Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service (LSMS)

The auditions for the coming academic year (2011 / 2012) have now taken place. If your child was unable to attend the main auditions and you advised LSMS of this when requesting an audition, you will be contacted towards the end of the Summer Holidays to arrange an alternative audition time. Audition results and offers of places have now been sent out to all students who attended the main auditions in July. Completed forms should be returned by Monday 15th August.

If you wish to query an audition result or offer of a place, please write to Helen Fisher, Head of Bands & Orchestras, LSMS, Knighton Fields Centre, Herrick Road, LE2 6DH and your query will be looked into when staff return in late August.

Details from this years' audition information booklet are listed below.

How do I join?   

As you may already be aware the service is currently in a period of major transition. From May 2011 the Service will only deliver music based activities, as such our new name now reflects this.  During this transitionary period our website address is still: www.leics.gov.uk/artsined

Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service is the Music Service of the Leicestershire and Leicester City Education Authorities. As well as Music tuition, we provide performance opportunities in orchestras, bands, ensembles and choirs for young people aged from 8 - 19 years.

We are currently making some changes to how our less experienced players can access a band or orchestra.  From September 2011 we will be offering some junior orchestras, bands, string groups and choirs in areas across the City and County which will mainly be available on a weekday between 4.00pm – 6.00pm. However, there is likely to be one centre which will take place on a Saturday morning and be based in the City. Our Wider Opportunities Junior Band and Junior String Ensemble will no longer be available on a Saturday morning as we hope to be providing groups and choirs similar to these in the following areas:

These new bands, orchestras and choirs will provide an opportunity for children who have been playing for a minimum of 1 year and up to grade 2 standard, the chance to play in a group with other young people from their local area.  These groups will be non auditioned and will be subsidised as part of the Governments “Wider Opportunities in Music” scheme.  This is an exciting new step for the service which will mean we can involve more young people in the fantastic opportunities we provide.

We are in the process of finalising venues within the above areas, as soon as we have confirmed these details we will confirm these with all interested parties.  

Currently, there are nine Saturday orchestras and bands as follows

We also offer the following additional music ensembles:

We recognise that the changes to our current structure may have implications for the opportunities available to percussionists.  We are working with our percussion teachers to explore how there may be additional opportunities for percussion students on a Saturday morning.  

We also offer some Saturday morning groups that do not require an audition.  These include the well established Junior and Senior Steel Pan Ensembles; entry to these is by the recommendation or invitation of your teacher and will relate to your age and experience.

Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium, Viola, French Horn and Double Bass are vital instruments in our groups and players of all these ‘endangered species’ instruments are in short supply. Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service will offer FREE Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium, Viola, French Horn and Double Bass places for the academic year 2011/2012 for NEW Saturday orchestra or band members.  A discount of one third of the standard membership rate will start in the Autumn term of the year following the free year.  NB. The Endangered Species subsidy / discount only applies to Saturday Bands / Orchestras / Ensembles and not transport / evening groups.  

Please note that all existing students playing Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium, Viola, French Horn or Double Bass in a Saturday Orchestra or Band will receive a discount of one third of the full academic year 2011/2012.

Auditions are held at the end of the summer term for the following academic year. Auditions for 2011/2012 will take place on 11^th, 12^th, 13^th and 14^th July from 9.00am – 9.00pm. If students are away on these days the Service may be able to arrange an alternative date in exceptional circumstances. Students audition in front of a panel of at least two members of staff. The audition is unaccompanied and will last approximately ten minutes. The student will be asked to play two, preferably contrasting pieces or studies they know well and have rehearsed thoroughly. All players should be prepared to play scales as appropriate. They will also be asked to perform sight-reading according to their ability.

As there are a fixed number of places in some groups, competition can be intense, especially for popular instruments. Applications for audition can be made through Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service’s instrumental teachers, by writing to Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service and enclosing an A5 sized stamped addressed envelope for an Audition Request Card, or by visiting www.leics.gov.uk/artsined to download an audition form. The completed audition form must be returned / emailed to Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service by Friday 13^th May. (artsined@leics.gov.uk)

Results will be sent out by Friday 22^nd July 2011. Replies to invitations to join an ensemble should be returned to Knighton Fields Centre by Monday 15th August 2011. Late returns will be accepted by families who are unable to meet this deadline because they are away at this time, but they must inform us in advance.

Rehearsals take place at Knighton Fields Centre - the home of Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service - in Leicester and in schools, colleges and centres nearby.

Buses are currently available for all the Saturday morning orchestras and bands for pupils in Leicestershire County and Leicester City Areas for which there is an additional termly charge. You will get detailed information when you join. There is no transport available for evening groups.

The fees for 2011/2012 are £71.00 per term for each Saturday morning orchestra or band. The cost to pupils who do not receive instrumental tuition through Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service is £81.00 per term. The charge for students using the Saturday morning bus transport is £39.00 per term. The fees for other music ensembles are £39.00 per term.

Currently full fee remission is available for pupils whose families are in receipt of

All Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service conductors and teachers are highly experienced musicians. We sometimes use other professionals from national orchestras and ensembles to help out as well. Staff are also on hand to give pastoral support.

Once you have joined one of our ensembles we expect you to turn up regularly and on time for rehearsals and to attend any other courses or weekend sessions which are arranged for you. You will be notified about these in good time. We obviously expect you to be available for all performances.

Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service offers some of the most outstanding performance opportunities in the UK. Players get a chance to perform in venues in Leicestershire including the De Montfort Hall. Some orchestras and bands have touring and / or residential opportunities – to Italy and France, for example – and courses and masterclasses supported by professional musicians.

Playing in an ensemble is the ultimate musical goal of most instrumentalists. Not only does it give enormous satisfaction but also provides the inspiration to achieve even greater instrumental skill. It is also a wonderful chance to make new friends.

We are of course delighted to have pupils who wish to make music their profession whether as a performer, teacher or in a related arts area. Playing in an LSMS music ensemble will be an excellent preparation for further study at a higher level and our specialist teaching staff will be able to give you a good idea of the opportunities available to you and the standard required for entry for F.E. course.

Yes. We can give advice on instruments for beginners and to pupils who, as they progress, want to buy better instruments. We are able to provide more unusual instruments, contra bassoon for example, on loan to pupils who have to play those instruments for a performance.

We also run a VAT FREE Scheme which enables our pupils to buy instruments free of VAT. For each instrument purchased we currently charge a £13.50 administrative fee.

Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service also offers music theory lessons as well as performance opportunities in choirs.

We hope this leaflet has answered some of your questions.

For further information, please ask your instrumental teacher or contact:

Leicester-Shire Schools Music Service,

Knighton Fields Centre,

Herrick Road,

Leicester,

LE2 6DH.

Tel: 0116 270 0850

Fax: 0116 270 4928

E-mail: artsined@leics.gov.uk

www.leics.gov.uk/artsined