St Mary's Music School

• Location: Scotland, Edinburgh,
• Founded in: 1880,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

St Mary's Music School is a national, independent, non-denominational independent music school. The school accepts young musicians and vocalists from 8 to 19 years old, providing them with a world-class education.

St Mary's Music School is one of five specialised music schools in the United Kingdom that receive government support. It is the only one of its kind in Scotland.

Half of the school week is devoted to music: the study of instruments, the development of specialized skills, ensemble and group work, the other half is devoted to academic studies within the framework of a basic curriculum that corresponds to the specific age of students. Thanks to a flexible approach, each child has an individual schedule and hours for consultations with a personal teacher-accompanist. Mentors support young musicians from the first year of study.

Students of St Mary's Music School can not only study their main instrument in depth, but also take an additional second one - this helps them develop musical versatility. One of the instruments chosen should be contrapuntal, such as a piano or accordion, which requires both hands to play: this is useful for learning theory and developing motor skills. For singers who primarily practice their voice, the second instrument can be a contrapuntal instrument, or any other, for example, a flute.

St Mary's Music School has several main study areas:

• Vocal Department, which offers The Changing Voices Programme and Senior Vocal Programme,
• Instrumental Faculty, which includes the following departments: keyboard, strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion,
• Conservatoire Pathway Academic Course.

• Designed by architect Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Victorian Neo-Gothic style, the cathedral is the only cathedral in Scotland to have choral services held daily throughout the year.
• In 1995, St Mary's Music School moved to Coates Hall, allowing it to combine music theory, practice, room and board on one campus for the first time.
• The school has produced prominent musicians, including Stephen Osborne and Simon Smith.

St Mary's Music School is within walking distance of the train station, providing direct tram or bus access to Edinburgh International Airport and Waverley Railway Station.

Pupils of the S1 level and above can live on the territory in the boarding house. They spend both weekday evenings and weekends in the common building, all events are held according to a well-thought-out schedule that takes into account and maintains a balance between preparation for classes under the supervision of teachers, leisure and joint formats.

You can stay in the boarding house in different formats that take into account the individual characteristics and needs of students. This can be accommodation on a full board basis, flexible - going home for the weekend, periodic overnight stays for full-time students.

In the boarding house, children and teenagers have at their disposal:

• Cozy and comfortable bedrooms with separate bathrooms, desks, wardrobes.
• A small kitchen for several people.
• Common seating area with sofas, armchairs, TV, games and books.
• Access to Wi-Fi.

The building is divided into floors for boys and girls. Rooms can be single or double.

Children and adolescents living in the boarding school can visit the school building outside of school hours and enter the computer room, library, and gym there. Not far from the school and residential building there is an entertainment center with a gym and a swimming pool.

There are always staff on the territory of the boarding house:

1. Boarding house manager,
2. Deputy Manager,
3. 2 full-time educators,
4. 5 part-time educators.

The chef is responsible for the healthy and high-quality nutrition of students, who regularly updates the menu, develops new items and combinations of ingredients. Dishes are prepared with healthy local products, some of which are grown in the garden at St Mary's Music School. In addition to basic meals during the day, students can appreciate the cooked food at themed dinners, where one national cuisine is chosen, with which children are introduced closer. If desired, schoolchildren can take master classes in cooking and learn how to make their own food - from sandwiches to pasta.

Residents of the boarding house in their free time can engage in various master classes and attend general events, for example:

• Cooking classes,
• Film screenings,
• Arts and crafts classes,
• Theme evenings.

Both boarders and full-time students can participate in an organised trip to one of Edinburgh's many cultural centres each week for chamber music concerts, orchestral concerts, opera or ballet.

• St Mary's Music School's mission is to help aspiring instrumentalists, composers, solo singers and choristers discover their talent and potential. School gives them the opportunity to develop and succeed in their favorite business. Children and teens learn in a safe and inspiring environment.
• The administration supports and accepts children from different social strata, here students are not divided into groups according to the financial situation of their families.
• The school curriculum is not limited to traditional educational canons: here the priority is given to individual lessons both in playing musical instruments and in the development of vocal abilities. Professional experienced musicians and singers who know how to find the perfect balance between teaching and performing activities work with children.
• Classrooms are small, so teachers can pay personal attention to their wards.
• Upon completing the course, qualifications such as Cambridge iGCSE, SQA Advanced Higher and Cambridge Pre-U can be obtained.
• The school consistently ranks first among Scottish independent schools for the academic performance of high school students.

There are several buildings on campus, including:

• Fives Court and Principal's House – for academic studies,
• Annexe – for music classes and career guidance,
• Lodge – for financial and administrative purposes.

These buildings are surrounded by beautiful green gardens, where students and staff can relax during breaks and after school. On campus there is a multifunctional sports ground, a greenhouse and a large lawn.

The instrumental classes have a fleet of excellent pianos, including Steinway, Bechstein, Yamaha and Erard, which are suitable for both practicing and preparing for concerts, ensemble work and performances.

Academic year at St Mary's Music School consists of the following semesters:

• Fall semester: early September to mid-December,
• Spring semester: from the beginning of January to the beginning of April,
• Summer semester: from the end of April to the end of June.

Applications are accepted all year round, with no deadlines. To enter St Mary's Music School in September, you should ideally participate in the selection process by the beginning of the summer semester. The selection of future students is carried out by the administration together with subject teachers, who can, with the help of their rich musical experience, assess the potential and current abilities of children and adolescents from a professional point of view. Potential mentees are tested through creative tests, interviews, and other personalized formats.

Many graduates of St Mary's Music School play in international orchestras, develop in jazz and modern music, and become teachers of creative directions. Others choose non-music universities and professions, but retain their passion for it in outside fields.

To enter St Mary's Music School in the vocal direction, a student must be 12-13 or 18 years old. Foreign applicants who want to enter the instrumental department need to meet a certain musical level - it depends on the specific class where the child wants to go.

St Mary's Music School provides financial support to students as part of the Places with State Support program, which is implemented by the Scottish government. Other types of scholarships are provided by the Cathedral and its own school foundation.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision