Individual music lessons on any orchestral instrument, as well as piano, organ, percussion, guitar, clarsach and singing, are available in school and are provided by expert instructors who come into school on a part-time basis. Lessons are arranged on a rota basis for students in the Prep School and the Middle School (13-15) and during private study periods for the Sixth Form, so disruption to academic studies is therefore kept to a minimum.

Weekly lessons are arranged mutually between students and teacher, with Prep School pupils also noting lessons down in their music lesson diaries. Any clashes are usually resolved quite easily.

The Concert Choir is a large mixed choir of around 120 voices, open to all in the 3rd Form (13+ students) and above. No audition is necessary. The choir performs in two concerts our Autumn and Spring Concerts which are held in Inverleith, St. Serf’s Parish Church and St. Cuthbert’s Church, respectively.  

The Chapel Choir is open to all students by audition. It is the busiest group in the school, rehearsing three times a week and performing to a very high standard, including tours, cathedral services and recordings. The Chapel Choir performs at all Sunday services, the Carol Service and all school concerts. Recent tours have included Canada, Normandy, Ireland, the Czech Republic, North America, Austria, Germany, Italy and Hong Kong.

The Symphony Orchestra is designed for the more experienced player and membership is by invitation.

In addition to these large ensembles, we run any number of smaller ensembles and chamber groups which come into and out of existence depending on the musicians we have available in any given term. These include: String Ensemble, Baroque Orchestra, Jazz Band, Flute Group, Brass Group, Percussion Group, String Quartets, Piano Trios, and various custom-made combinations of our own devising.

The Music department enters students to the following Music Exam Boards: ABRSM, Trinty Guildhall and London College of Music. The timing of any Music exam entry is through consultation with the student and the instrumental instructor. Additional tuition is available for the Aural and Theory components of these exams.

Music is taught as an academic subject throughout the school.

Prep School (7-13): All pupils in the Prep School have two music classes each week.

Senior School (13-18): Music is part of the Third Form (13+) curriculum and is also available at GCSE level in the Fourth Form and Fifth Form (ages 14-15+), and in the Sixth Form at A Level and International Baccalaureate (IB). View Senior School Academic Music details here.