Band Time (ages 3-11)
Course details
Introduction
Band Time is a programme for under 11s which builds on our highly successful String Time programme. Band Time offers children aged from 3 to 11 the opportunity to take up a wind or brass instrument from Year 4 and provides access to conservatoire musical tuition. Lessons and classes are delivered by experienced Trinity Laban teachers and there are many opportunities for links with the under 11s String Time Programme and Junior Trinity Main Programme for 11-19 year olds. Band Time is also a fantastic way to meet new friends and have fun while learning a new instrument.
Key Features
Children can join Band Time in their Nursery year in school and stay with the programme until Year 6 (or Year 7, if staff believe this would help students to prepare to audition for Junior Trinity’s Main Programme for 11-19 year olds).
There are 15 new Nursery (Teenies 1) places available every academic year and there may be spaces available for entry points in all subsequent years depending on continuing student numbers. Children who would like to take up a wind or brass instrument can join in Year 4. It is advisable that children wishing to enter in Year 4 have some prior musical experience.
Detailed Information
Instruments
Children cannot take up a wind or brass instrument until they reach Year 4 and their adult front teeth have come through. When their front teeth are fully formed, the shape of their mouths is settled – this is vital for them to be able to progress on the instruments. All children start on the recorder first when they reach Year 2 to build on the basic musical notation skills that they have started to develop in Teenies. This also helps to introduce them to a wind / brass instrument, exploring how to create a sound using breath and blowing.
When children reach Year 4, they can choose from the following instruments, whilst continuing with the recorder:
- Oboe
- Clarinet
- Short Reach Bassoon
- French Horn
- Trumpet
- PBone (the starter instrument for the trombone)
- Flute
We can recommend instrument suppliers that hire or sell instruments to new students. Families for whom financial barriers may be an issue can borrow from a small selection of instruments we have available. Details of how to apply for our instrument loan scheme will be provided once places on Band Time have been confirmed.
Continuing with Recorder Ensemble in Year 4
All children will continue playing in recorder ensemble while taking up a new wind or brass instrument. It is vital that they continue enjoying music: they will progress their skills in their new instrument while developing their musicality in an ensemble setting.
We will hold a session in early September for those children joining the programme in Years 4 and 5 to assess their interest in, and suitability for, particular instruments. Advice on which instruments children are best suited to play will be based on both physical suitability and instrument availability. During the first term, children will be assessed on whether the instrument they have chosen is right for them, and offered an alternative if appropriate.
Classes and lessons
All Band Time classes currently take place on a Saturday at King Charles Court. Lessons and classes are delivered by experienced Trinity Laban teachers.
Band Time is an incremental programme, with more classes added as the children progress through the programme. Below is a list of what classes you can expect in each age group:
|
Year group |
Programme |
Classes |
|
Nursery |
Teenies 1 |
45 minute general music class |
|
Reception |
Teenies 2 |
45 minute general music class |
|
Year 1 |
Foundation (Teenies 3) |
45 minute general music class |
|
Year 2 |
Recorders 1 |
30 minute group recorder lesson 30 minute group musicianship class |
|
Year 3 |
Recorders 2 |
45 minute group recorder lesson 45 minute group musicianship class |
|
Year 4 |
Wind & Brass 1 |
30 minute recorder class 45 minute small group wind or brass lesson 45 minute choir 30 minute musicianship 45 minute wind and brass ensemble |
|
Year 5 |
Wind & Brass 2 |
30 minute recorder class 45 minute small group wind or brass lesson 45 minute choir 30 minute musicianship 45 minute wind and brass ensemble |
|
Year 6 |
Wind & Brass 3 |
30 minute recorder class 45 minute small group wind or brass lesson 45 minute choir 45 minute musicianship 45 minute wind and brass ensemble 30 minute individual lesson (optional and at additional charge) |
Entry Requirements
There are two different forms for parents to fill in online:
-
An Application Form for parents of children who will be 3 years old next September. The only information we will require on this list will be basic data including name, gender, date of birth, and contact details. Please note that there are only 15 new places available to start Band Time Teenies 1 per year. These will be chosen by random selection and parents will be contacted in May 2024.
-
An Expression of Interest form. Occasionally places become available in Band Time for children in school years from Reception to Year 6. The only school year in which there is a full intake of new students is in Nursery (3 years old). Places in older groups become available when a student leaves the programme. In most years (except year 5 and 6), students can join Band Time without any previous instrumental experience (though in Year 3 it is preferable to have some prior recorder-playing experience). If a place becomes available, we will identify eligible children from the information submitted here. The place will be filled by random selection from that group of children. We will contact you if your child has been successful in gaining a place. Spaces for September 2025 will be confirmed during summer term 2024.
Please note that forms for September 2024 entry are now closed. This page will be updated with forms for September 2025 entry when open.
Fees
Fees are payable in advance or by instalment plan via Trinity Laban’s online payment system. If fees from a prior academic year are outstanding, the student will not be permitted to enrol for the new academic year until all debt is cleared. Please note if payment is not made by the listed deadlines, your child will not be able to have their individual lessons.
In the case of outstanding fees, the debt will be actively pursued by the Trinity Laban Finance Office and the matter may also be passed to an external debt collection agency.
If you have any queries with regards to the payment of fees, please contact the Finance Office on 0208 305 4346 (/9485/9486).