London schools, music - advice?

[delectabletea]

I'm in the not very enviable position of trying to find a school while DH is in hospital and not able to discuss this with me. We might be moving to London from the countryside, so it feels like a big step. Especially because the school will determine where we'll live.

We both have a musical background and we'd love to find a prep school for our DS that's big on music/the arts. He's starting reception next year. We're looking at living east or south London. I know they're pretty amazing schools but I applied for St Paul's Cathedral School, and Alleyn's as I saw they're good for music. Got a visit to Forest coming up too.

He's a bright boy so think he'd do well somewhere academic, but we're not fans of hothousing. We'd love him to go somewhere that would stretch him but also allow him to be himself.

Does anyone have any ideas of other schools good for music? Or any other advice?! Thanks in advance

UCS has a brilliant music department and very artsy for a Eton group school.

Would you not be able to attend a Saturday music school? You are spoilt for choice in London. Many prep schools will say they do music but quality will vary. I noticed Wetherby prep study the NYCS Go for Bronze, Silver, Gold or there is a state school in King’s Cross that offers Colourstrings if you wanted to go state til 8. You really do want to tap into a Kodaly approach for very young children, it is great!

General music starts at home but the metric we use for a good school in support of music and arts are 3 things. Regular performances that are in big venues, other students with strong aptitude and arts/music teachers on staff to support learning while at school.

For us this was Garden House and Westminster.

With most schools you can effectively just look up the junior orchestra performances and CVs of the music teachers to assess this for yourself.

Thanks, we've just signed up to a Kodaly class! Yes we would love to try a Saturday music school.. noticed though that these seem less well funded than in my time and provision seems to vary between areas

Thanks, checking the CVs of the music teachers is a good tip. Interesting schools too, though not in our area

I know quite a few private Saturday courses… all very professional and well resourced. If you are East/South then try the Guildhall (you may be lucky and they may still have a place on their Kindergarten course as they upped the numbers a few years back - also run one in a school in Essex) or their off shoot the Centre for young musicians.
Also other colleges eg. Trinity Laban in Greenwich and Royal college and RAM have kindergarten classes too, they are mainly via ballot and you may have missed it (worth checking though). These are the top end for price!
There are a couple of other very good music schools p, which are excellent and better value.

Colourstrings. Main one is in Kingston - traffic a nightmare if you don’t live close. Another one is in North London somewhere - NL conservatoire (maybe ok of you live East).
London Youth Conservatoire in Fulham - does a lovely course for little ones and then moves onto the go for bronze etc exams. You can do a full course or just pick-and-mix. Can do either am or pm, so very flexible for when they get older and want to do other things on a Saturday morning. Dove tails very well if their school offers instrumental lessons etc as you can just do the musicianship lessons and maybe a choir/ensemble. Then you are in and out in a few hours rather than hanging around all day!!!!
There are others too such as Blackheath and Ealing junior music school… and this is before you even look at council provision (The Triborough Hammersmith/Kensington/Westminster is meant to be very good).
You now know as much as I do! If anyone knows of anymore please do add… always useful to know our abundant options in London.

This is great, really useful info thanks. A good selection of options all over London.

I did stumble upon the Guildhall course and it's the right area for us, but saw it's random selection so pot luck as to whether you get in. I will definitely check out those other options!

If you’re thinking about east London, the Lyceum School in Shoreditch has wonderful music provision

I didn't know that one, thanks for the shout. I'm in time for the open day too

Have you looked at the Royal College of Music Sparks Program.