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Music House scoops an Earl

Music House scoops an Earl

Sep 23, 2021

Following the successful unveiling of Music House in April, good things are already starting to happen. We are thrilled to welcome our very first ever Patron, David Lascelles, Earl of Harewood.

After attending our name changing event  as VIP, and officially cutting a ribbon to welcome Music House, VIP David Lascelles took a tour of the facilities and was impressed with what he saw. Too good an opportunity to miss, Nick Wayne – Trustee, who has a good relationship with the David, asked if he would consider being involved with Music House?

David said: 

”I’m delighted to become a Patron of Music House and The Yorkshire College of Music and Drama. I think what they are doing is very important and I fully support this. I look forward to coming to events and seeing Music House grow and go from strength to strength.”

Staff and trustees agree this marks a new beginning for Music House, which, in recent years has had a bit of a confused identity – this is one of the reasons the rebranding exercise was carried out.

Tim Knight, Principal said: 

“The future remit is very clear! Affordable lessons, group learning, taster courses and maximising corporate opportunities to help sustain our future. 

“Having David on-board is a significant step in the right direction, the association and potential ways we can work together for the good of Music House is an exciting prospect for everyone.”

Rebranding has included a website refresh, new digital channels, signage and investment in staff expertise. Our next phase of plans and initiatives, aimed at B2B and B2C, are underway!

Having the support of an influential patron is a positive step and a first for Music House! It paves the way for new opportunities, including links to some of the good causes David represents and people who will benefit from musical learnings at our vital community hub. 

Say HELLO to Music House

Say HELLO to Music House

Apr 8, 2021

The secret’s out! We (Yorkshire College of Music and Drama) have changed our name to ‘Music House’. 

At a special unveiling on Thursday 15 April 2021,  Music House was officially introduced to the general public in a lowkey ‘Covid friendly’ celebration.  The new brand identify with its appealing look and feel and updated values, is firmly rooted to meet the existing needs of local communities

In homage to ‘Christo the Wrapper’, St Mark’s House was draped in white sheeting to keep the new name and branding hidden. Students from Leeds Arts University and other local arts projects were invited to add creative graffiti and artwork to the building’s temporary covers.

In the lead up our rebrand a social media campaign ‘Keeping it under wraps’ drip fed a series of cryptic clues and hints about the name change. 

Tim Knight, Principal – Music House said: 

“Music House has been a dream of mine which has been fully supported by our Trustees. Today, we are embracing change and taking steps to secure future sustainability.

“Our vision for Music House is a unique space where everyone has equal opportunity and access to music and singing, where people can come together to enjoy shared interests and have the confidence to change their future.

“The Music House brand will help us to reach out to BAME, disadvantaged and disability groups by offering a subsidised pricing structure for individual lessons and competitive hire rates, thus breaking down barriers to music tuition and learning.”

Based at St Mark’s House – a beautiful Victorian building, Music House is a creative space for music and non-related music events. For corporate organisations looking for a unique venue to hold meetings, small conferences or team building days to disadvantaged, minority and disability groups searching for a day trip or summer school venue. 

Why we changed our name

The previous name: Yorkshire College of Music and Drama; caused confusion among people who mistook it for other music establishments in the area with similar names. 

Our Principal and Trustees were of joint opinion that the College was not Yorkshire centric in that students seeking music and signing lessons were predominantly from Leeds and surrounding areas. 

Drama lessons have not been on the curriculum for a number of years. That said, St Mark’s House is an ideal venue for drama rehearsal groups.

Potential revenue streams will mean every person in the region, who might not have the means to access singing and music for whatever reason, whether financial, social or cultural, will benefit.  

Music House is for everyone 

Music House is focused on building brand awareness for the future to support the varying needs of students and corporate clients.

It is hoped Music House will have mass appeal. The name instantly evokes feelings of an inclusive place where magic happens and where friends become family. 

