Haringey Young Musicians (after school ensembles)

COVID-19 update

In line with Government guidelines, Haringey Young Musicians after school ensembles are resuming in person from the week beginning Monday 26 April 2021.

If your child is interested in attending an ensemble, please contact us via email at hms@haringey.gov.uk

Haringey Young Musicians (HYM) ensembles are open to anyone of school age living or attending school in Haringey. Each group meets weekly for ten sessions per term, culminating in a performance opportunity with other ensembles. As well as high profile engagements around the country and successful participation in national competitions, many of the groups have toured abroad to countries including Barbados, Peru, Finland, China, Sweden and Argentina.

In February 2018 we toured Midland, Texas with our Symphony Orchestra, Stage Band and a group of dancers from Hornsey School for Girls.

• Read more about our trip: HYM Texas Trip Report (PDF, 122KB)

In April 2018, 17 members of our Senior Guitar Group visited Budapest, Hungary, and were hosted by the families of their young guitarists. Their generosity of spirit was extraordinary and the group were treated to amazing food, culture and sightseeing. They also took part in workshops and concerts, with the final concert culminating in a piece played by a joint Hungarian/Haringey guitar orchestra made up of nearly 50 players.

In July 2019, 54 members of our Stage Band, Haringey Vox and 8 dancers from Park View School travelled to Durban, South Africa, for ten days. We had an amazing time playing concerts, making new friends, and even managed to fit in a safari. We were kindly hosted by students from Hillcrest High School. While we were there we visited two schools in townships: Steven Davison Primary School and Kwamanzini Primary School. Our students had a very eye opening time taking part in workshops with their students.

The HYM Big Band and Orchestral Percussion Group also visited Sweden in August 2019, working with young musicians in both Gothenburg and Kristinehamn.

Becoming a member of a HYM ensemble gives pupils an excellent opportunity to play with other young musicians and learn new skills. Playing in an ensemble has numerous musical and social benefits, and is a great way of putting skills learned in lessons into practice.

For more information about our ensembles and how to apply, please email hms@haringey.gov.uk or call 020 8489 8967.

HYM music groups:

• Wind Bands - training
• Wind Bands - intermediate
• Strings - training
• Strings - intermediate
• Training Percussion
• Orchestral Percussion
• Concert Orchestra
• HYM Symphony Orchestra
• Big Band
• Stage Band
• Guitar Group - training
• Guitar Group - intermediate
• HYM Guitar Orchestra
• Haringey Vox
• Junior Vox
• Training Steel Band
• Intermediate Steel Band
• Westside Steel Band
• Westside Steel Band - Training Band
• Steel Orchestra
• The Saturday Morning Music Centre

Wind Bands - training

Fun repertoire for players of all woodwind and brass instruments. Players are usually ready for the training band when they can read music and play some simple tunes. Ideally they will have attended a Wind and Brass Fun Day.

Training Wind Band - Hornsey School for Girls

• When: Tuesdays, 4.15-5.30pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

Training Wind Band - Duke's Aldridge Academy (not currently running)

• When: Thursdays, 3.45-5pm
• Where: Duke's Aldridge Academy, Trulock Road, N17 0PG
• Cost: £19.50 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals, or pupils attending Duke's Aldridge Academy)

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Wind Bands - intermediate

Fun repertoire for players of all woodwind and brass instruments, providing a grounding from which to move on to the more advanced groups. Players should have reached approximately Grade 2 standard before joining the Intermediate Wind Band.

• When: Tuesdays, 4.30-5.45pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Strings - training

Fun repertoire for players of all string instruments, providing a grounding in ensemble skills. Players are usually ready for Training Strings when they can read music confidently and play some simple tunes. Ideally they will have attended a Strings Fun Day.

Training Strings - Hornsey School for Girls

• When: Tuesdays, 4.15-5.30pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

Training Strings - Duke's Aldridge Academy (not currently running)

• When: Thursdays, 3.45-5pm
• Where: Duke's Aldridge Academy, Trulock Road, N17 0PG
• Cost: £19.50 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals, or pupils attending Duke's Aldridge Academy)

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Strings - intermediate

Varied repertoire for players of violin, viola, cello or double bass. Players can join the intermediate group when they can read fluently and are at least Grade 2 standard. They will preferably have experience of playing in an ensemble.

• When: Tuesdays, 4.15-5.30pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Strings - Rising

Varied repertoire for players of violin, viola, cello or double bass. Players can join the intermediate group when they can read fluently and are at least Grade 3 standard. They will preferably have experience of playing in an ensemble.

