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Welcome to the East Herts Music Centre hosted at the Broxbourne school, which from the beginning of this September term has merged the Broxbourne Music Centre and the Hertford Music Centre. 

Starting your musical journey is a great adventure that opens doors to new ideas, new music, friendships and learning to play an instrument! Hear first-hand what it's like to learn and play in East Herts.

 

Individual tuition and Groups

Available throughout the academic year after school and in the evenings is our individual tution lessons for Violin, Viola, Recorder, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Horn, Guitar, Piano and Drums.

Groups and ensembles - put your learning into practice and join a group.  Learning to play with others helps progression on your chosen instrument, reinforces sightreading, is a team skill and is a lot of fun.

Be sure to check out our Ensemble Membership for £109 / term, students can attend two ensembles and the applicable ensembles are at no extra charge.

Fridays


 Time Ensemble/Group Teacher
 5.00pm-5.40pm String Ensemble Sam Slade 
 5.45pm-6.45pm Wind Band Matthew Smith
6.00pm-7.30pm East Herts Youth Orchestra Sam Slade

 

Saturday

 Time Ensemble Teacher
8.45am-9.15am Recorder groups 1 & 3 combined Andy Cording
8.45am-9.15am Recorder groups 2&4 combined Millicent Robinson
9.15am-9.45am Junior Music Group  Andy Cording & Millicent Robinson
9.15am-9.45am Theory Group Hattie Jolly & Peter Foster
10.00am-10.30am Junior Choir Andy Cording
10.00am-10.30am Senior Choir Millident Robinson
10.30am-11.00am String & Wind Groups Millicent Robinson, Hattie Jolly and Peter Foster

 

Individual lessons

  • Brass
  • Drums
  • Strings: violin and viola, guitar, electric guitar
  • Theory
  • Woodwind: recorder, flute, oboe, clarinet and saxophone
  • Piano

Attending your lessons or group

Things to bring to lessons:

  • instrument (where required), music and pencil
  • a drink
  • brass players should bring a rag to empty water keys onto and a plastic bag to put the dirty rag in for washing at home.
  • we ask that no nuts are brought into the centre in case of allergies

Drop-off and pick-up

Weekday, afterschool lessons : please bring your child to the music centre doors and buzz to be let in to take them to their teacher for their lesson.  

Please collect your child from their teacher when the lesson is over.  If you intend to stay in the music centre please sign in the grey Visitor's folder which is at reception.  Please don't forget to sign out when you leave.


About our groups

All groups work with experienced staff to develop their instrumental skills through listening and playing as part of an ensemble. They rehearse a wide variety of music, and give regular concerts.

Friday Evening Ensembles

String Ensemble with Sam Slade (Fridays 5.00-5.40pm)

For string players Grade 1 to Grade 4 standard. 

East Herts Youth Orchestra with Sam Slade (Fridays, 6.00-7.30pm)

  • For all instrumental players at grade 5 and above.
  • The group plays a range of repertoire from classical to pop medleys.
  • The group is also a platform from which to join wider county activities including Hertfordshire Schools Symphony Orchestra and County Youth Orchestra.  

Wind Band with Matt Smith (Fridays 5.45-6.45pm)

For woodwind, brass, guitar, keyboard and percussion players at grade 1 to grade 5.  Great introduction to playing in a band.  Learn team skills and improve sight reading whilst having fun making music together.

Saturday Morning Junior Make Music and Senior Make Music Groups

Recorder : Beginner and intermediate (Saturdays, 8.45-9.15am)

  • Our beginner group is for children who have never played before.
  • They are taught the basics of recorder playing and they begin to read music. 
  • The preliminary group has the opportunity to take music medal exams and the intermediate group introduces children to playing the treble and tenor recorders.

 Recorders : Advanced (Saturdays, 8.45-9.15am)

  • For players at grade 3 or above.
  • The group uses the full range of recorders from sopranino to bass. 
  • They explore a wide repertoire from early music to arrangements of popular songs from films and musicals. 
  • This group develops skills in ensemble playing. 

Theory (Saturday 9.15-9.45am)

  • For players or singers who need help and practice at the various tests set in theory exams.
  • All levels are taught from grades 1-5.
  • A pass at grade 5 is required for entry to practical exams at grade 6 and above.

Junior Music Group (Saturdays 9.15-9.45am)

  • For children aged 5-11.
  • A foundation for musical progression through work with percussion instruments, songs and recorders.
  • Each term has a set theme and the children explore music through playing recorders, pitched and un-pitched percussion instruments and song. 

  • Theory is included at appropriate levels.  

Junior choir (Saturdays, 10.00-10.30am)

  • For younger singers to develop their voices and to learn to read music.
  • The children sing a wide variety of music and action songs. 

Senior choir (Saturdays, 10.00-10.30am)

  • For intermediate singers to explore their voices through pop songs and songs from films and shows.
  • Students will explore singing in parts.   

String Ensemble (Saturdays, 10.30-11.00am)

  • For children from beginner level to grade 3
  • To explore playing within an ensemble.
  • Violin, viola, cello and double bass are welcome.
  • Students develop skills in sight-reading which also helps them achieve better results in graded music examinations. 

 

For more information on any of these groups, please email easthertsmusic@hertfordshire.gov.uk

 

How to contact and find us

East Herts Music Centre based at The Broxbourne School

Badgers Walk

Broxbourne

EN10 7FU

Find on a map

Telephone: 01992 556698


Opening hours, term time only:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 3.15pm - 6.45pm
  • Fridays 3.15pm - 7.30pm
  • Saturdays 8.15am - 11.30am
  • Thursday and Sunday's: closed

Reception / Administrator: Tracy Pardue (Mon-Wed) easthertsmusic@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Regional Manager: Peter Foster

Business Admin Manager: Anita Forrest

 

 

Concerts

Each group gives a performance at the end of each term, either at the East Herts Music Centre based at The Broxbourne School or at other local venues.

Occasionally, we also arrange Performance Platform Concerts for those having individual lessons so that students can perform to a small and friendly audience, which helps them with exam preparation.