A venue with a big heart, we want it to be filled with all people from our region and further afield who have things in common but at the same time have their own personal journey to fulfil. 

A new look and feel 

All external signage has been replaced with Music House branding, social media channels have been created and the building’s reception area has had a bit of a makeover.

The existing website has been replaced with a new website which reflects the transition but The Yorkshire College f Music and Drama charitable trust status and references are maintained throughout.

Music House is focused on building brand awareness for the future to support the varying needs of students and corporate clients. 

Supporting information 

  1. Music House is a sub-brand of Yorkshire College of Music and Drama which is a non-profit making charitable trust, registered with the Charity Commission no. 0529220 and is run by a Board of Trustees on a voluntary basis.
  2. Launched on 15 April 2021, the brand proposition of Music House is to be accessible to everyone, to eliminate confusion with other establishments and to widen the offer to the general public and corporate organisations. 
  3. Music House’s mission and values will remain true to Yorkshire College of Music and Drama which was established in 1894 to introduce music, singing and drama to the those who live in our region.
  4. For media enquiries please get in touch with Sheila Sispal, Marketing and PR coordinator M: 07519 136956 E: sheilasispal@music-house.org.uk
  5. Music House is based at St Marks House, 1 St Mark’s Avenue,  Leeds, LS2 9BN. 
  6. Website: www.music-house.org.uk
  7. Social media
    • Twitter @MusicHouseLeeds         Facebook @musichouseleeds 
    • Instagram @musichouseleeds     YouTube MusicHouseLeeds 
Online music and singing lessons with Yorkshire’s finest

Online music and singing lessons with Yorkshire’s finest

Jan 14, 2021

Learn to play an instrument or sing with our region’s most experienced tutors. No hidden costs, just unbelievably affordable prices.

At Yorkshire College of Music and Drama our strategy is simply to make music and singing lessons accessible to every single person. We are a registered Charitable Trust and offering affordable music lessons is just one of our charitable goals. 

We don’t believe in compromise. This is why virtual learning with us is guaranteed to be of the same high calibre as that of our face-to-face lessons. Although we are based in the heart of Yorkshire, England – online, we are based in Yorkshire, The World. We’re all connected at the push of a button and this is huge because geography isn’t a barrier, it’s the complete opposite.

Online learning for all ages and abilities
Our prices are straightforward and our teaching is of the highest standard.

 1:1 Lessons in:    Duration and £:   Details:
 Singing
 Piano
 Saxophone
Clarinet
Flute and Fyfe
Violin
Guitar
Bass Guitar
Double Bass
Recorder
Ukulele
Composition
Theory 		 30 minutes £17.45
45 minutes £26.18
60 minutes £34.90 		 An initial consultation lesson with the preferred teacher is charged at the normal rate indicated.

If a minimum of 3 more lessons are booked, the cost of the consultation lesson is waived and an extra lesson is added to your term. 

 

  Weekly Music Theory Group
 Via Facebook Private Group Tim’s Theory Group
 Date and Time: Wednesday evening 6pm — 7pm GMT
 Cost: £5.75 per session.  
 Note: Join at any time. Prices are charged per term and depending on when you join, only pay for the remainder of that term.This  weekly lesson will deep dive into the theory of music. Expect to analyse, learn, debate, grow your learning and understanding.

Taught by internationally respected Yorkshire Composer, Conductor, Author and Music Publisher, Tim Knight our Music Theory Group is an invaluable opportunity to learn from a leading educator.

