Music at Leighton Park

Music concert

Yamaha Music Education Partner

We’re proud to be a Flagship Yamaha Music Education Partner, the only school in Europe to hold this prestigious status. It means we have an outstanding array of instruments for our students to use, exclusive teaching materials and specialist training for our staff.
Girl playing piano

Music Department

Our music department is one of the busiest places in school, catering for all musical tastes from classical to jazz, indie to rock. From day one, we’ll offer your child plenty of opportunities to learn, play and perform, at School and out in the wider community. And we’ll give them the chance to be the driving force behind the scenes too, using our state-of-the-art digital recording studio and editing suites.

Steinberg Certified Training Centre

We are also a Steinberg Certified Training Centre, a recognition of excellence in our use of Music Technology across the department. As a global software company, Steinberg support our students in a range of creative endeavours including musical notation and music production.

Opportunities to learn

We believe that music is for all, whether that’s playing, singing or listening to it. It not only nourishes the soul; musical training also helps develop language, reasoning – and maths. It improves hand-eye co-ordination and listening skills. It fires up the memory. It requires persistence; it gives a great sense of achievement. Our 27 instrumental teachers are ready to get your child started or take them to their next level.

Teacher teaching piano to a girl

Opportunities to perform

No matter what your child’s musical experience, we’ll give them opportunities to perform to an audience in our school theatre. We’ve got three choirs, a school orchestra, ensembles for brass, guitar, strings and woodwind, jazz groups and more. There are inter-house competitions, musical productions and our ‘Music for a Summer’s Evening’ grand performance at the end of each year. Plus, every two years, students can join a music tour overseas – in 2019, we went to Greece!

Girl playing guitare

Opportunities to produce

Our music department features a digital recording studio and editing suite equipped with Macs and industry-standard instruments and software. Leighton Park is a certified Steinberg Training Centre. This wealth of equipment and resources has a huge and positive impact in lessons, opening up new and more effective ways of teaching anything from Steve Reich and minimalism to 12-bar blues. And if you’re looking at our Sixth Form, we’ve even got a specialist qualification in music technology.

Two students creating music

Yamaha Live Lounge Sessions
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Our Yamaha Live Lounge Sessions enable our musicians to lay down professional quality recordings, reflect on their performances and grow in confidence.

 

See the full playlist +
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Petra Live Lounge

Meet our Students

Eliza

Eliza - Claire Jones Harp Ensemble

Harp - grade 8 distinction and ARSM diploma distinction

As well as the harp, I have grade 8 in piano, and grade 7s in drums and voice, the latter in both classical and rock & pop. I also love writing music and won the Independent Schools Association composition competition for my age group two years in a row. I enjoy the creative process of song writing and progressing an idea to a fully developed song. I recently recorded at Abbey Road and did a concert tour in the USA with the Claire Jones Harp Ensemble. The music staff at Leighton Park are really supportive and encouraging and offer many opportunities to participate in workshops and events.
Reuben

Reuben - National Children's Orchestra

Bassoon/Contra-Bassoon Grade 7

I'm a Music Scholar in Year 7. I play bassoon and piano, and have also taught myself the saxophone and drum kit. Since starting at Leighton Park, I have really enjoyed composing. Kemme encourages me to do more than I think I can manage and I've surprised myself on what I can achieve! I'd like to try composing for a band soon perhaps. I started playing the Contra Bassoon in September and love that I can play it in the school orchestra - something that most people have never seen before. It's loud and low and rumbles nicely. My greatest achievement so far is being part of the National Children's Orchestra. One of my goals at Leighton Park is to play bassoon (or Contra Bassoon) in the band for one of the school shows. I also like to play football and rugby.

Alice - National Youth Orchestra

Bassoon - ARSM Diploma

I absolutely love music and have been playing bassoon for almost six years, as well as singing for around eight years. Last year I played as principal bassoon in the National Children's main orchestra. It was so amazing and helpful to my playing that I decided to audition for the National Youth Orchestra. To my surprise I was asked to join them for two of their 2023 courses and a residency. I love music because it gives me so many opportunities to meet incredible people and go to amazing places, as well as the way it frees people from stress whether they are listening or playing. Without Leighton Park, none of this would have been possible. My amazing teacher Cath, as well as the orchestra and choir led by Rose along with smaller groups have been so beneficial to not only my technique but my ever-growing passion for music.
Taylor on sax

Taylor - Reading Youth Orchestra

Saxophone - grade 8, Diploma Level ATCL

My passion towards music started when I was 4. I had a trip to Los Angeles and I saw cool guys playing the saxophone. But what really made me choose the instruments I am playing now is because of my Dad and my Grandpa. They are both great fans of the saxophone. After years of hard practice I have done my Grade 8 and diploma level ATCL. Leighton Park has helped me see that music is not about chasing perfection but rather to enjoy it. Leighton Park has such great music resources with amazing instruments and music technology. This has made me even more interested in music production, and Leighton Park had also provided me with lots of performing opportunities.
Close up guitar

"Music is at the core of what makes this school so special. Since I joined the School in Year 9, I have always felt included and encouraged to participate, both within and outside my comfort zone, and challenged to aspire to greater goals."

Catherine, Year 11

Take a look inside
Take a look +

Opened in January 2019, our MMC building boasts industry-standard tech and facilities – including a Yamaha Live Lounge Recording Studio.

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MMC interior of the music building

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Shinfield Road
Reading
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RG2 7DE
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