JUNIOR ACADEMY 2021/22 1 My daughter absolutely loves Junior Academy. WELCOME Not only is she growing as a , she is At the Royal Academy of Music we are passionate about nurturing potential. That’s why we dedicate every Saturday to Junior Academy and all the also so much more programmes under its umbrella. confident as a person. The students are treated Junior Academy offers a unique opportunity for talented young from all backgrounds to be inspired and challenged in their music-making. Whether as young adults, which you are still young and would benefit from the special focus of Primary Academy, helps them to develop or are ready for the full Junior Academy or Junior experience, you will find their independence yourself among others who share your love of music. Young musicians aged from 12 to 18 travel from all over the UK to take part in Claire Edwards, parent the creative learning environment at Junior Academy that enables students to develop all aspects of their musicianship – forming strong bonds and lifelong friendships along the way.

Our teachers are successful performing musicians and educators; they combine active careers with the reward of helping young performers and fulfil their potential. Many also teach on the Academy’s undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

If you love music, enjoy performing and are committed to your individual musical journey, Junior Academy could be the perfect place for you. See our website for more information about how to apply.

ACTING DIRECTOR OF COURSE LEADER, JUNIOR ACADEMY FIRST GUITAR EXPERIENCE John Hutchins Luke Dunlea

DIRECTOR OF PRIMARY ACADEMY ADMINISTRATOR Krystyna Budzynska Karen Ingram

HEAD OF JUNIOR JAZZ OPERATIONS MANAGER Gareth Lockrane Thomas Foster

COURSE LEADER, Tel: 020 7873 7380 FIRST STRING EXPERIENCE Email: [email protected] Daniel Smith Web: ram.ac.uk/junioracademy

All images by Frances Marshall 2 3 JUNIOR ACADEMY

Immerse yourself in a busy schedule of enriching musical activity with like-minded musicians

On Saturdays, the Royal Academy of Music transforms into Junior Academy. Intensive one-to-one lessons, a variety of performance opportunities, specialist classes and excellent teaching staff all add to the musical vibrancy.

Weekly activities are varied and might include:

• A one-hour lesson in your main instrument with a specialist teacher. • Second study lessons, where appropriate (not included in the course fee). • Chamber ensembles coached by one of our teachers or a visiting musician. • Academic classes to develop aural and theory skills, general musicianship and an understanding of style and form. • Rehearsals and performances of standard orchestral repertoire, with concerto opportunities for outstanding instrumentalists. • SATB and chamber choirs. I adore teaching • Masterclasses and workshops with distinguished performers. • A variety of performance opportunities for solo, chamber, choir and orchestral at Junior players, from weekly informal performance platforms to major concerts in the Academy. Academy and in venues across . There’s a fantastic

atmosphere and, Other opportunities include keyboard as an alumnus skills, composition, conducting and WE OFFER PRINCIPAL STUDY of the Academy Alexander Technique. There are annual AND SECOND STUDY competitions for each discipline and LESSONS IN: myself, I love for chamber music, adjudicated by being part of prominent visiting musicians. | VIOLA | CELLO | a team that DOUBLE BASS | HARP | GUITAR | FLUTE | RECORDER | OBOE | inspires the next CLARINET | BASSOON | HORN | generation TRUMPET | TROMBONE | TUBA | of talented PERCUSSION | PIANO | ORGAN | CLASSICAL ACCORDION | young singers VOICE | COMPOSITION

John Lattimore, teacher Second study lessons are also available in and CONDUCTING, subject to demand.

4 5 JUNIOR JAZZ

Work with renowned performers and educators to develop your skills, confidence and passion for jazz

Established in 2003, our Junior Jazz and will learn about some of the programme accepts jazz musicians musicians of the past who helped to aged 14 to 18. Previous students shape the development of jazz. include Joe Armon-Jones, Jacob Collier, Kit Downes, Nubya Garcia, Completing the course will not Michael Kiwanuka, Femi Koleoso and guarantee you a place on the Alexandra Ridout. undergraduate jazz course at the Academy, but one of our key aims is to Working under the direction of Gareth prepare students thoroughly for further Lockrane and Matt Anderson, you specialist study, and graduates of the will receive a weekly small ensemble Junior Jazz programme have had an session and, over the course of the almost 100% success rate of gaining year, take part in masterclasses and entry to one of the UK conservatoire workshops. In recent years, students jazz courses. We have close links with have had the opportunity to work with the senior Jazz Department, led by Pete Churchill, Bokani Dyer, Adam Nick Smart, and junior and senior Glasser, Dave Holland, Nikki Iles, Pete students regularly work together. King, Dick Oatts, Jason Rebello and Gwilym Simcock, among others. You will also enjoy numerous performance opportunities, including a summer term concert at Soho Pizza Express or Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.