10 reasons to learn with us

  1. Competitive online prices. Transparent, no hidden extras or unexpected charges.
  2. We have 15 of the regions finest, diverse teachers. With decades of knowledge and a phenomenal success rate.
  3. Our singing and music lessons are for all ages and abilities. So complete beginners or those wanting to learn at a higher level.
  4. You get to choose your preferred teacher. We strongly believe the fit has to be right.
  5. Your consultation lesson is FREE if you book a minimum of three more online lessons. 
  6. Online lessons are tailored to your specific needs. This holistic approach aims to guarantee the best learning experience for you. 
  7. Flexible hours to work around you, Monday to Friday. 
  8. Learn from the comfort of your home via Zoom or FaceTime. No travel time or disruption from other students having music lesson / singing lessons. 
  9. Our heritage spans over 125 years. Yorkshire College of Music and Drama was established in 1894 and former students include Dame Julie Andrews who had signing lessons at the College when she was 16.
  10. College Principal, Tim Knight is internationally respected in his field of composing, conducting and writing award winning music.

Get in touch to start your online learning today
Learning to play and sing or increasing your music theory is a journey that is full of fun, self realisation and achievement. Together we can get your there — you’re in the safest hands and we are driven by a shared passion to help you achieve your aspirations.

Take the first step, call or send an email and we will be able to answer all your questions about lessons and accessing Tim Knight’s music theory group. 

We can’t wait to hear from you.

Music is life

Music is life

Jan 4, 2021

This is quite a powerful statement and it’s so true!

Music is (probably) the one thing that every person in the world has in common. Music makes the world go round, or is that that love? At Yorkshire College of Music and Drama we strongly believe music is love and music is life and these things make the world a better place. 

Music has the power to lift our mood, it invokes memories, feelings, emotions and makes us feel happy. After a challenging year, many things have been taken away, but ‘they can’t take away our music’ (in the words of Eric Burdon) … again so true! 

We have a legacy to uphold. Simply put, this is to make music accessible to EVERY PERSON who lives in our community and with online music lessons we can cast our net much further. 

Learning to play a musical instrument or learning to sing can be the most rewarding, personal sense of achievement. We want to shout this from the rooftop of St Mark’s House and we don’t want anyone to miss out because they feel it’s not in their reach. It really is. 

As a new year begins, time to reflect. Even more so given the year we’ve all experienced. If you’ve set a resolution to try new things, what better way to realise this than to unleash your inner musician? 

We have some of our region’s most talented teachers with decades of experience. As educators they pride themselves on tailoring individual learning so that students get the most out lessons. This holistic approach aims to guarantee the best experience and as you learn your confidence and talent will shine through.

Piano, violin, guitar, flute or saxaphone? Whatever instrument you already play or want to learn, we have the right lesson for you! We offer a consultation lesson and you get to choose the teacher you want to learn with. This is a great way to see if you’ve selected the right instrument and importantly gives your the chance to build a rapport with your future mentor. 

Accessible pricing with no hidden costs! 

As a College with Charitable Trust status, this allows us to offer a very simple, extremely competitive and transparent pricing structure. 

Our prices are the same whether you opt for face-to-face lessons at St Mark’s House, online lessons with your tutor via Zoom or a mix of both. Which ever you prefer, we guarantee an extremely high level of teaching. 

An initial consultation lesson with the preferred teacher is charged at the normal rate (below) but if 3 more lessons are booked, the cost of the consultation lesson is waived and a free lesson added to your term. 

The following prices are based on pupils booking lessons for a full term:

  • 30 minute lesson: £17.45
  • 45 minute lesson: £26.19 
  • 60 minute lesson: £34.90

The gift of music
Our gift vouchers are the perfect present for a friend, family member or as a treat to yourself in 2021. Find out more

We’re waiting to hear from you
Learning to play or sing isn’t a destination, it’s a journey.  One that is full of fun, self realisation and achievement. Together we can get your there. 

Take the first step, call or send an email and we’ll be able to answer all your questions and give you the information you need. 

So, just referring back to ‘No Music No Life’ don’t accept this. Get music in your life and let us help you!

12 days of Christmas giveaway

12 days of Christmas giveaway

Jan 4, 2021

A musical gift from Santa to you! Fingers crossed you’re on his ‘nice’ list HoHoHo 

Thank you for entering our exciting December giveaway. Two lucky people will be chosen at random to receive the wonderful gift of music. 

