies. The musical activity is not dominated by the need to read notation, and players use guitar-tab and other graphic methods when necessary.

The instrumental line-up can include most kinds of instrument from different musical contexts, and is an opportunity for musicians develop their skills on instruments such as electric guitar, synthesiser, laptop-based software, as well as instruments such as the ukulele and Indian tabla.

So far, the Fusion Band has performed music by the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Alan Holdsworth, Herbie Hancock, Gary Numan and Jean-Michel Jarre, with other pieces composed and improvised by the participants. The choice of repertoire is influenced by the ideas of the performers and their enthusiasm and interests guide the artistic direction of the band sessions.

The Fusion Band provides and opportunity for musicians, with a broad range of musical skills, to create and perform contemporary musical repertoire using classical, non-classical and music technologies.

Guitar Group with James Porter

Guitar Group is open to Guitarists of around grade 2+ standard.  It is a great opportunity to meet and play with other Guitar players in a group to perform a range of music from Dowland to Bowie!

GYA Norwich offers a great opportunity for musicians to develop their ability to improvise and compose their own music. Under the direction of Simon Limbrick  students develop composition and collaborative skills working together to produce an improvised performance using their chosen instrument/voice.

Intermediate Jazz with Jez Franks

Intermediate - Advanced Jazz with Jez Franks

Advanced Jazz Band with Jez Franks

A chance for our more advanced players (Grade 5+)  to play a wide range of music in a smaller group.

GCSE/A Level Support – Ben Pease Barton

Music Theory - Polly Fenn & Vicky McCardel

Info to follow....

GYA Norwich has a dedicated pathway which supports students from a young age as they develop the skills necessary to reach the concert platform.

Intermediate & Advanced Concert Orchestra with Thomas Shelbourn

GYA Norwich Orchestra meets weekly and offers the perfect space to learn how to play together in an orchestra. Students usually join around grade 4+ standard and many will have played in other ensembles  first.   The orchestra play a wide range of music which sometimes includes original compositions by GYA Norwich  staff and students!

Norfolk County Youth Orchestra with Andrew Morley (conductor)

Norfolk County Youth Orchestra was established in 1959 and is recognised as a vibrant and successful county youth orchestra.  Working closely with GYA Norwich the orchestra offers workshops and courses for all players in Norfolk of around grade 6+ standard.

To find out more and to apply for a place please visit to the NCYO page here.

Sonic Arts with GYA Norwich tutor Simon Limbrick is focussed on the use of ‘live’ instruments, such as electric guitar, synthesizer, DJ Decks, drum/percussion triggers, and laptops running Ableton Live software.

Although recording and mixing is a key part of the skills taught, the intention is to avoid a familiar scenario where workstations are used in isolation from the wider performing and musical activities. Creative song-writing, sampling, programming, and other genres of electronic music-making are encouraged within a context of shared activities such as rehearsals and performances.

The skills taught include sound processing and editing, sampling, control of ‘live’ music technology interfaces. They will be developed across a range of hardware that includes effects pedals, sound boards, computers, samplers, and loopers. Participants will develop skills on music technology instruments, using skills appropriate to those instruments. So, the focus is on understanding and expressing musical ideas through the use of music technology, with other techniques, such as reading and writing musical notation being integrated where necessary.

The ‘live’ aspect of the sessions means that musicians who are focussed on music technologies to create and perform their ideas, will also be able to integrate into other musical activities and ensembles. So that someone learning about an electronic instrument could also play as part of a jazz ensemble, or a perform on a laptop with a string ensemble.

Creative music-making is a part of working with new music technologies, so there is a focus on compositional skills to work alongside performing and programming skills.

The programme avoids the use of expensive software and equipment, and promotes the integration of tested software, such as Audacity, Ocenaudio, Reaper, and Pure Data. More established software, such as Logic, Cubase and MaxMSP are also in the mix of technologies that can be used.

Percussion with Simon Limbrick

Percussion is a great opportunity for those wanting to develop their tuned percussion skills. The group includes a large range of orchestral instruments (including piano) and is a brilliant opportunity to improve rhythmic and sight-reading skills.  This group is also beneficial to other instrumentalists, particularly pianists, who want to play in an ensemble.

Piano lessons with Steve Gebbett, James Fergus

GYA Norwich has several piano teachers offering a range of styles and options from beginners to young professionals.  Students are allocated to an appropriate tutor depending on their stage of learning and interest in musical style.

Beginner Strings with Annely Viggipuu
Prelude Strings provide an introduction to ensemble playing for young students of approx. grade 1 and above and the emphasis is on performing together to develop ensemble skills whilst having fun. Students are encouraged to be responsible for making sure they learn their own parts and develop good technique.

Intermediate Strings with Helen Barber
This group is aimed at students who are around grade 3 and above. The music is varied and includes lots of fun arrangements of favourite tunes.

Advanced Strings with Emily Sheldrake
Senior strings invites students who have a level of grade 6 and above.  Professional violinist Hannah Perowne introduces players to favourite works for string ensemble by well-known composers.

String Quartets with Emily Sheldrake
Students will need to audition for quartets which are for more advanced string players.  As a guest artist with the internationally acclaimed Henschel Quartet, Emily  introduces students to some of the most loved and established string quartet repertoire as well as more modern works.

Beginner Brass & Wind with Polly Fenn

Intermediate Wind with Grace Duthie
Intermediate wind is a woodwind group for players who have a level of grade 1 and above.  The music is varied and includes lots of fun arrangements of favourite tunes.

Advanced Wind with Rachel Cannon
The emphasis is on Players in this group are mostly at grade 4 and above.  The emphasis is on developing ensemble and listening skills using a range of music and styles, which include some established and familiar wind repertoire alongside special arrangements for the group.

Flute Choir with Vicky McCardel
Open to all Flute players from approx. grade 2 standard, Flute choir covers a whole range of musical styles all specially written for a choir of Flutes.

Advanced Clarinet Choir with Rachel Cannon
Weekly classes for advanced clarinet players. Suitable for Grade 5+ students.