Instrumental Departments
Focusing on continuous growth and reflective learning
Individual lessons, dedicated coaching, first- and second-study instruments and vital musicianship skills are all essential elements of the unique education we deliver at St Mary’s Music School.
We have five main instrumental departments – keyboard, strings, woodwind, brass and percussion and are happy to consider any instrument as a first-study choice. As Scotland’s national music school, we are able to tap into a vast network of experienced teachers!
All pupils sing in the School Choir and benefit from a comprehensive study of musicianship skills too, including academic music, music history, our excellent aural programme, composition and improvisation, as part of the daily curriculum.
It’s all about the individual
John Cameron, our Director of Music, assesses each pupil to pair them with the most appropriate teacher, ensuring an educational journey as unique as each young musician, while individualised timetables ensure that everyone receives dedicated attention with two hours of one-on-one teaching per week for their first-study instrument and a half-hour for their second-study. From S1 onwards, every pupil is paired with a dedicated coach-accompanist too, a guiding presence throughout their School journey who provides further weekly coaching sessions. And, in addition, every pupil learns to play the piano (or another instrument from the contrapuntal family) to hone their musical versatility, whether it’s their first- or second-study instrument.
Explore our instrumental departments
| Keyboard Department |
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Our first-study pianists enjoy up to two hours of personalised instruction each week, seamlessly integrated into their individual timetables. Every pupil strikes up a warm relationship with the keyboard department during their time at St Mary’s Music School as everyone learns to play the piano or another instrument from the ‘contrapuntal’ or harmonising family. Pupils are expected to practice for between two and three hours a day, and to explore a second instrument, which can be from a different department. Collaboration is a key focus, with our young pianists regularly working with their fellow singers and instrumentalists as accompanists, while visiting musicians, masterclasses and talks all add to the rich musical experience at the School. We have a diverse fleet of excellent pianos, including Steinway, Bechstein, Yamaha, and Erard, graded to support lessons and practice right up to concerto preparation, ensemble work and performance. It’s fair to say that the legacy of such glittering alumni as Steven Osborne and Simon Smith provides a constant source of inspiration! Meet the Keyboard Department teachers!
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| String Department |
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Yehudi Menuhin, our first Patron, famously referred to us as his 'Sister School in the North' and we have consistently nurtured exceptional string players here. Our dedicated teachers and coaches bring a wealth of experience to inspire and guide pupils at all levels. As well as supporting our pupils to master the technical aspects of playing and enhance their solo capabilities, we provide a host of exciting ways to cultivate the art of collaborative performance within an ensemble or group setting. Individual growth is paramount and first-study string players receive personalised, one-to-one tuition for two hours each week and are expected to practice for around two to three hours a day, in addition to exploring a second-study instrument, which can be from a different department. Every young instrumentalist also learns the piano, or another instrument from the ‘contrapuntal’ or harmonising family, enriching their musical journey. Practice Supervisors enhance the overall musical experience, fostering a supportive environment for creative exploration. As we guide pupils through their musical journey, our String Department provides a beacon of inspiration, fostering a love for music and shaping the artists of tomorrow. Meet the String Department teachers!
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| Woodwind Department |
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Pupils enjoy expert tuition on their chosen instrument by teachers who are at the pinnacle of their careers, many being principal players of national orchestras. At the heart of the School is our focus on the joy of group music making, and our woodwind and brass pupils are heavily involved in our exciting Chamber Music Programme, enjoying the opportunity to work with a range of tutors and peers on many different styles and genres of music. Woodwind and brass pupils play a key part in our orchestral programmes, both in ensembles and groups for large and small scale chamber works and as soloists in our many concerts. Not only do we pride ourselves on creating outstanding technical players, but we look to create ‘thinking’ musicians, ready for any challenge they may face as they look to the next stage of their musical careers. Meet the Woodwind Department teachers!
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| Brass Department |
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Pupils enjoy expert tuition on their chosen instrument by teachers who are at the pinnacle of their careers, many being principal players of national orchestras. At the heart of the School is our focus on the joy of group music making, and our woodwind and brass pupils are heavily involved in our exciting Chamber Music Programme, enjoying the opportunity to work with a range of tutors and peers on many different styles and genres of music. Woodwind and brass pupils play a key part in our orchestral programmes, both in ensembles and groups for large and small scale chamber works and as soloists in our many concerts. Not only do we pride ourselves on creating outstanding technical players, but we look to create ‘thinking’ musicians, ready for any challenge they may face as they look to the next stage of their musical careers. Meet the Brass Department teachers!
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| Percussion Department |
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The percussion department at St Mary’s Music School is small but perfectly formed, and exceptionally well equipped. Our percussion pupils enjoy opportunities to explore a diverse array of percussive instruments, from marimbas to xylophones, creating a dynamic and lively world of sound. Led by skilled instructors, our percussionists dive into the world of beats and rhythms, honing their skills through individual lessons and collaborative ensemble and group experiences. Meet the Percussion Department teachers!
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