 About Deptford Music Centre
Deptford Music Centre is a Lewisham Music Service Saturday Music School. The centre operates on Saturdays during term time (30 sessions a year) at the Lewisham Music Service Centre at The Albany. The main function of the centre is to provide instrumental and ensemble tuition to the 150 children who attend each Saturday.
We believe that we offer our students a variety of musical opportunities and training that will enable many of them to go on to a music conservatoire or universities, should they wish to. As well as developing musical skills our students also develop their social skills, which we believe to be just as important.
Who can apply?
The centre is open to any child who attends a Lewisham School or is a Lewisham Borough Resident. In certain circumstances we are able to offer a place to non Lewisham Residents. Students are offered a place at the centre after a successful audition. There is no minimum standard, however the majority of students are Grade 4 and above.
How to apply
Please ring or email the Lewisham Music Service office, and ask for an application form. The majority of auditions are held in September each year (this date is posted on our website). Auditions are also occasionally held at other times of the year depending on availability of places.
Who will audition me?
A DMC tutor will audition you. This audition will be informal, and an opportunity for you to ask questions. You will be required to prepare one piece, and expect some sight-reading!
When will I hear if I have been offered a place?
We will ring you within a week, and will either offer you a place at DMC or in a Lewisham Music Service activity during the week.
Fees for Deptford Music Centre
The fee for the centre is £25.00 a term regardless of the number of activities you choose to do. If your child receives free school meals the fee for the term is £10.00.
Curriculum
DMC prides itself on providing excellence, and a diverse range of musical activities:
- 9.30am Keyboard Skills
- 10.00am Samba
- 10.30am Musicianship
- 11.30am Break
- 11.45am Orchestra
- 12.30pm Lunch
- 1.00pm Lewisham Schools Concert Band
- 3.00pm Finish
How long will I spend at DMC each Saturday?
Some students spend the whole day at DMC, however some only come to the centre for one or two activities.
Core activities include:
- Jazz improvisation
- Keyboard
- Musicianship
- Samba
- Steel Pans
- Theory (Grade 5 preparation)
Ensembles include:
- Clarinet Septet (Minimum standard Grade 5)
- Deptford Music Centre Orchestra
- Double Reed Ensemble
- Flute Quintet (Minimum standard Grade 5)
- Jazz Band
- Junior Jazz Band
- Lewisham Schools Concert Band (Minimum standard Grade 4)
- Lewisham Schools Training Band (Minimum standard Grade 2)
- Recorder Consort (Minimum standard Grade 2)
- Rock Band
Instrumental lessons include:
- Bassoon
- Cello
- Clarinet
- Drum Kit
- Flute
- Jazz Clarinet
- Keyboard
- Oboe
- Orchestral Percussion
- Recorder
- Saxophone
- Trumpet
- Tuba and lower brass
- Violin
Tutors
The majority of DMC tutors have worked at the centre since its launch in 2002. All of our tutors are professional musicians who are passionate about music. What makes DMC so successful is the way in which our tutors enthusiastically work together as a team.
The DMC Team
Gerald Sterling - (Acting Head of Centre) Clarinet/Saxophone / Wind Bands
Ian Lawrence - Director of Lewisham Schools Concert/Training Band
David Smith – Trumpet/Jazz Band/Wind Bands
Heidi Fardell – Flute/Grade 5 Theory
Lindon Donaldson – Drum Kit/Samba/Steel Pans
Laura Stevens – Oboe/Musicianship
Chris Wilcox – Rock Band/Tuba/Wind Bands
Hannah Monkhouse - Cello
Ursula Rosenberg – Violin/Orchestra
Keith Wickam – Orchestral Percussion/Wind Bands
Arthur Lea – Keyboards/Jazz Band
Rosemary Connell – Pastoral Tutor
Student Progress
Many of our students regularly take external music exams, often with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Many of our students are currently working towards Grades 6, 7, 8 and beyond.
To encourage effective practise we encourage all of our pupils to have practice diaries. These cost £1.00 and can be obtained from the Lewisham Music Service office.
Student Welfare
Before any music activity takes place, we ensure that we provide a safe, friendly and caring environment for our students. One of the ways in which we do this is by having a pastoral tutor available for the whole day (Rosemary Connell). All of our tutors have the enhanced CRB check. If any of our students have any medical problems whilst at the centre we use the Albany’s duty first aider.
Albany Theatre/ Lewisham Music Service Centre
The Lewisham Music Service Centre comprises of 10 practice rooms of various sizes, and a large ensemble room. This includes a percussion room, band room, keyboard room, theory room, and music library.
One of the key benefits of being based in a theatre is that our students have regular opportunities to perform on a public stage. In addition the Albany has a professional studio and live room that our ensembles can benefit from.
The Albany also has an excellent café that is of benefit to parents who enjoy a cappuccino and a newspaper on Saturdays.
LYM
Lewisham Young Musicians is a registered charity created by DMC parents. Its brief is to develop and enhance the musical opportunities of children in Lewisham particularly at the Deptford Music Centre. Over the years the charity has raised many thousands of pounds, which means that our students have access to excellent musical instruments and equipment, as well as supporting the Concert Band in their overseas tours. If you would like to find out more about LYM please contact Sunita Rutherford (Sunita.Rutherford@doh.gsi.gov.uk)
Events
Our ensembles regularly perform in a variety of venues across London. Many of our ensembles have performed in the regional and national ‘Music for Youth’ Festivals. The Lewisham Schools Concert Band has been on tour to France, Holland and Germany, and often performs at more local events such as Lewisham Peoples Day and the London Marathon.
To see our forthcoming events please see the Lewisham Music Service Diary.
Contact us
If you any questions about Deptford Music Centre, please ring the Lewisham Music Service office or alternatively please email Gerald Sterling (Gerald@lewishammusicservice.org)
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