Youth Music Centre

These are pre instrumental musicianship classes which are organised into small groups for our youngest YMC members between the ages of 2-6 years. These classes run every half hour through the Saturday morning arranged by age. The aim of the classes is to explore the basic concepts of music ie. rhythm and pitch, while inviting different forms of expression (through music, speech, drawing, etc), developing the singing voice and offering the chance to play with various small musical instruments. The class combines the Kodaly method – a system of corresponding syllable names and hand-signs to represent the intervalic relationship between the notes of any key, and rhythm syllables to express the duration of the note values – and the Orff method – a ‘child-centred’ approach which combines music, movement, drama and speech incorporating the use of small musical instruments and inviting improvisation. Special attention is given to inner hearing, memorising, co-ordination and expressivity. Photo: A Hurwitz/ALH Photography About Youth Music Centre The Youth Music Centre was established in Bigwood House, Hampstead Garden Suburb in 1967 and since that time has become one of the foremost Saturday morning music schools in London. The essential aim of YMC is to welcome all children from the age of two to eighteen years into our community and to help them achieve their highest musical potential within a creative and happy environment, where they can come together to enjoy making music. YMC provides classes in musicianship skills for the very youngest children before they embark on instrumental lessons at the age of five or six. After a year of group lessons on the violin, viola, cello, double bass or recorder children are ready to have their first orchestral experience. We also provide theory classes up to grade 8 and voice/aural classes. We are proud to say that we have many children who stay with us for their entire music education.

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“Music theory represents the language from which all music can be fully understood, performed and enjoyed. Learning how a piece is created can enhance one’s enjoyment of recreating a representation in performance, and provide a full awareness of the composer’s intentions.“ Graham Bennett, YMC Head of Theory and Composition Music theory classes are recommended for all children of 7 years and above. The Theory and Composition Classes at YMC offer an exciting approach to learning music theory for ABRSM examinations providing a platform where students can develop the skills and knowledge essential for all good musicians. Within each class, students are taught how to understand theory through a wider musical context often relating aspects of the syllabus to the developments of styles, periods and composers. This additional knowledge can then be applied in more creative ways as performers and composers thus providing a more enriched experience of learning and development. At YMC, theory is taught for all grades 1-8, and special emphasis on examination techniques are provided in each class. Photo: A Hurwitz/ALH Photography About Youth Music Centre The Youth Music Centre was established in Bigwood House, Hampstead Garden Suburb in 1967 and since that time has become one of the foremost Saturday morning music schools in London. The essential aim of YMC is to welcome all children from the age of two to eighteen years into our community and to help them achieve their highest musical potential within a creative and happy environment, where they can come together to enjoy making music. YMC provides classes in musicianship skills for the very youngest children before they embark on instrumental lessons at the age of five or six. After a year of group lessons on the violin, viola, cello, double bass or recorder children are ready to have their first orchestral experience. We also provide theory classes up to grade 8 and voice/aural classes. We are proud to say that we have many children who stay with us for their entire music education.

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This is a string orchestra made up of children who are usually about grade 5 standard on violin and viola and grade 4 on cello. By this stage they should have a good degree of ‘instrumental’ knowledge in all the requirements for those grades. Many of the children here will have gained orchestral experience in the Intro and Prep First Orchestra. This year we will play pieces by Grieg, Lehar, Purcell and a Mexican Hat Dance.

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In the Junior Orchestra (for string and wind players) we aim to work on more advanced repertoire and therefore Grade 6 is expected from violinists and a good Grade 5 violists and cellists. Wind players should be grade 6 and above. orchestra on an occasional basis. Practice parts are given and it is of great benefit if students could look at them during the week beforehand. Some might need to take their music to their teachers for a little extra help. This orchestra benefits of the additional wind section which enables us to play repertoire like Haydn and other classical Symphonies. This year we are looking at Schubert’s First Symphony, themes from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and pieces by Elgar and Purcell. YMC Junior Orchestra only- £15.50 YMC Junior Orchestra and ensemble- £27.10

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This is our flagship orchestra. Children usually will have achieved Grade 7 – 8 on their violin and Grade 6 on violas or cellos to take part. We play some very challenging repertoire including works specially written for us, therefore personal practice outside of YMC is certainly necessary. This year we have exciting repertoire planned: one of Mendelssohn’s youthful String Symphonies, the Vivaldi Double Cello Concerto and pieces by Louise Farrenc, Ethel Smyrna and Brahms. YMC Chamber Orchestra- £16.50 YMC Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble- £30.80

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