• When: Tuesdays, 4.30-5.45pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Training Percussion

For any primary school pianists or drummers looking to learn more about tuned and orchestral percussion

• When: Tuesdays, 4-4.45pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £16 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Orchestral Percussion

A group for more experienced percussion players, interested in expanding their knowledge and expertise, using both tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments

• When: Tuesdays, 5.00-6.30pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Concert String Orchestra

A full orchestra for players of all string instruments of Grade 4 standard and above

• When: Tuesdays, 4.30-5.45pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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HYM Symphony Orchestra 

A full orchestra playing standard classical repertoire with tutors to coach each section. Recent repertoire includes Dvorak Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World’, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 and a screening of The Battle of the Somme in conjunction with Talkies Community Cinema. Players should have reached Grade 6 standard to join the orchestra, and will normally be asked to audition after their first or second rehearsal.

• When: Wednesdays, 6.45-8.45pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £55 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Big Band

Based on a conventional big band line-up, but expanded to include most woodwind and brass instruments as well as a rhythm section including piano, guitar, bass and drum kit. Improvised solos are encouraged from every band member after skilful coaching and encouragement. The band plays many specially composed pieces and arrangements. Players should have reached Grade 5 standard to join.

• When: Wednesdays, 4.30-6.15pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Stage Band

A 17 piece Jazz Big Band designed to push the more advanced students from the Big Band. A large proportion of the music is drawn from transcriptions used for classic jazz bands from Count Basie through to Pat Metheny and Kenny Wheeler.

• When: Wednesdays, 4.30-6.30pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Guitar Group - training

An introduction to playing fun and exciting music in a group setting. Players are usually ready for Training Guitars when they can read music and play some simple tunes. Ideally they will have attended a Guitar Fun Day. This group would be ideal for Year 5 WCIT continuers.

Training Guitars - Hornsey School for Girls

• When: Wednesdays, 4.15-5.30pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

Training Guitars - Duke's Aldridge Academy (not currently running)

• When: Thursdays, 3.45-5pm
• Where: Duke's Aldridge Academy, Trulock Road, N17 0PG
• Cost: £19.50 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals, or pupils attending Duke's Aldridge Academy)

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Guitar Group - intermediate

A step up from the training group: players should have reached classical guitar grades 1 to 2 or equivalent.

• When: Wednesdays, 4.15-5.30pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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HYM Guitar Orchestra

A classical guitar group for older and more advanced players. Repertoire is aimed at guitarists of Grade 3 to 8 standard, or equivalent.

• When: Wednesdays, 6-8.00pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £32 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Haringey Vox (not currently running)

This group is for singers at secondary school and above, who are looking to explore vocal harmony and their voices in a variety of contexts. Song selections range from current pop song, to jazz and soul standards, choral and world music. Some songs will be from scores while others will be learnt by ear. Haringey Vox have recently returned from a highly successful trip to Barbados with the Steel Orchestra.

• When: Tuesdays, 5-6.30pm
• Where: Chestnuts Community Centre, 280 St Ann's Road, N15 5BN
• Cost: N/A

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Junior Vox (not currently running)

A fun choir for any primary pupils in Years 5 and 6 with a passion for singing.

• When: Tuesdays, 4-5pm
• Where: Chestnuts Community Centre, 280 St Ann’s Road, N15 5BN
• Cost: No charge

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Training Steel Band

An opportunity for beginners to learn the fundamentals of steel pan playing, giving experience and preparing students to join the higher groups. Young musicians wishing to play steel pans should attend this group until the tutors judge that they are ready to join the Intermediate group.

• When: Mondays, 4.30-5.30pm
• Where: Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Somerset Road, London, N17 9EJ
• Cost: £19.50 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Intermediate Steel Band

A step up from the training steel pans group, for slightly more experienced players. Young musicians should attend this group until the tutors judge that they are ready to join the Steel Orchestra.

• When: Mondays, 5.45-7pm
• Where: Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Somerset Road, London, N17 9EJ
• Cost: £19.50 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Westside Steel Band

Our training steel pans group in the west side of the borough, giving experience and preparing students for transfer to the Steel Orchestra. Young musicians wishing to play steel pans should attend this group until the tutors judge that they are ready to join the Steel Orchestra.

• When: Wednesdays, 5.10 - 6.30pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £30 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Westside Steel Band - Training Band

An opportunity for beginners to learn the fundamentals of steel pan playing, giving experience and preparing students to join the higher groups. Young musicians wishing to play steel pans should attend this group until the tutors judge that they are ready to join the Westside Steel Band.

• When: Wednesdays, 4 - 5pm
• Where: Hornsey School for Girls, Inderwick Road, London, N8 9JF
• Cost: £19.50 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Steel Orchestra

Advanced playing for experienced steel pan players. This group is highly acclaimed having performed in the schools proms and Notting Hill carnival in its busy schedule. The Steel Orchestra has recently returned from a successful trip to Barbados with Haringey Vox.

• When: Tuesdays, 4.30-6.30pm
• Where: Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Somerset Road, London, N17 9EJ
• Cost: £19.50 per term (no charge for pupils receiving Free School Meals)

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Further information and how to apply

For more information about our ensembles and how to apply, please email hms@haringey.gov.uk or call 020 8489 8967.

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