For anyone who has thought about learning to play musical instrument, this is the perfect opportunity to have some taster lessons. So if you want to learn to play the piano, violin, flute, saxophone or guitar – you’re in for a real treat! 

To be entered into our prize giveaway – you need to follow these rules: 

Twitter
(1) LIKE our tweet
(2) RETWEET our tweet
(3) Tag a friend
(4) Follow us on Twitter @YorksCollege 

Facebook
(1) Like our post
(2) Share our post
(3) Tag a friend
(4) like our Facebook page @YorkshireCMD

Good luck from everyone at Yorkshire College of Music and Drama.  

If you have any questions about our give-away, please Contact us (link to Contact us) and please make sure to read our T&C’s (below) carefully. 

Terms and conditions 

  1. To be entered into our prize giveaway, please make sure you follow the rules (above) to be eligible for entry.
  2. One winner will be picked at random from Facebook entries and one winner will be picked at random from our Twitter entries. The judges decision is final. 
  3. The two winners will each receive a Gift Voucher enabling them to 3 x half hour music lessons worth £60. No cash alternative will be offered.
  4. The closing date is Saturday 12 December 2020. This giveaway will run for 12 days from 00:00h on Tuesday 1 December until 23:59h on Saturday 12 December.
  5. Winners will be announced on Tuesday 15 December 2020 in a post on Twitter for our Twitter winner and a post on Facebook for our Facebook winner. 
  6. We will require the winners to contact us by 31 December so that we can confirm your prize and collect the information ie postal address, contact number. 
  7. Once winners have contacted us, we will send out a ‘Congratulations’ letter with further details. 
  8. Gift vouchers will not be sent in the post. We will ask you to arrange a convenient time when you can come to our College (St Mark’s House, 1 St Mark’s Avenue, Leeds LS2 9BN) to collect. College is closed until Monday 4 January so we will arrange a convenient time after this date. 
  9. When you come to collect your Gift voucher,  we will take a photo and get a quote from you which we will use on our social media channels. Please note we will only publish your first name along with your image in our social media.
  10. We will publish your first name and quote in a press release which will go to our media contacts in early January. Press contacts may want to get in touch with you for more details. We will let you know if this is the case. Please be aware, you can refuse this. 
  11. When you come to take your music lessons, we will want to follow your journey with video clips and we will post these on our social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) to showcase your musical adventure.
Music students’ tuned and ready to go

Music students’ tuned and ready to go

Nov 3, 2020

Major examination boards are booked throughout November and December to moderate practical assessments of more than 1500 musical  students from our region.

In less than two weeks, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and London College of Music (LCM) are set to takeover our outstanding College facilities as students from surrounding areas prepare for their practical music exams.

Tim Knight, Principal – Yorkshire College of Music and Drama, says: 

“With so many people being unable to take their exams in the summer session, we’re working hard – in association with the exam boards – to make sure everything runs smoothly. We understand how important a face-to -face instrumental or singing exam is and in the current climate, keeping students safe is a primary concern. We’re delighted we can fulfil all the requirements and look forward to welcoming the boards and students to Yorkshire College of Music and Drama .”

Collectively, ABRSM, LCM, Trinity and Rock School have chosen to use our flagship building for over 30 years.  These longstanding partnerships are of great importance to our College which boasts a number of rooms with the best acoustics, tuned pianos and a rich history of musical talent including none other than Dame Julie Andrews. 

Furthermore, Rock School are booked to hold theory exams on 12 December and Yorkshire College of Music and Drama is also the Diploma Centre for Trinity.  Because the boards choose to use St Marks House as their venue of choice this helps us to continue delivering our charitable aims and keep the founder legacy alive. 

Before restrictions were imposed, students were  able to take advantage of the College’s warm-up room  to prepare before their practical exam. For this exam period,  students have been asked to practice /warm up in their cars to adhere to safe distancing.

