Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Music Tuition in Edinburgh
Updated: 3/3/2014
Making Musical Maestros in Edinburgh
If you have squirmed with some of the failed pop wannabes during the early knockout stages of the X Factor, you might reject the idea that everyone is musical. But every child is. By creating their own music, listening to different tunes or simply singing along with mum, children will develop important language skills.
Children love to make their own sounds. Be it shaking a rattle, patting a drum or squeezing a hooter and they will often make a beeline for a toy that makes a noise. They will immediately be drawn into an environment full of energy, imagination and fun, and they will love this all the more if they can share this precious time with a parent or brother or sister – learning to take turns. It’s a simple way for your child to understand that by joining in with music they can become part of a team, strengthening the emotional bond among family members.
There are many ways you can introduce music to your child...
- Sing together! Your child will love your singing voice even if you don’t. Whether you’re singing along to the radio, humming a nursery rhyme or making up your own tunes, introduce song to your usual daily life. Repeating the same songs will strengthen your child’s memory.
- Introduce children to different musical instruments by visiting a local music shop.
- Listen to various musical genres, from rock and roll to opera. As you listen with your child, describe the different sounds from the instruments that you hear. And take your child to a music event to see how members of an orchestra or band perform together. Listen to tunes from other countries and cultures to build social awareness and make music part of everyday life.
- Recreate songs with puppets or toys to bring tunes to life. Adapt favourite nursery rhymes to initiate action in your child such as ‘Twinkle twinkle let’s tidy up, let’s not be a mucky pup!’
- Record your child humming, singing or playing an instrument and replay it back to them. Then just watch their face as they listen to their vocal talents!
Edinburgh is blessed with a vast choice of businesses that are finely attuned to introducing music to children...
The City of Edinburgh Music School – an exciting specialist provision
The City of Edinburgh Music School is a unique specialist music school catering for talented youngsters from the ages of 4 to 19 and is totally funded by the Scottish Government so it does not charge any fees. Entry is by audition, and the gifted children selected receive specialist tuition in all aspects of music while based full-time at newly built state-of-the-art facilities in Flora Stevenson Primary and Broughton High Schools in Edinburgh. The school has been featured in the BBC Scotland series ‘The Music School’, and in numerous radio broadcasts.
The school, whose patron is Sir Simon Rattle CBE, was selected to become the first UK All Steinway School of Excellence in the UK and has 25 Steinway pianos – at least one in every teaching space.
Financial assistance is given for travel if students live further afield, and there is also a trust fund to provide scholarships and resources for specialist music students.
With all the advantages of expert individual tuition and the social mix of a large, successful state school - each child's gift for music is developed in a well-balanced and happy environment.
With all the advantages of specialist tuition, and the social mix and curricula choices of large state Primary and Secondary schools. it is easy to see why The City of Edinburgh Music School is one of Scotland's most exciting specialist provisions. For more details call 0131 332 7805 or go to www.edinburghmusicschool.co.uk
New teacher hits the high notes at Edinburgh Young Musicians
Edinburgh Young Musicians' new term started in early September with over 300 children aged 3 to 17, and more classes than ever before. Although very sad to see Jill Reeves depart for a job in Port Glasgow, they were delighted to welcome Susan Meiklejohn as her replacement for the pre-school musical play classes, and for some musicianship classes. Susan brings a wealth of experience, having been a mainstream primary teacher as well as a primary music specialist and having recently completed the development of a series of DVDs, teaching notes and workshops for nursery and primary teachers, based on the NYCoS Kodaly musicianship training programme. For more details go to www.e-y-m.org.uk or call 0131 226 3392.
Free trial class at Gymboree Edinburgh
Winner of the WO4LOs 2013 Best National Pre-School Development Activity, Gymboree offers a large and comprehensive pre-school learning programme, featuring award-winning classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers from newborns through to 5 years. Gymboree's unique classes have been designed by experts in childhood development and feature a parent or carer as a fully participating play partner.
Gymboree Edinburgh offers both ‘Play and Learn’ classes and music classes, which use fun activities to help develop a young child’s physical, cognitive and social skills.
With developmentally structured lessons and custom designed gym apparatus children are able to begin a future of fun- filled learning. Gymboree Edinburgh is open 6 days a week and also has an extensive ‘Open Gym’ schedule, where members can go along every day for an hour of free play. Gymboree is suitable for children aged 0-5 years old and classes are run from the newly refurbished venue at 3 Gorgie Park Road, Edinburgh. Why not go along for a free trial class? For more details go to www.gymboree-uk.com/edinburgh
Lamp House Music announce free ‘Music Schools for All’ – Deadline 4 October
Lamp House Music is offering free places to 10-14 year olds at their renowned music schools, giving children the opportunity to be in band and to enjoy the guitar, drums and song-writing master classes. Children can also gain experience in writing, rehearsing and recording an original track.
Lamp House Music has achieved success with its rehearsal rooms, music lessons, Pop Star birthday parties, gigs and music projects. Now with the help of funding from Creative Scotland, the Haddington based music schools are free for all East Lothian youngsters during the school holidays from October 2013 to August 2014. No music experience is required and travel expenses will also be reimbursed. The week-long schools take place within the fully equipped rehearsal and recording studios. Application is by completion of a short and simple form online at www.lamphousemusic.co.uk/freemusicschools or by calling 01620 825630. The deadline for applications for the October Music School is Friday 4th October.
Portobello Music School introduces new syllabus
Portobello Music School is delighted to announce a new syllabus being introduced this year in partnership with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). Music Medals is a syllabus designed to provide graded assessments to children learning instruments in groups, so it is ideally suited to primary-aged children as it provides progressive steps from Primary 3 through to Primary 7. There are five progressive levels which take children from beginner to around Grade 4 level. In addition to the Creative Music classes for children aged from birth to Primary 2 and the broad programme of instrumental classes and ensembles for children in Primary 3 and upwards, Portobello Music School is also excited to introduce a new instrument for P3+4 children - interested in studying clarinet or saxophone. The Clarinéo offers an excellent introduction for younger players as it requires the same playing technique but is lighter - ideal for smaller fingers and is much more affordable than entry-level clarinets and saxophones. For further information and/or to enrol for classes starting this term, visit www.portobellomusicschool.com or call 0131 669 1120
Popular classes resume at St Mary’s Music School
St Mary’s Music School’s long established popular classes, for children aged 4 – 11, include pre-school and Early Years Kodaly, instrumental lessons, singing, recorder, theory and new for 2013-14, Dalcroze Eurhythmics. Visit the Outreach section of the school website for further information and an application form at www.st-marys-music-school.co.uk