Preparation for Performance

Coaching

Every instrumentalist, from S1 upwards, is assigned a coach-accompanist – matched to their individual needs by John Cameron, Director of Music – to support the performance requirements of studying at St Mary’s Music School.

From performance classes to auditions, assessments and exams (and even televised broadcasts!) the coach-accompanist will both support and guide every pupil’s progress throughout their time at St Mary’s Music School and ensure they are fully performance ready. The act of coaching fosters a close partnership between coach and pupil where ideas are encouraged to flow freely back and forward, helping to strengthen and clarify the pupil’s musical vision. This close partnership will be something experienced by those who continue with their musical studies after their time at the School as it a critical element of the conservatoire or music college experience.

Coaches work on rehearsal techniques, establishing tempi, being the lead musician and a fuller understanding of the score for both the individual and others’ parts. Our highly experienced coach-accompanists act as a vital set of musical ears too, alert to any blemish, inaccuracy or uncertainty. Weekly coaching sessions, lasting for 30 minutes, are timetabled throughout the school year where this performing relationship can be nurtured.

Performance Practice

Designed to act as a stepping stone between rehearsal and public concert giving, weekly Performance Practice (PP) offer a safe space for our pupils to work on presentation and overcome any performance anxiety.

Allowing skills on the platform to be honed, in front of a small and friendly audience of between 5 and 10 pupils, Performance Practice is facilitated by a number of our teachers who are experienced performers. Pupils acting as audience members are encouraged to develop their critical appraisal skills and share their experiences through supportive commentary. Playing to peers, all of whom have a unique insight and understanding of the potential difficulties involved in performing, is an invaluable resource and one with which undergraduates at leading music colleges and conservatoires will be familiar.

Masterclasses

Learning with and from prominent musical luminaries is central to the specialist music education we offer and it is testament to our standing within the music industry that some of the world’s greatest performers are delighted to share their expertise with our pupils, in person or online.

Recent masterclasses have included Aaron Akugbo (trumpet), Arlene Macfarlane (trombone), Gabrielle Lester (violin), Jacqueline Thomas (cello), Stephen Coombs (piano), Patricia MacMahon (voice), Milos Milivojevic (accordion), Eira Lynn Jones (harp), Andrew Somerville (saxophone), Katherine Bryer (oboe) and Joseph Beech (organ). And we have also hosted workshops and assessments led by Professor Aaron Shorr (Interim Director of Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and Louise Lansdowne (Head of Strings at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire). 

Each academic year, we also promote the prestigious Nigel Murray Masterclass, a day of events including masterclasses, presentations and performances focussing on one instrument or one instrument group. Nigel Murray was the Director of Music here for 16 years and was considered one of the most talented and admired musicians in Scotland. Upon his death in 2007, the School received a substantial bequest to be invested in the funding of a series for masterclasses for the benefit of our pupils.

Today, in addition to making the Nigel Murray Masterclass open to our own teachers and pupils, we extend an invitation to other schools locally and across Scotland. In recent years we have been honoured to have the Nigel Murray Masterclass led by world-class musical dignitaries including Steven Isserlis (Cello), Felix Andrievsky (Violin), Joanna MacGregor (Piano), Pascal Rogé (Piano) and Nicola Benedetti (Violin).

We also enjoy welcoming established musicians such as Susan Tomes (Pianist) and our own former pupils Simon Smith (Piano), Philip Higham (Cello) and Steven Osborne (Piano) who regularly come into the School to try out new programmes in front of a highly receptive (and critical!) audience.

Lunchtime Concerts

Each school day provides our pupils with a unique opportunity to take charge of their musical journeys by organising their own Lunchtime Concerts – sometimes solo, sometimes accompanied by a teacher or fellow pupil.

Held in the School Chapel, our own intimate performance space, these informal events – usually lasting between 30 and 45 minutes – allow pupils to perform pieces they have been practising and showcase their talents in a supportive environment, gaining valuable experience in presenting their work to both peers and teachers. 

To prepare, pupils are required to not only finetune their musical skills but also develop essential organisational abilities! With generous guidance and support from the staff in the School Office, pupils design artwork and produce programmes, laying the foundation for critical life skills in organisation and presentation. At St Mary's Music School, we believe in empowering our pupils, not just as musicians but as confident and capable individuals ready for success beyond their time with us.

Chancel Concerts

Towards the end of each school term, we introduce weekly Chancel Concerts, an important platform for pupils to present their musical accomplishments and a great way to put in practice for upcoming concerts.

These concerts, often performed in the wonderful setting of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, are attended by the entire school community and offer a formal yet supportive setting for our pupils. It allows them to hone their performance skills and address the various challenges that professional artists encounter in a live setting, but all within a safe and nurturing environment that encourages growth.

Chancel Concerts serve as an invaluable opportunity for pupils to practise for upcoming auditions, concertos and our grand End of Term Concerts. Here, we fully recognise the importance of providing our pupils with diverse performance experiences that contribute to their artistic development and prepare them for a broader musical landscape.

End Of Term Concerts

There is no doubt that our fabulous End of Term Concerts – Christmas, Spring, and Summer –  serve as grand showcases, highlighting the culmination of each term's musical achievements through solo and ensemble performances.

Performed in some of Edinburgh’s most iconic venues, including St Cuthbert's Parish Church, St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, The Queen's Hall, and also City Halls in Glasgow, these concerts are open to the public, drawing significant attendance and attracting positive press reviews.

In these larger venues, we proudly present the collective efforts of our ensembles, featuring performances from our Senior Orchestra and Junior Orchestra, Senior String Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and the School Choir. These concerts also incorporate solo opportunities, such as the standout performance by the winner of the Lord Clyde Concerto Competition at our Spring Concert. Emphasising the importance of ensemble music making in every pupil's musical journey, these high-profile events provide a prominent stage for all our pupils to shine and to share their musical accomplishments.

Competitions

Encouraging participation in a variety of competitions, both local and international, is a key aspect of the St Mary’s Music School experience.

We are delighted that pupils have achieved notable success over the years in the BBC Young Musician of the Year, the BBC Jazz and Folk Awards, the former Moray Piano Competition, the British Flute Society Competition and the Royal National Mòd. Throughout the year, our pupils are also provided with exciting opportunities to showcase their talent in our own School music competitions, including the esteemed Lord Clyde Concerto Competition and the Directors’ Recital Prize, the Junior and Intermediate Recital Prizes, and the Sheila Tough Singing Competition.