The College has put in place covid safe measures in line with government guidelines. This includes a separate entrance and exit, sanitiser stations, clearly marked one way notices with arrows and pre-allocated exam time slots. These steps mean that we are protecting examiners and examinees.

As we enter a second lockdown, exams are going ahead which is great news for our region’s examinees – many were left disappointed after exams were cancelled earlier in the year. We wish everyone the best of luck and we’re crossing fingers and toes.

Music vouchers for the YCMD

Music vouchers for the YCMD

Oct 14, 2019

Music vouchers… the ideal gift!

A YCMD music voucher is the perfect gift for a family member or friend (or yourself) who already loves playing and hearing music and singing. Our music vouchers are also ideal for beginners who are interested in learning to play an instrument or sing.

Vouchers are available in 3, 5 or 10 half hour taster sessions. Usually, lessons need to be booked for a full term so this is the perfect way to dip your toe.

Gift vouchers can only be obtained from the College, so please get in touch to find out more.

Prices:

3 x half hour lesson voucher – £60.00
5 x half hour lesson voucher – £93.00
10 x half hour lesson voucher – £180.00

Hire a room for your own use here at the college

Hire a room for your own use here at the college

Oct 14, 2019

All our rooms are available to hire for your own private musical practise, group meetings or music lessons. We offer discounts for block bookings so please ask to find out more.

Hourly rate:
Small room £8.75
Large room £17.50

Special Offer:
Monday to Friday, 11am – 3pm: pay for 4 hours room hire and get the 5th hour on us.

For room hire enquiries please contact us.

5 Tips To Keep Your Kids Playing Music Over The Summer

5 Tips To Keep Your Kids Playing Music Over The Summer

Jul 12, 2019

The summer holidays are stretching ahead of us. Weeks and weeks of freedom for our children, but how do we make sure the skills they have developed over the past 10 months don’t suffer too much?

What can you do to keep their interest in music alive and the investment you have made in music lessons not be wasted?

 

Here are our 5 Top Tips for keeping them learning and improving their skills, whilst still enjoying the freedom of a long, lazy summer

 

1. Set Them A Challenge

Setting a child a challenge can be a great way to keep them focused. Ask them to learn their favourite song or ask them to master a new skill on their musical instrument and set a deadline or a date for a family performance. Speak to your child’s music tutor and ask for advice on what would best stimulate and challenge your child whilst also being good fun.

Consider offering an incentive or reward that will inspire them and help to keep them going. What this is will depend on your child’s age.

 

 

 

2. Negotiate a Practice Calendar

Before the summer holidays start, sit down together and decide what the main areas or focus for practice will be over the summer and how much time would be good to set aside for practice every week. Don’t forget this is the summer holidays, so keeping it light and fun will help to ensure music is an enjoyable past time and not a chore.

Once you have agreed on the material and number of hours, work out a practice timetable together and pin it somewhere visible so you are both reminded of your commitment.

 

3. Play Musical Instruments with Family and Friends

If you have ever experienced the utter joy of jamming with friends around a camp fire or singing karaoke together you will know how much fun and how memorable making music with friends can be.

Many of you will spend time with family over the holidays. So, if any of your friends or relatives are musical, consider asking them to bring their portable musical instruments along with them. Acoustic guitars, clarinets, flutes, portable keyboards, percussion instruments. Spending some time jamming with friends and family is a great way to keep your skill levels up whilst creating fabulous memories.

 

4. Teach Family or Friends How to Play

Non-musicians often see playing music as an insurmountable hurdle. Well, perhaps you can do something to break that illusion? Ask your child to teach a friend or a sibling a few basic melodies on the piano or some chords on a guitar. Perhaps it is you who would benefit from learning a few chords?

Being taught a few basics on a guitar, piano or drums can help someone else get started and give them the confidence to seek out formal tuition.