Work is largely practical, with most learning and performing happening in small ensembles. You will focus on improvisation, the study of harmonic and rhythmic elements, and playing in a variety of styles. WE WELCOME APPLICATIONS The course also includes the FOR THE FOLLOWING: arrangement of standard jazz tunes for ensembles, and the importance GUITAR | BASS | SAXOPHONE | of the ear/instrument relationship TRUMPET | TROMBONE | in jazz performance is strongly DRUMS/PERCUSSION | FLUTE | emphasised. You will be encouraged CLARINET | VOICE to listen to a wide range of genres 6 7 PRIMARY ACADEMY FIRST EXPERIENCES

Make the most of your musical ability in a friendly, supportive learning environment

Talented musicians aged 8 to 12 will in Junior Academy, you will play thrive at Primary Academy. As well as chamber music, sing in the choir, developing musically, you’ll have lots improve your aural, theory and general of fun with friends who, like you, really musicianship and – if you are a string enjoy their music-making. It’s a great or wind player – play in either a way to spend your Saturdays! string or wind ensemble.

In addition to your individual instrumental lessons with outstanding teachers, many of whom also teach FIRST STRING EXPERIENCE FIRST GUITAR EXPERIENCE The Junior Academy First String The Junior Academy First Guitar Experience (FSE) gives children as Experience (FGE) welcomes children young as four the best possible start aged six to join our three-year course, to their musical journey as string which gives them a unique opportunity players. Now in its fourth decade, the to learn the guitar. course encourages basic musical skills, physical ease with the instrument and Using the Jigsaw Guitar Course the enjoyment of playing through devised by FGE director Luke Dunlea, group tuition and ensemble playing. the programme incorporates classical guitar and Kodály method-based The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and training, advancing the children’s nurturing, to ensure that the children basic musicianship skills in areas of get the most out of their learning. pulse, rhythm and pitch. Fun games Parents and guardians support their and singing activities play a key part, children by accompanying them to and the lessons develop a solid the sessions, helping to sustain their foundation in classical guitar technique. interest and encouraging them to PRIMARY ACADEMY OFFERS practise. Each year group gives a There are 30 Saturday sessions over the PRINCIPAL STUDY LESSONS IN: concert at the end of every term. year. In Year 1 of the course, students attend a 45-minute pre-instrumental PIANO | VIOLIN | VIOLA | There are 30 Saturday sessions over the class on a Saturday afternoon; in CELLO | DOUBLE BASS | FLUTE | year. In Year 1 of the course, students Years 2 and 3, this extends to one hour RECORDER | OBOE | CLARINET | attend a 45-minute pre-instrumental 20 minutes. BASSOON | HORN | TRUMPET | class on a Saturday morning; in Years 2 TROMBONE | TUBA and 3, this extends to two hours.

8 9 HOW DO I APPLY?

Ready to take the next step on your musical journey? Find out more about the application process

Applications open in January and can AUDITIONS be made using our online application We aim to make the audition form. The closing date is 1 March for experience as enjoyable and supportive Junior Academy and Primary Academy as possible – we want to hear you and 23 April for Junior Jazz. play your best and we always enjoy meeting students who love music as Auditions for entry in September 2021 much as we do. are held in March (Junior Academy and Primary Academy) and May FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND FEES (Junior Jazz), and this year are by We want everyone who is successful video submission. The exceptional at audition to be able to attend musical training we offer means that Junior Academy, so don’t let finances successful applicants must possess stop you from accepting your place – a combination of musicality, means-tested bursaries are available. commitment and potential. You will be sent information about how to apply for assistance following There is an audition fee; however, the audition process. finances should not be a barrier to applying, so if you have concerns Fees are payable before the start about this, please contact us at of each term. If a student wishes to [email protected]. withdraw, we require one term’s notice.

Entry to the First String Experience and First Guitar Experience is by online application in late October, closing in early January. To promote equal opportunities, student applications are entered into a ballot and selected at random, so there is no guarantee of entry to these programmes.

10 11 PATRON HM The Queen

PRESIDENT HRH The Duchess of Gloucester GCVO

PRINCIPAL Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood CBE

The Academy is a registered charity, number 310007, and a company registered with Companies House, number RC000438.

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