A win-win for everyone, particularly if the informal lessons are paid for with a few pennies or treats!

5. Put On An Event

Why not put on a small neighbourhood musical event throughout the holidays? Ask a few of your child’s friends and put on a show in the local park, village hall or in your back garden. Put on a BBQ and invite the neighbours and put a set-list together to showcase the local junior talent.

This would be a fantastic way to inspire not only your own child to continue improving, but to also inspire other children in your neighbourhood.

 

 

 

Music should, first and foremost be fun and kids learn so much through play and having fun. So, whatever you decide to do to keep your kids inspired this summer, try and make sure it’s enjoyable.

Good luck!

To find out about our Autumn term group and private lessons, please call 0113 243 1605.

5 Things That Make A Good Teacher ‘Great’

5 Things That Make A Good Teacher ‘Great’

May 23, 2019

Those of us privileged enough to be involved in teaching others, should never underestimate the impact we have on our students.

We recently received a lovely letter from an ex-pupil who was thanking us for helping her to feel “amazing” and for fulfilling a dream of learning to play an instrument.

Every so often we get feedback like this and it is genuinely thrilling to know that we have made a difference to someone’s life.

It got us to thinking about teaching. We all remember our favourite teacher – he or she is perched high upon a pedestal in our memory. But why? What makes a good teacher a great teacher?

We have a number of “great” teachers here at the college, so we think we have the inside scoop on this one. Here are the 5 main attributes we think make an inspirational, memorable and effective teacher.

Great Teachers…

  • 1. Great Teachers Are Masters of Their Subject

Good teachers know their subject matter. Great teachers are masters of their subject. Great teachers are passionate about their subject and they instill a hunger for learning through their own enthusiasm, knowledge and skill.

  • 2. Great Teachers Encourage Deeper Learning

Great teachers encourage students to ask questions, to delve deeper into a subject, to not accept common beliefs but to challenge them and examine new ideas and concepts. Great teachers recognize when a student needs to be challenged and pushed beyond the standard curriculum and support individuals in their exploration of discovery and learning.

  • 3. Great Teachers Will Find a Way to Connect

Not all students learn at the same pace, or in the same way. A great teacher will find a way to connect with each individual student. They will go above and beyond what is required to stimulate imagination, interest and a desire to learn.

  • 4. Great Teachers Instill Confidence

Great teachers believe in their students and are able to teach a student to believe in themselves. They encourage students to go beyond their own self-limitations and reward achievement with encouragement and reassurance.

  • 5. Great Teachers Value Respect

Great teachers respect their students. Every opinion is valid and valued and so students feel safe and confident enough to ask questions, listen to others and gain a wider and more diverse understanding of the world.

If your lifelong dream is to learn to play an instrument, or you’d love to pick up an instrument you haven’t had time to play for years, then please do get in touch. To find out about group or individual music lessons, please contact Dagmar on 0113 243 1605 or email: admin.ycmd@btconnect.com

 

Asta’s Words

Asta recently returned to her native Lithuania and a snippet of her heart-felt and beautiful letter are detailed below:

Firstly, I will start with the word Thank You.
Thank You for an amazing teacher Rod Tailor who patiently taught me how to hold the violin 
Thank You for an amazing atmosphere before the lesson.
Thank You that because of this amazing college my biggest wish come true: To play a musical instrument.
Thank You that your college was the main thing in these years that made me very happy and full fill very big hole in my heart.
Thank You for amazing secretary Dagmar, she all the times was so helpful and because of her my time before lessons became more joyful.
Thank You for principal Tim Knight who all the time was waiting for my coming to the lesson and I felt that I am very welcome and wanted to come back again and again.

Secondly, because just of this wonderful college and all the knowledge they gave to me I feel amazing and my life becomes even better.
Love all that music I played.
Love all these 30 minutes I spend learning new things.
Love all the moments I spend an amazing environment.